Kristy McNichol

Question: A friend and I were talking about, of all people, Barbara Eden. Was Harper Valley PTA really her first show after I Dream of Jeannie? If so, what happened to her during the time in between?

Answer: Good question, Brian, and Ms. Eden herself didn't have an answer for you when interviewed in 1981. "I don't know," she said when asked why 10 years went by before she again starred in a series. (Jeannie was canceled in 1970 and Harper Valley debuted on NBC in 1981.) "It wasn't a question of not being wanted. The shows they found just didn't work."

No, they didn't. In fact, three networks and at least a dozen of TV's most creative types tried to come up with a series for her, while she earned high ratings doing variety specials, singing appeara read more

Question: Hello. My father and I disagree: I thought Kristy McNichol was just in movies until Empty Nest, but he seems to think she was in a television series prior to that. Is that true? If so, what was the name? Thank you for your help.

Answer: Sorry, Holly, but the homily holds true in this case: Father knows best. Teen superstar Kristy McNichol made her first splash as a nationally known celeb playing 13-year-old Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence on ABC's groundbreaking Family in March 1976. And her story resembles that of other child stars: Fame without a real-life perspective is a tough way to grow up.

"Everybody wants a piece of you," the actress — who did commercial work at 8, Love, American Style at 9 and was a Family regular at 13 — told TV Guide read more