Ask American Profile 5/20/2007

Q Did Chuck Woolery marry one of his sidekick girls on Lingo?
—Ola Bell, Speedwell, Va.

Game-show host Woolery, 66, did indeed make his own Love Connection—another TV game show he used to host—on the set of Lingo. But Kim Barnes worked backstage as a hair and makeup artist, not as one of Woolery’s onstage female assistants. The couple married July 17, 2006, at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Both bride and groom returned to their TV jobs when Lingo resumed production in February.

Q Is Vanessa Williams on Ugly Betty the same Vanessa Williams who’s a former Miss America?
—Frank Dean, Elko, Nev.

Yes, the 44-year-old actress who plays conniving magazine editor Wilhelmina Slater on the popular ABC-TV prime-time series was crowned Miss America in 1983, becoming the first African-American to be so honored. But she was forced to relinquish her crown when spicy photos from her past surfaced. Ugly Betty marks the first major TV role for Williams, the mother of four kids ranging from 6 to 19, who also is recording a new CD and working to re-ignite her singing career. Her 1992 single “Save the Best for Last” was a No. 1 smash.

Q I recently purchased the DVD of Hawaii Five-0 and was wondering if any of the cast is still around?
—Shayna Scott, Bedford, Pa.

Sadly, most of the key actors in the popular 1968 to 1980 TV series, including Jack Lord, Zulu and Kam Fong, are no longer with us, but James MacArthur, who played Det. Danny “Book ’em, Dan-o” Williams, is going strong and retains a connection to Hawaii. “I have had my same home there for 38 years,” says the actor, 69, who also has a residence in California. “The pull of the islands is always with you.”

Q What information can you give me on Ben Mankiewicz, host of numerous programs on the Turner Classic Movies channel? His knowledge of movies, actors and other cinematic information is awesome.
—Domonic Fiorino, Boone, Iowa

Mankiewicz was a correspondent for The Best Damn Sports Show, Period for Fox Sports, filled in as an anchor on MSNBC’s morning show and had guest acting roles on TV shows The Practice and The District before landing his spot as weekend host for the Turner Classic Movies channel. “If I’d been able to invent a TV job, this would be it,” says Mankiewicz, who also can be heard on Sirius satellite radio co-hosting the daily talk show The Young Turks. “I love movies, and getting the chance to tell stories about movies to an audience of people who love movies is the perfect opportunity.”

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