A ‘Bachelorette’ before ‘The Bachelor’ said goodbye

Q: Wasn’t it unusual for Rachel Lindsay to be named the next “Bachelorette” before she was even voted off “The Bachelor”? – Cheryl Frank, Providence, R.I.

A: Well ... yes. However, ABC and the franchise’s producers evidently felt there was some value in having fans speculate about how and when Lindsay would leave “The Bachelor,” since she clearly wasn’t going to be Nick Viall’s final choice once she was declared “The Bachelorette” for the new season that will start in May. Those final episodes would have been taped before the announcement was made, so Lindsay already knew she wouldn’t end up with Viall. And, indeed, it didn’t take long for the speculation about the circumstances of her exit to begin surfacing bigtime online. Now, she’s set to be the next one to do the choosing.

Q: When will Megyn Kelly start her work for NBC? – Yom Patrick, via e-mail

A: In a certain sense, she’s already doing it, since plans are being formulated for both her morning and evening programs – but because of the terms of her departure from Fox News, her active participation is limited until that clause expires. The “Today” hour that will become her weekday berth could start this summer, though NBC surely will want ample time to promote it. The primetime hour Kelly will host might be affected by the scheduling of “Sunday Night Football,” so it remains to be seen exactly when that will begin.