Opie's mother draws little mention in `Griffith Show.'

Q: I have watched "The Andy Griffith Show" for years. The reruns are always funnier than the time before. My question is, what happened to Opie's mother? Did the show start with Andy as a single parent?

A: Andy was a widower in the series' pilot episode, seen as part of "The Danny Thomas Show." When Opie's pet turtle is accidentally stepped on outside the ice-cream parlor, Andy has a heart-to-heart with Opie about his mother's death. She isn't mentioned much more in the course of the series. For more "Andy Griffith Show" trivia, visit the online home of The Andy Griffith Show Reruns Watchers Club (TAGSRWC) at www.mayberry.com.

Q: Is it my imagination or does Henry Winkler (Fonzie) have a cameo appearance in the movie "The Patriot"?

A: There's no trace of producer-actor Winkler in Mel Gibson's latest big-screen hit. But you can spot the former Fonz in "Down to You," the current teen romance starring Freddie Prinze Jr.

Q: A friend came across a tape of an HBO show with a comedian by the name of Bob Nelson. I remember seeing it when it was on HBO. It is the funniest thing. I have never seen anything else with him or ever heard of him again. What happened to this funny guy?

A: The comic, who started his career in New York comedy clubs in 1978, is still entertaining, mainly on the club circuit. He's been featured in four HBO specials, toured with Rodney Dangerfield and made appearances with David Letterman and Jay Leno. He's even appeared in some movies ("Kindergarten Cop," "Brain Donor"). Some of his wacky characters are boxer Jiffy Jeff and know-it-all Eppy Epperman.

Q: My question concerns the TV series "National Velvet," which aired, I think, in or around 1959. I was in the fifth grade then and had a huge crush on the little girl who played the title role. I believe her name was Lori Martin. Can you tell me what has become of her?

A: The popular movie became a TV series in 1960, with Lori Martin in the role of Velvet Brown, played on the big screen by Elizabeth Taylor. After the show's two-season run, Martin continued to appear in commercials and popular sitcoms of the 1960s including "My Three Sons," "Family Affair" and "Please Don't Eat the Daisies." In 1962, she appeared in "Cape Fear" as young Nancy Bowden, the teenage girl menaced by Robert Mitchum's Max Cady. She did two more movies - "The Chase" (1966) and "The Angry Breed" (1969) - then dropped out of the public eye.

Q: I enjoyed Julianna Marguiles' last episode on "ER" May 11, and must know the name of the song played when Carol Hathaway returned to Doug Ross at the end of the show. The singer's voice was familiar. Was it Don Henley?

A: The song was "Taking You Home" from Henley's new CD "Inside Job."

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