South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
No return date announced for 5th season of ‘Animal Kingdom’
Q: Is there going to be afifth season of “Animal Kingdom”?
A: Yes. Delayed because of the pandemic, production of theTNTdrama now has “resumed in consultation with local authorities, the unions and medical experts. Our first priority is health and safety,” said a network representative. But there is no announced date yet for the return.
Q: My question is about theHershey Kisses Christmascommercial where the Kisses jingle while the melody“We WishYouaMerry Christmas” isheard. Whendid itmake its debut?
A: Would you believe it is more than 30 years old? The longest-running ad for aHershey brand, it premiered in 1989. After a production company had made some stop-motion ads with the Kisses for Hershey, aHershey brand manager asked for aChristmas-themed item. As the Morning Call newspaper reported, he “did not have authorization tomake it ... but he felt confident he’d be able to convince his boss to run it.” So began the long TVrun.
Until this year, the ad remained the same “apart froman update to high-definitionCGI animation in 2016 and, in 2018, a digital extension online where one could play the bells and create a newtune,” says another Morning Call report. Anew version for 2020 reportedly includes a little girl taking the Kisses to add to peanut butter blossoms.
Q: Whathappened to “SeaPatrol” onAmazon? Iwas thoroughly engrossed in itwhenit disappeared. Is there anywhere Iwould be able to see the ending?
A: TheAustralianNavy action series, which originally aired from2007 to 2011, is indeed not available on Amazon now. I do not knowwhy but suspect a change in the telecast rights. As for finding it somewhere else, all five seasons of “Sea Patrol” are available on FilmRise, a free streaming service. There is also a Sea Patrol Channel onYouTube that has the episodes.
Q: My girlfriend and I are both avid fans of “Dragnet” in the ’60s whenit had JoeFriday and BillGannon. I ama carbuffand enjoy seeing the car they drive. Iknow it’s aFord; I say it’s a Falcon, butmy girlfriend says it’s a Galaxie. We have adinner riding on this. Canyouclarify?
A: YoushouldgoDutch for dinner. According to numerous car-conscious sites, the vehicle on the 1967-70 serieswas a Ford Fairlane.
“Dragnet” was a hugely influential showabout LApolice detectives, centrally one named Joe Friday and played by Jack Webb. It began on radio, thenmoved toTVin
1951, where it continued until 1959. Several revivals followed, including in
1967-70 (the version with Friday and Gannon), 1989
90 and 2003, aswell as a big-screen comedy inspired by the showin 1987.
Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write toRich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH44260, or brenfelsgmail.com. Letters may be edited. Individual replies are not guaranteed.