You Asked: Feb. 8/10

Hi Amber, I watched Fringe recently and Charlie (Kirk Acevedo) was in it. I’m confused because he was killed off early this season. Did I miss something? – Wendy

Amber: You didn’t miss a thing. The episode “Unearthed” was supposed to originally air during the first season, but for one reason or another Fox opted not to. Then, once the show came back after Christmas, the network decided to give the series an extra boost before its hiatus, airing this specific episode on the Monday following House, and then resuming its Season 2 order on that same Thursday.

Yes, you read that right. Last week’s instalment of Fringe was the last we’ll see until April. It’s the same story for Bones, Lie to Me and Glee. Fox isn’t the only network putting its shows on hiatus right now, either. NBC did it with Mercy, ABC still has episodes of Better off Ted and Scrubs to schedule and The CW isn’t bringing back Gossip Girl, 90210 or Melrose Place until next month. No one will come out and say it, but my guess is this all has to do with the Olympics. This is officially the year of the hiatuses, people, and I don’t think it will fare as well as the powers that be think it will.

Hi Amber, I absolutely love Survivor and The Amazing Race. It wouldn’t be the same without the hosts, though. My PVR is set and ready to go for Survivor’s return on Feb. 8. Can’t wait to see Russell stir things up again! Also, can you tell me when FlashForward and V are set to return? Cheers. – Frank

Amber: They’re currently on hiatuses too. FlashForward, also known as my biggest disappointment this fall, returns March 18 and V returns March 30.

As for Survivor, I’m giddier than a schoolgirl before prom. Wait, I hated prom. Anyway, I’m happy Survivor’s back and I want to see how it pans out, especially with no one knowing how Russell played the first time around. However, set your PVR for this Thursday, Feb. 11 – that’s when it returns. I’ll be tweeting the whole thing, just because I have an addiction.

Happy new year to my favourite info source on all things television! I was watching Showcase's Drop Dead Diva last night and noticed a similarity in appearance between the actress who plays Sarah and the actress who played Kandi on Two and a Half Men. Are they the same person or do I need my eyes checked? Thanks for your help, as always. – Kacie

Amber: Aw, shucks, happy (belated) new year to you too. And while I’m celebrating, can I get a woot woot that Drop Dead Diva finally airs here in Canada? It seems as though that took forever, didn’t it?

Anyhow, I think you’re referring to Stacy, who is played by April Bowlby. She did indeed helm the Kandi character on Two and a Half Men for 15 episodes between 2005-07. She also did a guest stint on How I Met Your Mother (as Meg) after that for three episodes, too.

Amber, could you please tell me if Lie to Me, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? or any of the Law & Order shows will be returning to southern Ontario? Thank you. – Horton

Amber: I can try, but southern Ontario is a little evasive. Lie to Me, as mentioned above, is on hiatus so everyone has to chill out until that comes back. The Law & Orders currently air on NBC and will return in March – SVU is scheduled for new episodes in February and CI will return to CTV at some point (a date has yet to been announced). As for 5th Grader, the half-hour syndicated version will begin on CMT as of Feb. 7, so you can check it out there.

When will Friday Night Lights begin airing on NBC? – gbragger

Amber: April 30. There were rumours it might come back even earlier with the Leno shift (upheaval? dump?), but no such luck. At least you don’t have to wait until the summer, as was previously planned.

I have watched Cold Case since the beginning and have never seen Lilly Rush wear anything but a pant suit, even when she goes out on dates. I can understand that sometimes she has to do scenes that are easier and more appropriate in pants, but why does she NEVER wear a skirt? Does she have a deformity in one of her legs or something? Just curious. – Bruce

Amber: Neither Lilly Rush nor her portrayer, actress Kathryn Morris, has a leg deformity. The pants are simply part of the character’s personality and job. “You can't show up to work in a homicide unit in skirts and heels,” Morris recalled to More magazine of her original discussions with the producers.

What bothers me more than the skirts is that her left eyebrow seems to be significantly wider than her right eyebrow. Or at least that’s the impression I got when I randomly caught an episode involving a dead hockey player a couple of weeks ago.

Hi Amber, between 2002 and 2006, Fox released the first four seasons of NYPD Blue on DVD. Since then, the network has stopped and I haven't heard any news. Do you know if it plans to release the rest of the series? This was one of the best cop shows and it is a shame that I can't watch the rest of it! Thank you. – Jason

Amber: Sorry Jason, but there is no news on any NYPD Blue releases. The fourth season sales were fairly dismal and it discouraged the company from releasing any more just yet. It’s quite costly to digitally re-master and distribute these series, so to use a terrible cliché, they need to make sure there’s a bang for the buck, you know?

Hi Amber, I have now caught up all the episodes of Missing, thanks to late-night TV, and I was blown away when Mark Consuelos's car blew up! Was that the last episode written before Missing was cancelled? Thanks. – Rommy

Amber: That was the last aired episode, back in 2006. However, the writers had no intention of ending the show with such a cliffhanger – these things often happen when you think a show is coming back and then it doesn’t. Lifetime decided the series had run its course and wrapped it up, leaving more than a handful of upset fans in its wake.

Hi Amber, is CBC's The Border finished for this year or is it on hiatus? The last episode left viewers hanging with a doozy of a cliffhanger – a shootout at Haven House where the good guys have seemingly run out of options. Thanks! – Vanessa

Amber: That was the season finale you speak of, and unfortunately, CBC has not yet made up its mind as to whether a fourth season will happen. My fingers are crossed for you, but I still don’t think putting the show on a Thursday night was a good thing for the series, and I feel it was on purpose to burn off episodes and justify a cancellation. However, we shall see.

Hey Amber, have you heard any details about when Space will air Series 5 of Doctor Who? It is supposed to be on this spring, but I have no idea when. Any thoughts? – John

Amber: I’m impressed; most Canadians don’t know that shows in the U.K. go by series, not seasons. Anyhow, right now the series hasn’t been released on the other side of the pond, so we can’t expect it until the spring, at least. Space won’t wait too long – it’s pretty good when it comes to picking up shows in a timely fashion.

Personally, I can’t wait to see how Matt Smith does after David Tennant’s exit, can you?

Hello Amber, I just watched The Republic of Doyle “Duchess of George” episode, and I am wondering if Robert Joy (Dr. Syd on CSI: NY) played the character of Al? If it wasn’t him, it must have been his brother. I look forward to reading your column each week as I always learn something of interest. Thank you. – Caye

Amber: Great eye, that was Robert Joy as Al Kavanaugh – I guess he was switching it up a bit. He’s Canadian, you know. He was born and raised in Newfoundland and even performed in a comedy troupe there before moving on to dead people and forensics.

Class dismissed.