Celebrity Extra: Andy Richter
By Dana Jackson
Q: I was really sad to see Andy Richter go on "Dancing with the Stars." He and Emma Slater have such a great friendship. Will they find a way to work together again? -- F.F.
A: The ratings for the ABC competitive-reality series "Dancing with the Stars" were higher than ever this past season, and part of it was due to the audience's love of former "Conan" sidekick Andy Richter. He and Emma Slater, the dance pro with whom he was paired, developed a close bond and will surely remain lifelong friends. They enjoyed making TikTok videos together during their rehearsals, and she's even been a guest on his podcast "The Three Questions with Andy Richter."
Andy Richter ("Dancing with the Stars"). Photo Credit: Courtesy of CBS
As for future projects, Slater posted on social media that the two will "continue to work together (somehow!)," including making more TikTok videos together. With Richter's soaring popularity, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't land a gig hosting a game show or something. The future looks very bright for both of them.
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Q: When is "House of Dragon" coming back with new episodes? Also, are there any other "Game of Thrones" spin-offs in the works? -- T.C.
A: "House of Dragon," the big-budget "Game of Thrones" prequel, has been confirmed by Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO, to return sometime in the summer of 2026. The budget for season one averaged about $20 million per episode, so a lot of money goes into each season, which takes time. Season three will hopefully be worth the wait.
According to TVLine, a formal cast list for the next season hasn't been announced, but actors who are expected to return include Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, and Tom Glynn-Carney, just to name a few. For those who haven't finished season two, I won't spoil who isn't returning due to their character's death.
There are several prequels and/or spin-offs to look forward to, including another prequel called "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," which is based on George R.R. Martin's "Tales of Dunk and Egg" novellas. It will be set almost 100 years before "GoT." ("House of the Dragon" is set about 200 years before "GoT.")
Unfortunately, a series centered around the character of Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) has been shelved indefinitely as they couldn't develop a story that met Martin's expectations.
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Q: Is it true that Maurice Benard is leaving "General Hospital" soon? I hope not because Sonny is my favorite character. -- D.W.
A: No, three-time Daytime-Emmy-Award winner Maurice Benard has no plans to exit "GH" anytime soon. According to TV Insider, 62-year-old Benard has a year left on his contract and says that he isn't considering retiring until he's at least 65.
He also has a successful podcast called "State of Mind" and recently welcomed his legendary co-star Genie Francis (Laura) to his show. He's hoping to land an interview with his friend Vanessa Marcil (Brenda) and hints that she might come on the podcast if and when she has a book to promote.
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