Will ‘American Rust’ continue?
Q : Is “American Rust” ever going to continue? There were so many cliffhangers left.
A: And hanging they remain. Showtime decided not to continue the series beyond its first season. While he admired it, TV critic Rob Owen on Trib live.com noted that critics as a whole had not reacted well to the show (which has a 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and that there was “a decided lack of buzz surrounding the series.”
Q: My husband and I don’t normally like sitcoms. But we fell in love with “Ghosts.” And then when it was followed by “B Positive,” I liked it even more than “Ghosts.” So, what happened to it?
A: “B Positive” has completed its second season on CBS. There’s no official word at this writing about a third season, although the show’s makers have plans. Executive producer Chuck Lorre told TVLine that “there is the hope for a season three exploring a genuine relationship between Gina and Drew. There are (still going to be) life-and-death issues that are inevitable among the residents of Valley Hills ... and we also have built in this ongoing, cutthroat competition with Golden Horizons, this threat from a corporate entity.”
As for “Ghosts,” it has already been renewed for a second season in 2022-23.
Q: Can you tell me when “His Dark Materials” and “Westworld” will come back on HBO?
A: A third season of “His Dark Materials” is in production, HBO said not long ago, but no airdate was mentioned. As of this writing, there’s no date for the fourth season of “Westworld” beyond the network saying it’s “coming soon.”
Q: My wife and I have discovered Netflix and have been able to watch four years of “Chicago Fire.” Recently I saw a “Chicago Fire” episode elsewhere, and I think I saw it was from year 10 of the series. Can you tell us if Netflix will eventually put on more episodes?
A: I don’t know if Netflix will get more, but telecasts of the NBC series sprawl across broadcast, cable and streaming. Episodes from the 10 seasons of “Chicago Fire” so far are on NBC-related Peacock (which has free and fee-based versions) and the first eight seasons are on the free, ad-supported streaming service Freevee. You can also find some episodes from the current 10th season on Hulu.
Q: I found my old MP3 player loaded with songs I love, and one was “It’s Easy for You,” which Elvis Presley did on one of his albums. Where did it originate? Was it written for an Andrew Lloyd Webber play, maybe? It’s got to be a show tune.
A: You were on the right track. The song was by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, but it was not from a show. Instead, it was a stand-alone song whose first recording was reportedly on “Moody Blue,” the last Elvis album released in his lifetime.
Q: In the late ’80s or early ’90s, I saw a miniseries on PBS starring Miranda Richardson as a mother whose children are kidnapped by terrorists. Can you please tell me the name of the series and where it’s available?
A: It appears you are remembering “Die Kinder,” or “The
Children,” a 1990 miniseries starring Richardson and Frederic Forrest. My search has not turned up a place to see it today. Do you have a question or
comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com. Letters may be edited.