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‘Endeavour,’ ‘Poldark’ returning to PBS; still waiting for ‘Laugh-In’

By Rich Heldenfels, Akron Beacon Journal
Published: May 13, 2016, 5:15am

You have questions. I have some answers.

I began watching “The Riches” on Netflix, which was supposed to be two seasons but ended abruptly in the seventh episode of season two. Very strange. Should I assume it’s not coming back?

The drama starring Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver originally aired on FX in 2007-08. There were in fact only seven episodes in the second season, which was cut short by a writers strike. Ratings were so-so in that second season, and FX chose not to go on with it.

A couple of years later, Driver told Vulture.com that was “one of the roughest moments in my career. Because it’s rare that I feel that complete and utter injustice. It was a show that was so good and just required support from the network and studio and didn’t get it. All timing and lack of faith.”

 Last season we saw some episodes of “Endeavour,” about the young Inspector Morse, on “Masterpiece Mystery.” When that ended, he was being carted off to jail for a murder he did not commit. Will there be more episodes to show what has happened to him?

Yes. You saw the end of the second series of the popular British series. The third series of four films will air on Masterpiece beginning June 19.

 Are there any plans for PBS to air a second season of “Poldark?”

Again, yes. Masterpiece will carry a second series sometime in 2016. Overseas airings have been delayed until the fall of 2016, but I do not know how that will affect the U.S. scheduling.

For those of you going, “Hey, wasn’t ‘Poldark’ an old show?” Not unlike “Upstairs Downstairs,” “Poldark” is a reboot of an earlier series based on the novels by Winston Graham. Aidan Turner is the current Ross Poldark.

 I am wondering if “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” will ever be released on DVD or any other type of media? I know there was a best-of set some years ago, and at one time there were some 30-minute shows. But I am hoping they will release all the episodes.

There is ongoing talk about releasing complete seasons of the series, or more bundles of episodes. But with a show that full of regular actors and guest stars, as well as music, it’s not easy to obtain all the rights necessary for a bigger release of the show.

 Several years ago I read a book called “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” I heard that it was going to be made into a movie and that Patrick Dempsey was going to play the lead. Do you know if that is still going to happen? I would love to see it.

The website of Garth Stein, author of the book, says the making of the movie had several setbacks. It links to a Hollywood Reporter story from January saying “Universal picked up the 2008 book in 2009, when it was to have been a starring vehicle for Patrick Dempsey.” But it stalled during development, and Dempsey left the project. Now it’s back on track, somewhat, with Disney getting the rights and a new script in the works.

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