THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160061
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
TODAY'S COMMENTS and questions are harvested from my Infoline number (640-5555, category 2486):
No, Bernie has not been fired or quit - A handful of readers asked what's become of CNN anchorman Bernard Shaw, who hasn't been on the tube for weeks. When I checked with the Cable News Network in Atlanta, I was told that Shaw has taken a leave of absence to finish work on a book. His memoirs, perhaps?
I have no idea how many people will show up - Carol Johanningsmeier in Portsmouth is among the dozen or so readers who asked if they need reservations to attend the Wednesday screening of the ``lost episodes'' of ``My So-Called Life'' at Virginia Beach Central Library.
No reservations needed for the screenings, which start at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. The capacity is 200-plus.
The response to my screening of the episodes that were either bumped or delayed until the wee small hours of the morning by ABC affiliate WVEC has been sensational.
I heard from a lot of teens who say it would be, like, awful if ABC did not renew the series, which has been struggling for ratings. ``The show is almost a mirror of my life,'' said 13-year-old Aaron Lowery of Virginia Beach.
Sarah Marsh, 14, in Chesapeake suggests I have petitions on hand supporting the show. Sign 'em and send them to ABC, she suggests.
Not a bad idea, Sarah.
Show business is an ever-changing world - Suzy Cofer and George Henrich, both of Virginia Beach, were among readers who asked what's become of Erika Flores, who played Colleen on the CBS series, ``Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.'' She's been Colleen Cooper since the series signed on early in 1993.
``Then one day she was gone,'' said Henrich. Indeed she was. CBS said it has replaced Flores with Jessica Bowman but didn't say why. Warning to CBS: Keep your hands off the Orson Bean character (Loren Bray).
Lying about your age is not a federal offense - My Infoline number was really humming the day after I wrote about Norfolk beauty Debbie Shelton getting rough treatment on ``American Journal.'' The magazine show suggested that she was a washed up 42-year-old actress who can't do better than porn films.
``Forty-two! Don't you believe it.''
``Forty-two! Make it 47.''
They were among the comments from callers who gasped when they heard Shelton referred to as a mere 42 on ``American Journal.'' The people who went to school with Shelton when she was growing up as a dentist's daughter in Norfolk broke out their calculators and concluded that she is fibbing about her age. Her former classmates at Norview High are pushing 50.
Don't you know that in Hollywood you are compelled to trim five years off your age? It's the law. You gonna' tell me that Clint Eastwood is only 63?
But are they the authentic, vintage 1950s folding TV trays? - Vera Geddis in Virginia Beach heard I still eat salisbury steak TV dinners off a TV tray while watching TV. She called to say that she also uses TV trays.
Hey, if it's good enough for the Brady Bunch, it's good enough for us.
Said Vera, ``I eat about six meals a week off my TV tray. But I don't eat TV dinners. I do my own cooking.'' Vera says she and her husband are TV junkies who often watch one TV show while taping two others.
The Geddis' TV trays are about 15 years old. Semi-classics.
Lenore in Portsmouth also admitted that she eats her meals on a TV tray while watching the ol' Sony. ``And I don't feel a one bit guilty.''
Get ready, Vicki, here come the college basketball playoffs - From Vicki Matthews in Virginia Beach: ``Have you ever done any research on households in which the wife and not the husband is the sports nut? I love all sports on TV. My husband hates them. I run him out of the house watching football, basketball and the rest. People look at me funny when I say I like watching sports on TV.'' With or without a TV tray, Vicki? by CNB