You have questions. I have some answers.
Q: What happened to the spring offering of "Dancing with the Stars"? It seems that "American Idol" has assumed the time slot where "Dancing" appeared a year ago. I guess the viewing public prefers the song to the dance.
A: "Idol" was an enormous hit for about many seasons on Fox beginning in 2002 before declining severely on its way to cancellation in 2016. So ABC has gambled in bringing it back, but is backing that gamble in part with lots of airtime for the singing competition, including airings on Sunday and Monday nights. That trims "Dancing with the Stars" from its old two competitions per season, one in the fall and one in the spring _ as its numbers have also declined. To paraphrase Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, viewers can't miss "DWTS" if it won't go away, so a break may help. At the same time, ABC knows there are folks like you who will want at least some dancing, so it has scheduled a "special edition," "Dancing with the Stars: Athletes," starting April 30. The cast will be announced April 13 on "Good Morning America."
Q: Is "New Girl" coming back for another season? If so, when? It's my favorite show!
A: The Fox comedy will begin a short, final season on April 13. The series finale is currently scheduled for May 15.
Q: Is "The Handmaid's Tale" going to continue and, if so, when?
A: A second season of the award-winning drama based on Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel is on the way. Look for it beginning April 25 on Hulu.
Q: Will there be a third season of "The Last Kingdom"? We just got done watching Season 2 on Netflix. It is historically accurate for the most part, and very well done. Many of the British actors in it we have recognized from "Game of Thrones," "Black Sails" and other well made series like that.
A: A third season of the historical drama based on "Saxon Tales" novels by Bernard Cornwell is indeed in the works. The new season is expected on Netflix later in 2018, though that could change. "I haven't heard a date yet," the author said in late March on his website, bernardcornwell.net, "but we'll be sure to post it to the homepage of this website once we learn it!" By the way, he also has another book in the series due for release around October.
Q: I love watching "Wheel of Fortune" every night but wonder why they discontinued the popular "$5K Every Day" segment and replace it with the "sometimes" $10K _ if and only of somebody wins $10K in the "Mystery Round"? It's very random and many times a week goes by without even one $10K winner _ 'cause it's totally left up to the choice of the contestant whether or not to take a chance on the $10K wedge. Is "Wheel of Fortune" that hard up that they can't afford to potentially give away $25K weekly, when they pull in hundreds of millions in advertising revenue?
A: The series is still a success and far from hard up. When "Wheel" announced plans for its current, 35th season, it wanted to freshen some elements and said the $5K Every Day "has been retired to make way for a bigger sweepstakes prize. In its place, Wheel Watchers Club members will want to pay specific attention to the Mystery Round. During Season 35, if the $10,000 Mystery Wedge is won by a contestant, then the SPIN ID of a loyal viewer will be revealed, giving them the chance to also win $10,000." Which, by the way, means a winning wedge could add up to a $20,000 giveaway _ half for the contestant and half for a viewer.
By the way, longtime "Wheel" viewers may wonder why this is only the 35th season, since there were versions on broadcast networks dating back to the 1970s. The "35" counts from the first season of the syndicated version, which began in the fall of 1983 with Pat Sajak and Vanna White hosting.
