Question: I am well acquainted with Don Henley's song (and it was well placed in that wonderfully directed ER episode!). I would like to know the title and artist of the song played in the opening while Carter was brooding and Tess was waking up Carol. It sounded a bit like Creed, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I love the song (I've been replaying my tape) and wish to buy it. Can you help me, please? Thanks!
Televisionary: OK, OK — I continue to be a sucker for these song questions, simply because I've been there and I can't stand when the credits don't fork over the details on something I really liked (The Sopranos has sent me searching the web for lyrics more than once myself).
The song driving you nuts is Bush's "Letting the Cables Sleep" and it's on their album The Science of Things. If it sounds a bit like Creed to you, perhaps that's because so many of those post-grunge bands are indistinguishable from one another (to those old man
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Question: Everyone knows that Bruce Lee played Kato in the '60s Batman knockoff The Green Hornet. Who played the Green Hornet? — Frank V. Costanzo
Televisionary: That would be the fleet-fisted Van Williams, Frank. And the fact that, as you say, everyone remembers the sidekick (no pun intended) as opposed to the title-hero himself is nothing Williams should be ashamed of. After all, Lee's skills and tragic death unleashed a cultural wave and a following which still exists today. Williams, for his part, was fortunate enough to outlive his career.
His later activities include a stint as a reserve deputy for the Malibu Sheriff's Department, though a spokesman there told me he's been gone from that position for some time. His most recent movie appearance? As The Green Hornet director in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. (Hey, you can't fault a guy for jumping at an opportunity.)
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Casting is underway for American Tragedy, the CBS miniseries about the O.J. Simpson trial, and producers seem to be assembling a Hollywood "Dream Team" to play O.J.'s Dream Team. Variety reports that Christopher Plummer is in final talks to play F. Lee Bailey, while Bruno Kirby will play Barry Scheck. Any word on who will play Judge Lance Ito?
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Question: Help. In last weeks season finale of Providence Syd's sister Joanie played a song for her in the hospital. What was the name of the song and who was singing it? Thank you.
Televisionary: I believe the song you seek is Joni Mitchell's The Circle Game, which is on the classic album Ladies of the Canyon. (It's also available on the recent collection Hits, a reasonably OK primer for the uninitiated. However, the purist in me insists you buy Ladies.)
Once again, I've been buried with mail from people wanting to ID a song from a favorite episode. I know the feeling, though I must admit years of living in harsh old New York pummeled the sentimentality out of me, rendering me unable to listen to that song all the way through and certainly unable to sit through an episode of Providence. But hey, that's why there's chocolate and vanilla, as my dear old dad would say.
Besides, I'm hoping if I adopt a hard-hearted enough
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Question: Last night, I heard my friend whistling a tune and we both agreed that it was from the NBC '50s documentary, Victory at Sea. But we disagree as to who the narrator was. He says it was Walter Cronkite. I know it wasn't Uncle Walter, but I do not remember who it was. Can you please tell us? Thanks. — Jack Harmell
Televisionary: You mean you don't know, Jack? (Sorry — I've always wanted to say that.)
						
						 Actor Leonard Graves narrated the 26-installment documentary, which ran from 1952-53 and covered the nautical warfare of the Second World War. Graves later appeared in such films as The Joker Is Wild and the Gregory Peck classic Pork Chop Hill.
Incidentally, if you want to impress your pal further, let him know that tune he's so fo
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Ben Stiller may work the runway, baby! The actor/writer/director is in negotiations to direct and star in the flick Zoolander, a comedy based on the naive supermodel character he created for the VH1 Fashion Awards a few years back. Variety reports that Scott Rudin would produce the pic for Paramount.
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Matthew Perry, 30, needs a life-saving liver transplant, according to a story in Britain's Sun newspaper. The actor, who plays Chandler on Friends, was given the horrible news after being admitted to Los Angeles's Cedars-Sinai hospital complaining of stomach cramps. A spokesperson for the actor refused to comment.
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How do you cast a Kennedy? Slowly, of course. Robert Knepper will play Bobby and Matthew Letscher will play Edward in the upcoming NBC miniseries Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot, according to The Hollywood Reporter; no word on who will play the title ladies. The project is scheduled to air next season. —Jonathan Reiner
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American actress Lois Hamilton, who fled the country last year rather than face a prison term for a drunken-driven charge in Los Angeles, was found dead in a hotel room in Rio de Janeiro in December, an apparent suicide, AP reports. Hamilton, 57, appeared in films with Burt Reynolds and John Candy as well as a 1984 TV-movie with Susan Lucci.
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Get ready for more Tales! Variety reports that Showtime will broadcast a third miniseries based on Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City novels. The new project, titled Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City, will star Laura Linney, Parkey Posey and Olympia Dukakis, and is set to film in Montreal and San Francisco.
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