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Q: Can you give me some information about Shirley Temple?
-- Harvey F., Cabot, Ark.
A: Sure thing, Harvey. Shirley Temple Black, whose husband, Charles
Black, passed away in 2005, turned 80 on April 23. She is the
quintessential example of a child actor success story, starring in
dozens of movies in the 1930s and '40s.
In the 1970s, she became politically active. President Nixon appointed
Shirley the U.S. ambassador to Ghana from 1974-76. In 1976 she was
appointed as the first female Chief Protocol of the United States, and
from 1989-'92 she was the U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia. She also
served on the board of directors for many high-profile companies,
including The Walt Disney Company and Del Monte.
In the late '90s, Shirley publicly announced that she'd had a mastectomy
to treat her breast cancer. A big celebration was planned for her 80th
birthday last month; however, she was forced to make it a smaller affair
when she suffered a fall in her home and broke her arm the week before.
***
Q: I am mesmerized by the similarities between Julia Roberts and Monica
Potter, down to the vocal patterns. Any relationship? -- Walter O., via
e-mail
A: I also can see the similarities between the actresses; however, they
are not related. Monica was born in Cleveland (Go Browns!) in 1971. Her
first major role was as the first Sharon Newman on "The Young and The
Restless." She went on to feature films, such as "Patch Adams," "Con
Air" and "Saw." She recently appeared as herself on an episode of the
hysterical Starz series "Head Case," where, ironically, Dr. Goode
mistakes the actress for Julia Roberts.
***
 Q:
I became a huge fan of ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money." Since the writers
strike it has gone off the air. Does ABC plan on bringing back the show?
-- Jolene in Minnesota
A: The popular ABC show, starring Peter Krause, Donald Sutherland, Jill
Clayburgh and William Baldwin, will be back in the fall for its second
season. As of this writing, the show is not scheduled to return before
the fall, as "Men in Trees" will be playing out the rest of its season
in the "Dirty Sexy Money" time slot.
***
Q: I've been hearing about all these accidents on the set of the new
"James Bond" movie. It's almost as if the movie is cursed. What is your
take on it? -- Gigi, via e-mail
A: I think that although it is unfortunate when these accidents happen,
people are human and are bound to make human mistakes. I don't think
that means that anything is cursed. There are many, many reports of
accidents occurring on movie sets, as well as theatrical sets dating
back to the medieval times. We all just have to trust in the fact that
the people involved are professionals and are doing all that is humanly
possible to avoid accidents.
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