Q: Can you give us the story on Sophia Bush leaving "Chicago P.D."?

A: According to Dick Wolf, mastermind of the "Chicago" shows, and Bush herself, it was entirely her call to leave. She has signed a deal with 20th Century Fox Television to "star in an upcoming comedy or drama pilot for the studio as well as develop and executive produce additional projects for the company," the Hollywood Reporter has said.

You may also have seen Bush's name in the news lately as one of 18 cast and crew members on "One Tree Hill" who backed up claims that series creator Mark Schwahn sexually harassed people on the show.

How to find 'The Staircase'

Q: Years ago, I saw a movie about nuns building a church in a desert. The stairs to the choir loft were never finished. Along came a young man, who I think was Vincent D'Onofrio. Would you please check on this? Where can I find it?

A: You are remembering the 1998 film "The Staircase," which according to the Turner Classic Movies database is "based on the legend of the miraculous staircase of the Sisters of Loreto Chapel in Santa Fe." Barbara Hershey starred as a Mother Superior wanting a chapel completed before her death; she receives help with the staircase from a drifter named Joad, played not by D'Onofrio but by William Petersen. It has been released on DVD (although you need to be careful, since there are several productions with the same name).

'Rawhide' actors written out

Q: I'm a huge fan of westerns, and I noticed on the last season of "Rawhide" that the actors who played Gil Favor, Mushy and Hey Soos were not part of the cast. What happened to them?

A: The western now best known for featuring Clint Eastwood originally aired from 1959 to 1966, and was a hit for some time. But by 1965, ratings for the show had been in decline, leading to what Eastwood biographer Patrick McGilligan called "radical changes." They included the dismissal of Robert Cabal (Hey Soos), James Murdock (Mushy) and Eric Fleming (Gil Favor). While Fleming was the show's star, he was reportedly difficult to work with. Eastwood, who played ramrod Rowdy Yates, was also very popular, so he became trail boss with some new co-stars for what proved to be the show's final, abbreviated season.

Son of 'Bonanza'

Q: I recently saw the 1993 movie "Bonanza: The Return" and enjoyed the clips of the original "Bonanza" stars. Michael Landon Jr. played Joe's son in the movie, but why didn't Dan Blocker's son Dirk play Hoss' son? He was in the film.

A: According to a 1993 Entertainment Weekly article, "Bonanza" creator David Dortort, who was also a producer on "The Return," thought Dirk Blocker, then 35, was too old to play the son of Hoss. He was cast as a reporter instead. (Landon Jr. was 29 at the time.)

E-mail brenfels@gmail.com.