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September 24 - 30, 2023 • Terre Haute Tribune-Star • 9 The one-two punch of "American Graffiti" (1973) and "Jaws" (1975) brought stardom to Richard Drey- fuss in the mid-1970s, but he already had been paying his career dues for about a decade. Much of that came through television work, as a guest in such series as "The Big Valley" and "The Mod Squad," but he also had started to make a mark in movies … particularly notably for his single line in the 1967 landmark "The Graduate," in which he asks landlord Norman Fell (about fellow tenant Dustin Hoffman) whether he should "get the cops." Oscar winner Dreyfuss' relationship with films will be in focus when he joins Dave Karger to serve as guest programmer for the night Sunday, Sept. 24, on Turner Classic Movies (after being aboard TCM's most recent Classic Cruise for fans, and appearing at its latest Clas- sic Film Festival in April). Inevitably, there will be discussion of Dreyfuss' own credits, but much of the conversation will go toward the titles he has selected to help introduce – two of the most popular attractions in the TCM library. First is director Frank Capra's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washing- ton" (1939), starring James Stewart as a newly appoint- ed U.S. senator who finds many of his peers opposed to his idealism. Then comes "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), which helped build James Dean's iconic screen image through his portrayal of a deeply troubled teen. Dreyfuss is sure to relate themes from those pictures to his own work choices, and the Academy Award re- cipient (for 1977's "The Goodbye Girl") has enjoyed quite a varied career that has spanned genres from love stories to science fiction. It's interesting to consider what might have happened for him (or not) had film- maker George Lucas not chosen him for the part of cynically observational teen Curt in "American Graf- fiti" (1973). Though he made "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" (1974) next, his subsequent role was shark expert Matt Hooper in "Jaws" … and virtually anyone who even has heard the word "movie" knows what happened with that. Hugely bankable after the fish tale, Dreyfuss re- united with director Steven Spielberg for "Close En- counters of the Third Kind" (1977), also a box-office blockbuster. The Neil Simon-written "The Goodbye Girl" (1977) came next, and an intriguing succession of varied projects followed for the actor, from the movie version of the play "Whose Life Is It Anyway?" (1981) and "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" (1986) to "What About Bob?" (1991) and "Mr. Holland's Opus" (1995). In the years since, Dreyfuss has continued to mix things up professionally – not only in the subjects of his work, but in the avenues for it. He's done stage, films and television, and his upcoming TCM appear- ance is sure to reaffirm that he remains a unique force in any venue. spotlight BY JAY BOBBIN Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss in "Jaws" Richard Dreyfuss visits TCM for a night Damaris Phillips from "Outrageous Pumpkins" Sunday on Food Q: Damian Lewis's return to "Billions" is very welcome. Why did he leave the show in the first place? – Steve Dayton, Orlando, Fla. A: When the actor signed off as Bobby "Axe" Axelrod af- ter the first five seasons of the Showtime and Paramount+ With Showtime drama, his wife – actress Helen McCrory ("Peaky Blinders," "Skyfall") – had recently passed. He hasn't addressed that as the specific reason for his leav- ing, but it undoubtedly had a contributing impact. In terms of his coming back to "Billions," it likely was appealing to Lewis to know that he would have a limit - ed run, since this is the final season of the show. It also lets Axe get back to being Axe, since this round will do much to determine the character's enduring legacy, which could continue (though it hasn't been guaran- teed) if he resurfaces in one of the "Billions" spinoffs that are being planned. celebritypipeline BY JAY BOBBIN Send questions of general interest via email to tvpipeline@gmail.com. Writers must include their names, cities and states. Personal replies cannot be sent.