Don't wait for 'Kevin Can Wait'

By Rich Heldenfels Tribune News Service

December 23, 2018 — 2:00pm

Q: Could you please tell me what happened to two shows that were really funny, "Kevin Can Wait" and "Man With a Plan"?

A: "Man With a Plan," starring Matt LeBlanc, will be back for a third season Feb. 4. The Kevin James comedy "Kevin Can Wait" was canceled after two seasons. Fans did not respond well when the actress playing Kevin's on-screen wife, Erinn Hayes, was dropped and her character killed off.

More than just Elly May

Q: Did Donna Douglas, who played Elly May on "The Beverly Hillbillies," do other work besides that show?

A: Douglas had guest roles in a couple of dozen TV shows before "Hillbillies" hit in 1962, among them a memorable episode of "The Twilight Zone." During the "Hillbillies" run, she had a substantial movie gig opposite Elvis Presley in "Frankie and Johnny." After the sitcom ended in 1971, she had a handful of parts but also sold real estate, recorded gospel albums, wrote a book and appeared at various fan events. She died of pancreatic cancer at 82 in 2015.

Guilfoyle courts controversy

Q: We watch "The Five" on Fox News Channel, but what happened to Kimberly Guilfoyle?

A: Guilfoyle left the network this past summer. Reports at the time said she had engaged in inappropriate behavior, which her lawyer denied. According to the Huffington Post, she had also lobbied vigorously for Fox News chief Roger Ailes as he was being sued for sexual harassment; Ailes was ousted from the network and Guilfoyle's actions "caused a rift among women at the network." But Guilfoyle still has some big connections. Before leaving Fox she had begun dating Donald Trump Jr., and they campaigned together before the midterm elections. She is also a vice chairwoman of America First Policies, a pro-Trump group.

Marlo's 'Wonderful' remake

Q: I remember a TV movie from more than 40 years ago that was a remake of "It's a Wonderful Life." It had Marlo Thomas as the main character. I thought it was very well done and looked forward to seeing it every year, but I don't think it was ever shown again. What can you tell me about it?

A: The movie, "It Happened One Christmas," premiered in 1977 and aired a couple of times after that. It gender-flipped some of the "Wonderful Life" story, with Thomas as a variation on James Stewart's role in the original. Reaction to it has varied — some fans argue that it's better than "Wonderful Life," but at least one site claims that when the earlier film became more widely available, interest in the remake waned. In any case, "It Happened" has not made it to an authorized DVD that I know of — and I won't recommend the bootlegs — but it is streaming on Amazon Prime.