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Pop culture Q&A: ‘Soap’ plot ends abruptly

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Q: I purchased DVDs of the first four seasons of “Soap.” It left Jessica facing a firing squad, Chester about to shoot Danny, Burt entering a trap set up by the mob and Jodie in a past life as an old Jewish man. Any more seasons or did they just end there?

A: That was the end. The show ran for four seasons, from 1977 to 1981, and all have been released on DVD. But, according to the Web site TV Series Finale (http://tvseriesfinale.com), Jessica _ in spirit form _ reappeared a couple of years later in an episode of “Benson,” the “Soap” spinoff.

Q: “The Bonnie Hunt Show” has been showing reruns for about a month now. Is the show coming back?

A: The daytime talkfest has been renewed for another season. But syndicated shows, like their network counterparts, do have periods of reruns, including during the summer. As Hunt said on her show’s Web site, “I really wish I could have done shows all through the summer, but that’s not the protocol!”

Q: I am having no success recording on my VCR since connecting a digital-to-analog converter box to my TV and VCR to receive digital broadcasts. When I record a program I receive no picture or sound, no image at all, even though the converter box is set to the channel I am trying to record. Can you offer a fix? Are others having the same problem? The FCC said VCRs will continue to work.

A: I am guessing that you have the output from the converter connected to the input on the VCR, then the VCR output to the TV’s input. If that’s the case, then check the channel for which your VCR is set when turned on; you need to be on Channel 3 or 4. On my system at home, the VCR has to be on Channel 3 to receive and record from converter; another reader who was having VCR problems also solved them by setting the VCR on Channel 3.

This doesn’t remove all the limitations on VCR use with the over-the-air converter, but it does let you record a show that the converter is tuned to. You can learn more about connecting a box and a VCR at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/converterbox(underscore)vcr.html.

Q: Recently I bought a music CD called “Unforgettable Symphonic Suites.” It has old movie themes. What year were some of the movies produced: “The Magnificent Ambersons,” “This Is Cinerama,” “Sunrise at Campobello,” “The Kentuckian.”

A: “The Magnificent Ambersons” is from 1942, “This Is Cinerama” from 1952, “Sunrise at Campobello” 1960, “The Kentuckian” 1955.

Q: I watch “The Bold&The Beautiful” and for some time I’ve been bugged about a situation. I didn’t think I had missed any episodes but I don’t know what happened to Katie’s pregnancy. She was pregnant with Nick’s child and they talked about it all the time. Then later there was no mention and no sadness or grieving. Did I miss a miscarriage or was she not pregnant?

A: Katie was pregnant but had a miscarriage. The episodes dealing with it aired in October.

Q: What is the status of the series “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”? Will it be returning or has it been canceled?

A: Canceled. Fox decided not to renew the show for a third season.

Q: As a youth in the ’40s, I read all of Frank Yerby’s novels. My first was called “The Golden Hawk.” Much to my amazement, while fiddling with the computer, I found that a movie was made of it _ starring Sterling Hayden, Rhonda Fleming and Gilbert Roland _ in 1952. I have been trying to get a copy of the movie and cannot find one.

A: I do not know of an authorized release of the film. I used to mention _ without recommending _ sites that offered unauthorized versions of movies. But because of consumer problems with some of those sites, they’re a swamp I no longer wade in.

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