Hallmark's 'Cedar Cove' series is done with

Q: Has Hallmark discontinued the "Cedar Cove" series? The last time I saw it was last year and I didn't think it was over.

A: The series, based on the books by Debbie Macomber, has ended after three seasons. The third season was released on DVD in March.

Q: I seem to remember Joe Garagiola and Vin Scully both having game shows on the air at one time. No one else my age (61) seems to remember this. Please tell me I'm right.

A: You are. According to "The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows," Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully hosted a series called "It Takes Two" in 1969-70. Garagiola — the beloved baseball star and TV personality who died this past March 23 — hosted several shows, including "He Said, She Said," also 1969-70, overlapping with Scully.

Garagiola also hosted "Joe Garagiola's Memory Game" (1971), "Sale of the Century" (1971-74), "Strike It Rich" (1986-87) and "To Tell the Truth" (1977-78). (Game-show purists may remember other hosts and different runs of some shows. I have listed only the years Garagiola held court.)

Q: I found "American Crime" to be very intense but thought-provoking this season. The last episode ended abruptly. Was that the season finale or will there be more episodes?

A: The most recent, second season concluded in March, and at least one viewer has termed the ending "ambiguous." No word yet on a third season, though executive producer John Ridley has said he has plenty of ideas.

A: The series ended after three seasons on CBS and a final one on A+E.

Q: My husband and I often watch episodes of the series "Gunsmoke" on TV Land. My question is why none of the episodes feature Dennis Weaver as Chester, Marshall Dillon's first deputy, in the early years of "Gunsmoke." We've been watching quite awhile and have never seen those first ones.

A: A question that comes up often about shows in rerun involves why stations or networks only carry selected episodes. Usually that has to do with the programmer buying only a limited package of episodes, sometimes focusing on fan favorites or ones that fit their needs. With long-running shows, distributors may sell packages to several outlets.

TV Land apparently prefers to air hourlong episodes of "Gunsmoke" that are in color. This would rule out Weaver's episodes. He was on from the premiere in 1955 until 1964; "Gunsmoke" was a half-hour drama from 1955 until 1961, and did not begin colorcasts until 1966.

However, you should be able to find some Weaver telecasts on MeTV, which airs "Gunsmoke" at noon Monday through Saturday, including shows from the black-and-white years. And you can even get a text reminder of when certain episodes will air through the network's website, metv.com.