Q: Is Sean Pertwee related to the actor on "Doctor Who," Jon Pertwee?
A: He is. Sean, for those of you tuning in late, plays Alfred on the Batman prequel series "Gotham," and has been seen several times on "Elementary" as Gareth Lestrade. Jon Pertwee, his father, was the Third Doctor on "Doctor Who"; Peter Capaldi, the current Doctor, is the 12th. Jon died in 1996, but memories of him remain. At Halloween, Sean posted a photo on Instagram dressed as the Third Doctor. The caption said, "Guess Who I'm going as tonight."
TV series with World War II themes
Q: In the '50s and '60s, there were several TV series with a World War II theme, some centered on the war with Japan, and some centered on the war with Germany. I remember "Hogan's Heroes," "Rat Patrol," "McHale's Navy," "Operation Petticoat" and "Wackiest Ship in the Army." The last one no one else seems to remember. Can you help me out on this?
A: The "Wackiest Ship in the Army," which like "Operation Petticoat" had also been a big-screen movie, aired for a single season on NBC in 1965-66. Jack Warden and Gary Collins starred as the commanders of a schooner during World War II.
But that was just a small part of a wave of World War II military comedies and dramas on the air during that period, especially on ABC. You might also remember "Broadside" (1964-65, ABC), "Combat" (1962-67, ABC), "Combat Sergeant" (1956, ABC), "Convoy" (1965, NBC), "The Gallant Men" (1962-63, ABC), "Garrison's Gorillas" (1967-68, ABC), "Mister Roberts" (1965-66, NBC) and "Twelve O'Clock High" (1964-67, ABC),
Betraying 'Betrayal' viewers
Q: What happened to "Betrayal"? They left us with a cliffhanger and never came back.
A: It ran for 13 episodes in the fall of 2013 and early 2014, starting with modest ratings and declining from there. ABC decided not to continue it.
'Bates Motel' will reopen
Q: We are wondering if our favorite show, "Bates Motel," will be back this year.
