#Middlebury
Q: I’m not sure if you have info about the HSN or QVC shopping channels, but maybe you know what happened to Joy Mangano. She was a big seller on HSN, but all her products have been on clearance, and she hasn’t been on the air in months. I’m wondering if she’s enjoying a retirement or moving on to something bigger? – A.V.
Joy Mangano (Simon and Schuster photo)
A: Inventor Joy Mangano introduced her Miracle Mop via the QVC network in the early 1990s and then partnered with the HSN network, where she stayed for almost 20 years. She parted ways with HSN in December 2018 to “pursue other professional opportunities,” but you’ll still see her products on the network for a while. As for TV appearances, she was recently a celebrity guest on ABC’s “Strahan and Sara” morning show for a special segment.
Back in 2015, there was a terrific movie based on Mangano’s life called, simply, “Joy,” starring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro. Mangano later published an inspirational book about her life, “Inventing Joy,” co-written by bestselling author Alex Tresniowski.
Q: I loved the program “Evan Goes Wild” and wonder if it’s coming back on Animal Planet, my most-watched cable channel. – W.K.
A: Dr. Evan Antin gained popularity a few years ago when “People” magazine recognized him as its “Sexiest Veterinarian,” and now he has a show on Animal Planet. On “Evan Goes Wild,” he travels the world exploring his “bucket list” of wild animal adventures, helping animals in need along the way. The show’s first season appears to have ended with just eight episodes, but since Dr. Antin has more than a million Instagram followers, I can’t imagine Animal Planet not renewing it for a second season.
Q: Awhile back I read the book “1421: The Year China Discovered America,” by Gavin Menzies, and thought, “What a blockbuster movie that would make!” I also thought Ron Howard, the director, should be the one to do this motion picture. I tried contacting him to no avail and was wondering if you could provide an address or email so that I may get in touch with him? – E.S.
A: Since Ron Howard, who directed films such as “A Beautiful Mind” and “The Da Vinci Code,” travels a lot on location and isn’t with a TV network, per se, I think the best way to try to reach him with your idea is through Twitter. His official Twitter account @RealRonHoward can be found by typing in this web address: twitter.com/RealRonHoward.
Since it doesn’t appear he has private messaging, your suggestion will appear publicly on his page, but hopefully it will reach him – and you might find that other “Tweeters” agree with you. And who knows, perhaps someone who knows him will read your question in this column and pass along your suggestion.
Incidentally, PBS aired a documentary of the book back in 2004. If you didn’t see it, it’s possible your local library can access a copy.
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com!
© 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
You must be logged in to post a comment.