Q: I recent noticed an odd tie between "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Andy Griffith Show." The executive producer of Andy's show was Sheldon Leonard, and the town clerk is named Howard. Those three names are on "The Big Bang Theory." I wonder if there is a connection.

A: There is. Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) are in fact collectively named after Sheldon Leonard. A tough-talking actor at one time (he's bartender Nick in "It's a Wonderful Life"), Leonard became a successful producer of "The Danny Thomas Show," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "I Spy" and other TV series. He died in 1997 at the age of 89.

"Big Bang" producer Chuck Lorre paid additional tribute to Leonard in one of his vanity cards for "Big Bang" early in that show's first season. In it "da immortal spirit Sheldon Leonard" said he was using Lorre "to channel my ideas for new sitcoms" but Lorre kept messing up the ideas. "I tell him to do a show about four wise guys and a sexy dame what knows da score," "Sheldon Leonard' says on the card. "So what does da knucklehead do? Scientists and a waitress!"

'Fresh' theme song lyrics

Q: Could you please tell me what they're saying in the opening credits of "Fresh off the Boat"? That is one of the funniest new shows!

A: The opening credits include a bit of the song "Fresh Off the Boat" by Danny Brown. You can find the whole song on YouTube, but the lyrics in the show's credits include "Getting mine everywhere I go/So if you don't know homie now you know/Fresh off the boat/ Homie, you don't know where I come from/But I know where I'ma go/Fresh off the boat."

Actor opted out

Q: Why didn't George Eads (Nick Stokes) appear in the two-hour finale of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"?

A: Eads was expected to be in it, TVLine reported, then opted out, "forcing series creator Anthony E. Zuiker to excise Nick Stokes from the already-completed script." No explanation was offered for his decision.

'The Bridge' Part 2 to come

Q: Some time ago I watched Karen Kingsbury's "The Bridge" on the Hallmark Channel. It is a two-part Christmas movie that I thoroughly enjoyed. I want to watch the second part. However, when I go to the Hallmark Channel website I cannot find when the second part will be airing. Could you please help me?

A: I hope so. Hallmark did indeed adapt Kingsbury's book for two movies starting with "The Bridge, Part 1," which premiered in early December. Production on the second part began in October, with Hallmark saying it has "an anticipated holiday 2016 debut."

E-mail rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.