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TV Media Weekly | November 17 - 23, 2018 By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: Why would the casting di- rector for "Last Man Standing" make such a drastic change in the character of Mandy? It seems a better solution would have been to send Mandy to Paris to design clothes. A: I'll do you one better than the casting director: showrunner Kevin Abbott — basically the lead cre- ative force on the team — took a direct hand in recasting the role, and he went on the record to say, basically, they all fell in love with the new actress, Molly McCook. ABC canceled "Last Man Stand- ing" in 2017, only to have Fox pick it up later. But in the meantime, Molly Ephraim, who originally played Mandy in the show, had made other acting commitments. The producers were stuck either writing the character off or recast- ing her. They decided to at least consider recasting her, and they found McCook. Abbot said in the interview with Entertainment Weekly that the producers expected a backlash from fans but felt confident they'd get over it because they all went through the same thing. "When Molly McCook walked in, we thought, 'that's not going to work.' Physically that's not going to work. And then she's just so good." Q: Are the tribe members on "Survivor" limited in what they can bring on the show? For example, if they know they will be on a tropical is- land where torrential rain is a given at any time, why don't they bring rain gear? A: It can often get overshad- owed by the interpersonal dra- ma, but "Survivor" is, at its heart, a contest. And contests are defined by their rules. Fortunately, a few years ago someone leaked those rules, in the form of the nine-page con- tract given to contestants, so we know quite a lot about them. A half-page of the rules is de- voted just to what contestants are allowed to bring with them to whatever exotic locale is be- ing featured that season. The most pertinent rule in terms of your question states: "Contes- tants may only arrive to the Se- ries Location with clothing that is pre-approved by [the] Producer." Presumably, the producer won't approve anything that gives a contestant a competitive advantage. (Generally speaking, it seems the producer approves as little clothing as possible.) Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided. Hollywood Q&A By Andrew Warren TV Media W hether it's country singer Trisha Year- wood with "Trisha's Southern Kitchen" or "Hot in Cleveland" actress Val- erie Bertinelli with "Valerie's Home Cooking," it seems like more and more entertainers are finding second careers with cook- ing shows. The crossover between popular entertainer and enter- taining cook isn't all that surpris- ing, with the boundless creativity that brings success in a studio also lending itself well to coming up with incredible dishes in a kitchen. Country superstar Martina Mc- Bride joins the growing ranks of entertainers-turned-TV chefs when "Martina's Table" pre- mieres Sunday, Nov. 18, on Food Network. The decorated artist has been a force to be reckoned with in the country music industry since the early 1990s, and now she's inviting her fans into her own kitchen for a peek at where she channels her creativity when she isn't in the studio or on tour. It's Thanksgiving at Martina's place in this week's premiere, and her whole family is home for the holiday. Never one to let a belly stay empty for long, our host draws inspiration from her Kansas roots as she prepares some of her favorite seasonal recipes — shar- ing every step along the way with those of us watching from home. Whether it's mouthwatering candied pecans or cornbread stuffing that's loaded with sa- vory sausage and sweet cherries, even the most humble of side dishes receives a discerning at- tention to flavorsome detail that keeps her family and friends coming back for more. And speaking of friends, she'll have a few famous ones swinging by for a bite to eat over the course of the season, including country singer Faith Hill, Little Big Town members Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman, and music superstar Sheryl Crow. "I've always had a passion for cooking and love to cook for my friends and family," McBride said in a statement announcing her new series. "Having a show on Food Network is a dream come true. We've filmed the first season and it's been so fun and exciting to be able to share some of my favorite recipes and stories." McBride is known for the pas- sion that she brings out in her mu- sic, and her food is no different. "Martina's Table" premieres Sun- day, Nov. 18, on Food Network. Country kitchen: Martina McBride brings a taste of creativity 10 | Cooking this week Moore's Home Health 2 x 2" Family Health Clinic 2 x 1.5" White Lilies N Paradise 2 x 1.5" Martina McBride hosts "Martina's Table"

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