Where ‘Love Island’ came from
Q: I understand that “Love Island” is based on a British show. How long has that series been on the air? – Elaine Smith, via e-mail
A: The original program – whose Arielle Vandenberg-hosted U.S. version did a lot to boost the younger demographics of CBS viewership over its month-long, almost-every-night summer run – started in England in 2005 and initially ran for two seasons, an interesting twist being that celebrities were the participants rather than everyday people. Most of those players (and yes, we mean that in more than one way) probably would be unknown to the American market, but one was actress-model Nikki Ziering, the ex-wife of “Beverly Hills, 90210” veteran Ian Ziering. “Love Island” then returned to British television in 2015, but not celebrity-driven – and it’s been on every summer since then, including this one. After last year saw enhanced controversy with the suicide deaths of a couple of earlier participants, and the producers promising counseling services for the “Islanders” going forward, the overseas show’s fifth-season premiere this past June had record-breaking numbers for the network ITV2.
Q: What is Kaley Cuoco going to do, now that “The Big Bang Theory” is over? – Gary Crane, Albuquerque, N.M.
A: Actually, she’s going to be pretty busy with a number of projects. She’s an executive producer and voice-cast member of DC Universe’s upcoming animated series “Harley Quinn”; and she’s developing ideas for her new production company (named Yes, Norman ... after her dog), including “The Flight Attendant,” an adaptation of a novel in which she’ll star for the forthcoming streaming service HBO Max. Warner Bros. Television, which made “The Big Bang Theory,” has a first-look deal for her company’s product.