Q: I know the end of “Scandal” is coming up. Who made the decision to end the show, ABC or Shonda Rhimes?

— Cathy Lang, via email

A: From most reports, it was by mutual agreement, with Rhimes apparently deciding to end the series while it still was performing well with viewers and in the ratings. The final “Scandal” episode for star Kerry Washington and company is set to air April 19, and it will come on the heels of a couple of new Rhimes-produced dramas being introduced by ABC, the “Grey’s Anatomy” firefighter spinoff “Station 19” and the law drama “For the People.”

Q: What happened to the actress who played the original boss on the new version of “MacGyver”?

— Paul Lake, Youngstown, Ohio

A: In what turned out to be a surprise twist midway through the CBS reboot’s first season, Patricia Thornton — named in homage to the original show’s Pete Thornton (who was embodied by actor Dana Elcar), and played by Sandrine Holt — was exposed as an enemy agent and arrested. She then was replaced by current Phoenix Foundation boss Matty Webber, portrayed by Meredith Eaton.

As for Holt, who has done a lot of television over the years (“Once a Thief,” “The Returned,” “Hostages,” etc.), she has landed another series role. She’s among the stars — along with Steve Zahn and Natalie Martinez (“A.P.B.”) — of “The Crossing,” an ABC sci-fi drama that’s slated to premiere April 2.

Q: How many episodes are now the norm for a TV series? Every one of my favorite shows is in reruns now.

— Trevor Kelly, Victoria, British Columbia

A: We should specify that this letter was received during the Winter Olympics, when rival broadcast networks went largely into repeat mode, which typically wouldn’t be the norm in ratings-conscious February. Expecting the Olympics would get their traditionally big tune-in, others didn’t want to “sacrifice” new series episodes, opting to save them for later in the TV season.

With that said, the norm for a broadcast network show’s full season now is 22 episodes — some shows a few more, some a few less. When it’s bought for its first year, a series usually gets a 13-episode order, which is why you’ll hear references to a program getting picked up for its “back nine” — the remaining nine stories that would add up to a total of 22.

Q: I’ve enjoyed seeing Dakota Fanning in “The Alienist.” Has she done any television work before?

— Kim Stacey, via email

A: Though she’s principally been focused on making movies lately, the young actress’ biggest foray into TV previously was in “Taken,” a 2002 sci-fi miniseries — with Steven Spielberg among its executive producers — not to be confused with NBC’s current spinoff of the Liam Neeson action movies. (Spielberg would direct Fanning a few years later in his Tom Cruise-starring take on “War of the Worlds.”)

Earlier in her career, Fanning made guest appearances on a number of series including “ER,” “Ally McBeal,” “Strong Medicine,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “The Practice,” “Spin City,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “The Ellen Show” and (in voice only, of course) “Family Guy.” She later did a guest shot on “Friends,” and she was heard as the young Wonder Woman in an episode of the animated “Justice League Unlimited.”

Q: Will “Me, Myself & I” ever be back?

— Tom Porter, Reading, Pennsylvania

A: Supposedly, according to CBS, but only to finish out its original run that was cut short when the Bobby Moynihan-John Larroquette show was among this season’s first new series to be pulled. That left seven episodes of the 13 ordered unaired, and if those are shown, it’s likely to happen in the summer (and we’d guess on Saturdays, where CBS has relegated most of its programs that basically are canceled to play out).

Q: I often see references to Denzel Washington having been on “St. Elsewhere.” Since that series hasn’t been seen in some time, who did he play on it?

— Jean Sanders, Ormond Beach, Florida

A: His character on the 1982-88 NBC hospital drama was the extremely self-confident Dr. Philip Chandler, and it’s worth noting that Washington stayed with the show for its entire run, though his movie career was heating up via such films as “A Soldier’s Story” and “Cry Freedom.” Soon after “St. Elsewhere” ended, he would win his first Oscar (for “Glory”).