You Asked: Feb. 22/10

Hi Amber, I have a bet going with my friend that I hope you can settle. I watched an episode of Punk'd where Stephen Dorff was the target. I swear that one of the people sitting at Stephen Dorff's table was Leah Miller from MuchMusic. Was that really her, and if so, did she work in Los Angeles before coming to Canada? Thanks! – Ellie

Amber: Bet settled – that was indeed Leah Miller in the background of the Stephen Dorff episode. Although the stiletto-wearing blond grew up and went to acting school in Canada, she moved to Los Angeles after high school, which is how she wound up on that episode. Look at her now: married to City and Colour's Dallas Green with a custom-made wedding ring to kill for and a third season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada in the works. Now that’s living the dream.

Hi Amber, CBC was airing The Ron James Show, but now it's gone from the schedule. What happened? – Jim

Amber: The series actually wrapped with the New Year’s special – it was only a half-season order. No word yet on a second run, but CBC will make its announcements by the summer — May is the industry standard and I don’t anticipate it happening much later than that.

Do the Iron Chefs (on Food Network’s Iron Chef America) simplify their dishes when the judges are not food critics and the like? – Laurie and extended family

Amber: Unlikely – usually the chefs have an idea of what they’re going to prepare before the actual episode begins, and don’t pay much attention to the judges. When Canadian Michael Smith recently participated on this competition series, he revealed to TVGuide.ca that he had never heard of his non-expert judge, Antonio Sabato Jr., but also admitted he didn’t remember who the expert judges were either, since he didn’t know them.

Hello Amber, was the show Dirty Sexy Money cancelled? I know ABC took it off the air for a while and then put it back on the weekend. I’ve seen it twice on Saturdays, but never again. What happened? – T.M.

Amber: Once ABC yanked the show, it was obligated to air the remaining four episodes at some point. Since the network was in a similar situation with cancelled series Pushing Daisies and Eli Stone, the strategy became to air the remaining episodes of all three shows on Saturday nights, ending with Dirty Sexy Money.

Hi Amber, I am an avid fan of Doc, the show starring Billy Ray Cyrus. When will the seasons be released on DVD? Thanks. – Lee

Amber: Unfortunately, only the first season has been released so far, but you can purchase it on Amazon.com.

Hi Amber! I've just learned that AMC will air Season 3 of Breaking Bad beginning March 21. But, doesn't it seem like this show takes forever between seasons? I know the Writers Guild of America strike shortened Season 1, but the show wins awards and does well in the ratings. – Anonymous

Amber: I think cable series always seem to have a longer span between instalments since they trend towards 12- or 13-episode seasons, as opposed to full-order network shows that can have upwards of 24 episodes. That said, Breaking Bad is starting a little later than usual this year, thanks to the Olympics mainly, but it also makes sense for AMC to have two hit shows — Mad Men and Breaking Bad — on at the same time, for promotional purposes. I’ll tell you this: Season 3 is worth the wait. Series star Bryan Cranston directed the opening episode and it’s killer. Actually, I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

Hi Amber, I love reading your column every week. I understand that in the U.S., Syfy has acquired the rights to broadcast both Seasons 1 and 2 of Merlin (instead of NBC) beginning in March or April. Any news on whether CTV (or any other station) will broadcast Season 2 in Canada around the same time? Thanking you in advance. – Maria

Amber: Sorry Mary, but there have been no decisions just yet. CTV is pretty focused on the Olympics – there’s barely been any mention of new series Dan for Mayor and Hiccups, which begin March 1, and you would think that post-Olympics those shows would be the network’s bread and butter, seeing as how they both hail from and star Corner Gas alums. I did double-check with Space about Merlin, though, and there are no current plans to air the series there. It seems to me that a summer run would be more likely, since that’s when the show did so well the first time around here in Canada.

Hi Amber, I am a big fan of Emmerdale, but my Channel 6 (CBLT) stopped airing it a few years ago. I do subscribe to BBC Canada, but it doesn’t air it either. Do you know of any Rogers channels that do? – Anon

Amber: Sorry, none that I can currently see.

Hi Amber! Was Flashpoint cancelled? I have been looking for it since Christmas and have only seen reruns on Friday evenings. It was one of those shows that my husband and I enjoyed watching together. Thanks. – Natasha

Amber: No worries, it’s definitely still around — production on Season 3 is currently underway in Toronto and will make its way on-air at some point this year. CTV is in a bit of a tricky situation because the first season-and-a-half of its famous export aired in simulcast with CBS, but the Canadian broadcaster went ahead with the second half while CBS held off this past fall. It will be interesting to see whether CTV goes ahead with Season 3 on its own, or if it holds out and waits for CBS to make a decision.

Hi, when is the next season of Hell's Kitchen coming? Thanks. –Debbie

Amber: Production on Season 7 has wrapped, but Fox hasn’t announced an airdate yet. I’m feeling the summer, perhaps Tuesdays once again.

What happened to The Philanthropist? I started to grow very interested in this show, only to find out that it is no longer airing. Is there any chance of it returning? – Sunny

Amber: Yikes, that one was given the axe in the summer — apparently NBC had a hate-on for all of its summer dramas, didn’t you hear? The Philanthropist, Merlin and Canada’s own The Listener were more or less shafted and cancelled by the broadcaster. Sadly, The Philanthropist was the only one of the three not salvaged elsewhere.

Hi Amber, I saw on the official Spooks site that there is a new season – I think Season 8. I'm not sure if it has been on in the U.K. yet, but was wondering if you have heard anything about it coming to BBCC in the near future. I am a big fan of the series and don't want to miss it. Thanks - Sharon

Amber: If it’s Season 8 you speak of, then tune in, immediately. There are only eight episodes and BBC Canada airs Episode 6 Thursday at 10 p.m. ET.

Hi Amber, I am bummed out. Last year, CTV and Slice aired the fourth season of Nip/Tuck, but this year I have not heard any news about CTV picking up the show again. What is going on? I heard that A is airing it in the rest of the country, but in Montreal, I can't seem to locate it! HELP this desperate fan! – Rita

Amber: Here’s a classic example of how A pretending it is a national network when it really isn’t blocks Canadians from great shows. Yes Rita, the final season of Nip/Tuck is airing on A, but that’s the only place in Canada — the network isn’t even posting it online afterwards. Unfortunately, it sounds as though you’re going to have to wait for the cable series to come out on DVD.

Hello, I read that an ER spinoff is quietly in the works. If so, I hope it brings back some of the older cast members. Have you heard anything? Thank you. – Sabrina

Amber: You probably read some speculation. You see, when ER wrapped last year, many publications reported the rumour that John Stamos’s character was going to be the centre of a spinoff show, something that fizzled before it ever really get going. Not only could Stamos and executive producer John Wells not come up with anything original that would differ enough from ER to warrant an entire spinoff, but there was actually a clause in creator Michael Crichton’s contract before he died stating no such spinoffs could commence.

Good day, can you please tell me what day and time Monk airs? – Patricia

Amber: Monk ended in the U.S. last year, but it’s unclear what happened on this side of the border — the series is no longer on A or CTV’s media sites. I think it quietly finished on A over the summer.

Hello Amber, I started watching Criminal Minds a few months ago and now I am hooked. I think the show is well-written and the characters are well-portrayed. Has the show been renewed for another season? Also, I read that actor Thomas Gibson (who plays unit chief Aaron Hotchner) may not return. Could you please give me the scoop? Many thanks. – Anonymous

Amber: There’s no way in heck Criminal Minds won’t be renewed – it performs way too well for CBS. Actually, it does so well that the network is working on a spinoff pilot starring Forest Whitaker (The Shield) and Beau Garrett (House), and if all goes well, it could be on the air this fall.

Also, I’m thinking that some of what you read is leftover from last May’s crazy cliffhanger ending, where it looked as though Gibson’s character was blown up. This season, I haven’t heard that he’s leaving … yet. The show’s been known to get rid of key players in the past. Mandy Patinkin, I’m looking at you.