Q: How come John O'Hurley is never mentioned on "Dancing With the Stars"? Didn't he win the first season?
A: O'Hurley is not a former champion. He placed second to Kelly Monaco in the first season in summer 2005. Controversy ensued, not least because Monaco received three 10s for a dance with lots of awkward spots. (You can still see it on YouTube.) Beginning screwy standards that continue to this day, judge Bruno Tonioli later said he factored in the progress Monaco had made over the course of the show. Another judge, Len Goodman, felt he had to give Monaco a 10 because he had already given O'Hurley a 9, and he thought Monaco was better.
There was enough complaining about Monaco's win that "DWTS" brought her and O'Hurley back for a dance-off special the following September, which O'Hurley won. That stunt was not a success and has not been repeated.
I can't say he has never been mentioned. An ABC rep said that he has been in the audience occasionally and that there may have been a reference to him here and there. It also appears he has been seen in archival footage.
Remembering 'Ramar'
Q: "Ramar of the Jungle" was a show, probably in the '50s, about two guys in the jungle. I really liked the show, but I've never seen anything at all about it. Can you tell me more?
A: According to the reference Total Television, "Ramar of the Jungle" was a syndicated show from the early '50s. Jon Hall starred as Dr. Tom Reynolds, also known as Ramar, who helped people in the jungles of Kenya and India. Ray Montgomery played Ramar's sidekick, Howard Ogden. In some episodes, Victor Millan was Zahir, Ramar's guide. There are DVDs of some episodes; if your retailer doesn't have them, try an online vendor such as Amazon.
No baby for 'Mike & Molly'
Q: In May's season finale of "Mike & Molly," Molly announced she was pregnant. This season, no pregnancy. What gives?
A: It certainly seemed as if the show was building up to a Molly pregnancy, because so much airtime was devoted to her and Mike trying. But memory plays tricks. CBS said she wasn't pregnant. I looked again at the season finale and the episode before it to be sure.
