You have questions. I have some answers.

Q: I love watching reruns of the Johnny Carson “Tonight Show.” Sometimes he mentions shows his production company made. Do you know how many shows Johnny had a hand in? And how many of them were successful?

A: We will be marking the 100th birthday of the late-night TV legend in October (he passed away in January 2005), and it’s worth noting again how powerful he was. That power was evident in 1980 when he signed a new contract that, among other things, gave his production company ownership of “The Tonight Show” and the following time slot (which would later contain “Late Night with David Letterman”), until Carson stepped down and Letterman went to CBS.

The contract also launched a wider production deal: Carson’s company would be behind “TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes” (done in association with Dick Clark), the sitcom “Amen” and the theatrical movie “The Big Chill,” to note some successes. Not so notable are “Teachers Only,” a comedy starring Lynn Redgrave and Norman Fell, which ran two seasons, and single-season efforts “Mr. President” (with George C. Scott), “Lewis & Clark” (Gabe Kaplan), “Cassie & Co.” (Angie Dickinson), and “Partners in Crime” (Lynda Carter and Loni Anderson).There were some TV movies, as well, including “John and Yoko: A Love Story.” Still, his legacy rests more on his own on-air work, visible on Antenna TV at 11 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.

Q: What is the name of the blond-haired man who does commercials for T-Mobile?

A: That is Billy Bob Thornton. He is an Oscar winner for his screenplay for “Sling Blade,” which he also directed and starred in, an Emmy nominee for his performance in the first season of TV series “Fargo,” a musician and an often fascinating actor whose other credits include the TV series “Goliath” and the current “Landman,” movies such as “Bad Santa,” “Monster’s Ball” and “A Simple Plan” — and a lovely little guest-starring spot on “The Big Bang Theory.”

Q: I am a big fan of mystery shows on PBS and especially like "Astrid,” a show about an autistic criminologist on the Paris police force. It is very well-written, and the actors are all superb. I recently saw a show named "Patience,” an anglicized copy of the French show. Are both shows products of the same team? The only difference is in the setting of each. Is this artistically legal?

A: Yes. Agreements are often made with foreign shows so they can be adapted for other countries. This is especially common with reality and shows such as “American Idol” (from “Pop Idol”). The U.S. also has numerous scripted examples. One of the most famous is “All in the Family,” a reworking of a British series, “Till Death Us Do Part.” Then you have, among others, “The Office,” from a British series; “The Good Doctor,” from a South Korean drama; and “Ugly Betty,” from a Colombian telenovela. Since you’re a mystery fan, you may also be aware of American reworkings of British crime shows “Prime Suspect” and “Cracker.”

The inspiration goes the other way, too. As MovieWeb reported some time back, there’s a Russian version of “How I Met Your Mother,” a Colombian adaptation of “Breaking Bad” (with the main character named Walter Blanco), a South Korean “Criminal Minds” and a Greek “Modern Family.” The vast “Law & Order” world includes British and Canadian versions.

———

©2025 Tribune News Service. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.