No, Smits won’t take over on ‘West Wing’
Q: Is Jimmy Smits (ex-“NYPD Blue”) going to take over for Martin Sheen on “West Wing”? — H.L.
A: This is a rumor that has suddenly cropped up, maybe because some of Smits’ fans believe this is the direction NBC plans to go. But not so. Smits has a limited-run arc — albeit a very dramatic one — on the series and will then go into production on his own show.
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Q: Whatever happened to that sitcom that Sarah Michelle Gellar (“Grudge”) and her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr. (“Scooby Doo”), were supposed to do together? —Alma H.
A: The pair had reportedly looked over a number of projects they could do together, but so far, according to their representatives, haven’t found anything they liked as a vehicle for both of them. Meanwhile, Gellar is making hit movies like “Grudge,” and Prinze is said to be close to signing an agreement for a half-hour sitcom that would have him playing a Puerto Rican man raised in a houseful of women.
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Q: On “Court TV,” is it true that Nancy Grace, one of the hosts, gave up a lot of money as a defense attorney to become a prosecutor because a member of her family died? — Lianne B.
A: After the death of her fiance, Nancy Grace said that while she is a staunch defender of the right for people to have good counsel, she felt her place in the justice system was to prosecute people charged with crimes. So, yes, at that point she stepped away from what was already a successful career to work for much less in the District Attorney’s office.
Of course, these days the very gracious and very knowledgeable Ms. Grace is doing quite well as one of “Court TV’s” anchors.
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Q: I understand David Boreanaz (“Angel”) is coming back to television. Will he be doing another series with a supernatural theme? — Warren McD.
A: No more vampires or other spooky stuff (at least for a while) for Boreanaz. Instead, he’s set to star in a new ABC series based on the life of undercover hit man Jack Ballantine. The show is expected to go into production early next year.
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Q: To whom is Richard Gere married? Is she an actress? Does she do movies or television, and what has she starred in? — Linda W.
A: Richard Gere (“Shall We Dance?” and the upcoming “The Bee Season”) is married to actress Carey Lowell, with whom he has a son. Lowell, a former Ford model, has done a number of films, including “Leaving Las Vegas,” and television shows. She played Assistant District Attorney Jamie Ross on “Law and Order” from 1996 to 1998. Lowell also has a daughter from her first marriage to actor/director/producer Griffin Dunne. Gere’s first marriage was to model Cindy Crawford (1991 to 1995).