Are any athletes on 'Dancing' this season?
You have questions. I have some answers.
Q: Is this the first season of “Dancing with the Stars” with no athletes dancing?
A: Just as the show has a very broad definition of “stars,” it may be that its idea of an athlete is different from yours. Joseph Baena, an eliminated contestant in the current season, is not only an actor but a professional bodybuilder. (He is also the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger.) If you don’t count him as an athlete, then this 31st season — now airing on Disney+ — is indeed the first without an athlete competing.
Q: As of Oct. 31, Judges Acker and Dimango are no longer on “Hot Bench.” Do you know why they left?
A: Deadline.com reported that Tanya Acker and Patri- cia Dimango left the syndi- cated “Hot Bench” to work on another courtroom show, “Tribunal,” planned for the Freevee streaming channel. (That show, by the way, will reportedly include Petri Hawkins-byrd, the bailiff from the old “Judge Judy” show. Judy Sheindlin is a producer on both “Hot Bench” and “Tribunal” as well as on her own “Judy Justice” show for Freevee.)
Acker and Dimango were replaced on “Hot Bench” by two new judges, Yodit Tewolde and Rachel Juarez, joining returning judge Michael Corriero. The show’s executive producer Davud Theodosopoulos told Tvline that the new judges “bring an exciting new energy and a fresh, new dynamic to our series that viewers know and love. Their diverse back- grounds and experiences are a beautiful complement to Michael, and I’m thrilled to welcome these strong, accomplished women to the bench.”
Q: My family and I loved watching “Perfect Strang- ers” as it made us laugh so much. However, this show doesn’t seem to be accessible anywhere. With so many shows streaming and on DVD, I was wondering when this particular show would become available for fans to enjoy once again?
A: The comedy star- ring Mark Linn-baker and Bronson Pinchot as seem- ingly mismatched apartment-mates had a nice run on ABC from 1986 to 1993. I did find it on the streaming service Freevee — which, as its name implies, does not have a subscription fee but does have commercials in its shows.
Q: My family has watched “S.W.A.T.” since it started. Our favorite actor was Chris, the only female team member. We are wondering why she left the show.
A: Lina E sco, who departed the CBS police drama at the end of last season, said in an Instagram post that leaving was one of the most difficult decisions she has had to make. “Bring- ing to life a strong, smart, bisexual character like Chris Alonso has been both a pleasure and a powerful opportunity to increase visibility for diverse women everywhere,” she said, according to Newsweek. “Five years later— I am leaving SWAT to pursue new creative endeavors. Chris never backs down from the unknown and as an actor/ writer/director — I’m excited to step out of my comfort zone and embark on a new chapter, too.”
Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write to Rich Heldenfels, Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com.letters may be edited. Individual replies are not guaranteed.