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Q: I saw an ad in a magazine for a Hallmark holiday movie with Candace Cameron Bure and John Brotherton. I didn’t recognize his name, but he looks like a soap actor from “One Life to Live,” a soap I watched for decades before it was canceled. Was he on that soap? – S.W.
A: John Brotherton might not be a household name, but he’s been accumulating credits since his first major role on, you guessed it, “One Life to Live.” He played Jared Banks, a swindler and Buchanan heir imposter, on the ABC daytime drama for three years. He then did the usual round of prime-time guest-starring roles before being cast as Matt Harmon on “Fuller House,” the Netflix reboot of “Full House,” in which he had a romance with Bure’s character, DJ.
John Brotherton (Jean Nelson photo)
Now, Brotherton and Bure are reunited in a new Hallmark original movie, “The Christmas Contest,” in which they play exes who compete to win money for their chosen charities. Be sure to visit HallmarkChannel.com/Christmas and click on “schedule” to watch previews of the many heartfelt films that Hallmark has to offer this season.
Q: Who are the new “Monday Night Football” hosts? It seems like every year they change. I miss the days of Howard Cosell. – P.S.
A. “Monday Night Football” premiered on ABC on Sept. 21, 1970, with the New York Jets versus the Cleveland Browns. The first trio of hosts were Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson and Don Meredith. A year later, Frank Gifford replaced Jackson. From 1987 to 1997, Gifford, Al Michaels and Dan Dierdorf were a ratings success, but ever since then various combinations of personalities haven’t been as memorable. The big Monday night game moved to ESPN in 2006.
The current hosts of “MNF” are in their second year together. Steve Levy is the play-by-play announcer and has a long career as a sports commentator, including for NHL games. Brian Griese and Louis Riddick round out the “MNF” booth and are both former NFL players themselves. Griese was a back-up quarterback for the Denver Broncos when they won the Super Bowl in 1998. Riddick was safety and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1991.
Q: Whatever happened to Jussie Smollett after he was accused of lying about the attack against him? Did he go to prison? – Y.G.
A: Jussie Smollett had a very successful career in Hollywood, starring in the hit show “Empire,” when he told police that he was the victim of a hate crime in Chicago. The tables quickly turned on him when Smollett himself was charged with 16 felony counts for allegedly falsifying a police report. The charges were eventually dropped by Cook County prosecutors only to be indicted again later by a special prosecutor. His trial is currently under way.
Even though his acting career appears to be over, Smollett is determined to move forward. He recently attended the screening of a film he directed called “B-Boy Blues.”
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
© 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
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