Mark Harmon used to live on 'Flamingo Road'

Q: Every time I see Mark Harmon on "NCIS" I remember a show he was on back in the 1980s. It was a nighttime soap that was sort of strange, but fascinating because of the actors (who we did not think were very talented). I know Harmon was a regular on this show. Who else was in this program?

A: "Flamingo Road" is the show in question, and it ran on NBC from 1981-82. It was what we used to call a "prime-time soap," meaning that it ran in prime time and it was a soap.

"Flamingo Road" took place in a small Florida town where there was a road named after a flamingo called Flamingo Road. The very attractive people who lived in this town included the much-married Constance (Morgan Fairchild), the not-married-as-much-but-still-comely Lane (Cristina Raines) and handsome guys played by David Selby, John Beck and Harmon. Everyone's favorite nemesis was crooked Sheriff Titus Semple, played by Howard Duff. Other regulars included Barbara Rush, Stella Stevens, Kevin McCarthy and the New Christy Minstrels. (Just kidding — they were only semiregulars.)

Q: I know the friendship between football players Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers was depicted in the movie "Brian's Song." I was told there is a later movie about their friendship. Would you know what that film is? James Caan starred in the original but I would like to know the actor who portrayed Gale Sayers. I'd also like to know the actors who portrayed the two friends in the later movie.

A: As you say, there have been two versions of "Brian's Song."

The first was in 1971, and that TV movie featured Caan as Piccolo, Billy Dee Williams as Sayers, Jack Warden as Coach George Halas and Shelley Fabares as Piccolo's wife.

Then came a 2001 version with Mekhi Phifer as Sayers, Sean Maher as Piccolo, Ben Gazzara as Halas and Paula Cale as Piccolo's wife.

Q: I am in my mid-30s and can remember coming home from school and watching a show with Vincent Price. It was a children's show which took place in a "Haunted House." It also featured Wolfman Jack and a witch. What was the name of the show? Who else starred in it? What was the whole idea of it? No one seems to know what I'm talking about.

A: The show was "The Hilarious House of Frightenstein," a syndicated series that aired in 1971. It was produced in Canada and the cast included Billy Van as the Count, the Wolfman and assorted other "monsters," and Vincent Price as the host. Since it was a syndicated series, it was seen in some cities, but not others, which may account for why no one else you mention it to remembers it, or else they just don't like you.

Q: My husband remembers a show Andy Griffith starred in after he finished "The Andy Griffith Show." He says Andy ran a salvage company that went into space to retrieve old satellites and other scrap from space. Can you help to prove his sanity?

A: "Salvage I" was the series, and it ran on ABC in 1979. Griffith played Harry Broderick, who headed a team of international scrap experts ("Yep, that's junk, all right. Whaddya think, Frenchy?" "Oui.")

Also in the cast were Joel Higgins, Trish Stewart and J. Jay Saunders.