‘Person of Interest’ star out of spotlight

Published 12:00 am Monday, December 23, 2013

Courtesy NewscomTaraji P. Henson’s stint as Detective Carter came to an abrupt end on the CBS drama “Person of Interest.” Henson maintains it was the intent from the start that her role would come to an end.

Q: Why was Detective Carter killed off on “Person of Interest”? She was a key character in the show.

— Bill Muth, Curwensville, Pa.

A: Yes, she was … which is precisely why the CBS series’ producers did it, to hear them tell it. They wanted to shake things up, and actress Taraji P. Henson maintains it was the intent from the start to eliminate her character at this point — though others, including fellow “Interest” stars Jim Caveizel and Michael Emerson, didn’t know until filming of the crucial episode began. It’s possible that Carter could reappear, but it would be in flashbacks.

Q: Has the program “Suits” been canceled? I haven’t been able to locate it for the past month.

— Pat Ketterer, Reynoldsburg, Ohio

A: As is mentioned frequently here about cable series, they often break up their seasons, with shows returning several months after the first half of their seasons end. So it is with “Suits,” which is in the middle of its third round. USA Network expects to bring it back right after the Winter Olympics … especially since Michael Phelps will turn up in the course of the season’s six remaining episodes.

Even after those are done, “Suits” won’t be going away permanently. USA already has renewed the series — a strong performer ratings-wise, particularly when both broadcast and cable series are considered — for a Season 4, to begun running in mid-2014.

Q: Do you know what happened to “Hostages”? We were having it taped, and after two or three shows, it disappeared.

— Zelda Bokelmann, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

A: You might want to have a chat with the person who was in charge of doing the taping, then. The Toni Collette-Dylan McDermott series does have holiday pre-emptions for the next two weeks, largely for the benefit of fans of the highly serialized drama who may have seasonal plans, then returns with a two-hour season finale Jan. 6.

Otherwise, CBS has left the series in place on Mondays, precisely because it is so serialized and pretty much demands that sort of consistent telecast pattern. Even with that, the network tried throughout the fall to get more people involved in it, stressing in ads that it wasn’t “too late” to viewers who might have thought they’d missed the boat.

Q: Will “Twisted” be returning anytime soon?

— Wendy Morrison, Buffalo, N.Y.

A: Reasonably soon. The ABC Family drama will resume its first season Feb. 11, a little later than originally planned. The show initially was supposed to be back on Jan. 7, but the network ultimately decided to bring back “Ravenswood” then instead, so that series could benefit from being partnered with parent show “Pretty Little Liars” on the same night.

Q: It’s a shame that Whoopi Goldberg can’t have her documentary on Moms Mabley on a more-viewed station. I would love to see it, but I do not subscribe to HBO. Do you think it ever will be shown on a different station?

— Kathleen Sitzman, Lincoln, Mich.

A: It’s always possible, but that isn’t likely to happen for a while, since it just debuted last month, and HBO currently holds the rights to it. The cable network has been releasing much of its product on its home video label, so it’s quite likely the documentary also will go that route within the next several months.

Q: Is Ryan Seacrest hosting New Year’s Eve on ABC again this year?

— Cindy Forrest, Baltimore

A: He certainly is. The ever-busy Seacrest has a new multiple-year deal with the network to continue as host and an executive producer of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” with Jenny McCarthy and Fergie again assisting him with the on-camera duties both in prime time and late night this time.

Q: I have noticed the hockey pictures behind the desk of Agent Booth on “Bones,” and I seem to remember he had a connection to Pittsburgh. Are those pictures of the Pittsburgh Penguins?

— Donna Ferguson, Lisbon, Ohio

A: Actually, they’re of the Philadelphia Flyers. Booth (played by David Boreanaz) is a native of that city … but he also has a Pittsburgh Steelers coffee mug, so that town’s sports teams may not be completely out of luck where his fan worship is concerned.

— Send questions of general interest via email to tvpipeline@tribune.com. Writers must include their names, cities and states. Personal replies cannot be sent.

Marketplace