Question: I know it's not like you can pick up the phone and ask her or anything, but your answer about Barbara Stock leaving Spenser and then coming back reminded me of a question that's sort of the same. How come Oprah stopped doing her book club on Oprah Winfrey, then started it up again? Did she run out of books she liked or something?
Answer: She didn't run out of books, Katie; she ran out of time — or thought she had, anyway. And I may not be able to pick up the phone and call, but luckily Oprah already talked about it in a TV Guide interview
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Question: I've read all of Robert B. Parker's Spenser books and thought they did a decent job of depicting the character on TV's Spenser: For Hire, given the TV programming of the time. (Can you imagine that show on FX now?) But I never could figure out why they got rid of Susan, Spenser's girlfriend, and then brought her back. Can you shed any light on that? Thank you, and I love your column.
Answer: You're very welcome, Gayle, and thank you. I imagine the fact that they actually shot Spenser: For Hire in your stomping grounds gave the show the authenticity that only someone who lives in Boston could appreciate.
Anyway, guidance counselor Susan Silverman (Barbara Stock) was shown the door — or, more accurately, s
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