Q: I saw a reference to an episode of "The Good Wife" as the final episode. If this is the last episode of the season, I understand. It sounded like the final episode ever. Is "Good Wife" returning in the fall?

A: No. And I have to think you weren't watching the Super Bowl. CBS stunned fans of the Julianna Margulies drama with an ad during the big game that declared this is in fact the last season for the series, with its finale airing on May 8. Series co-creators Robert and Michelle King were due to leave the series at the end of the current season. They suspected the show would go on without them. CBS instead chose "to end with the seven-year story its creators envisioned, and to celebrate the show's final run while at the top of its creative game," a network executive said in a statement.

Which way Weatherly goes

Q: Why is Michael Weatherly leaving "NCIS"? He's been there since Day 1. The show will never be the same.

A: I've not seen Weatherly talk about his departure beyond some grateful tweets when the news came out in January.

But keep in mind that Day 1 was 13 years and almost 300 episodes ago. That's a long time to play a sidekick, even a well-liked one, when Weatherly is still young enough (47) to star in his own show. He also has a production deal with CBS.

Mark Russell on politics

Q: I have been told that Mark Russell is coming out of retirement. What a fresh breath of air for the next eight months of listening to the current politics.

Weatherly

A: Like Rick in Casablanca, you may have been misinformed. The political humorist stopped performing in 2010, had fun traveling and reading, and decided after two years that was enough. Besides, jokes were beckoning.

On on his website, markrussell.net, you can find a list of his upcoming performances along with some new jokes. The site does not indicate any TV plans; the most recent mention is of a special, "Mark Russell's America," from 2012.

Mailbag updates

"Mr. Selfridge: The Final Season" will begin on PBS' Masterpiece on March 27. "Grace & Frankie," the Netflix series starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, will come to DVD on April 12.

E-mail questions to rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.