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TV Media Weekly | March 25 - 31, 2017 By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: I have noticed that Starz has been showing the movie "Tai-Pan" frequently. Why do they not show the sequel, "No- ble House"? It is a very good movie as well. A: There's an easy answer to this: "Noble House" isn't a movie at all. The first two books in James Clavell's Asian Saga series were produced as films, albeit more than two decades apart ("King Rat" was released in 1965, while "Tai- Pan" was released in 1986). But the next two books in the series were made as TV miniseries in- stead. "Shogun" aired in 1980, while "Noble House" aired in 1988. "Noble House" aired in 90-min- ute episodes over four consecutive nights, which means it runs six hours in total. This also means Starz is not going to air it, just as it's not going to air the five-hour "Shogun" adaptation. Miniseries rarely get rerun on television. They fall between the two models of TV programming: syndicated series and two-hour movies. Syndicated series usually air in the same out-of-prime time- slot every day, seemingly indefi- nitely (that's the reason only long- running shows get syndicated). Movies, on the other hand, are dropped in to fit two-hour holes in the schedule. A six-hour miniseries can do nei- ther of these things. Miniseries are generally marketed as so-called appointment television, a market- ing term that refers to the sort of program people plan in advance to watch. However, specialty cable channels like Starz (with the excep- tion of its original programming) exist to produce the opposite — old movies are on the air so that you can stumble upon them. These channels don't expect viewers to make appointments for that kind of TV. They also don't expect people to make six-hour appointments. So, until someone comes up with a miniseries channel (speak- ing of which, why hasn't anyone done that yet?), we're unlikely to see "Noble House," or "Shogun" for that matter, on television. Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Hollywood Q&A By Andrew Warren TV Media C ake and royalty go way back. Wasn't it French queen Marie Antoi- nette who supposedly said "let them eat cake" as her subjects were starving? Re- gardless of whether that little historical tidbit is true (for the record, historians say it's not), this week Food Network com- bines royalty and cake in an ep- isode of "Cake Wars" that should end on a much happier note than the story of the ill- fated French queen. After all, Disney princesses always get happy endings. The flour-covered competi- tion has been fierce since the tournament began in early Feb- ruary, and finally, "Cake Wars: Champs" is ready for its finale. The final episode of the season airs Sunday, March 26, on Food Network. Disney's leading ladies are the focus of this week's compe- tition, and with some of the best pastry chefs around going to work in the kitchen, the cakes they come up with are guaranteed to be sweet indeed. The likes of Jasmine, Cinderella, Ariel and more play a major role in this magical episode. "Cake Wars: Champs" brought back some of the show's most memorable win- ners from the past, and gave them a shot at taking home an- other $10,000 prize for outbak- ing the competition. So far, the championship has included Dr. Seuss-, Lego- and Pokémon- themed bake-offs, as well as the Avengers and Shrek. In each episode of "Cake Wars," four professional bakers compete to have one of their frosted creations featured in a special event. With the help of some assistants, they create huge edible displays with an eye on the $10,000 prize that comes with beating out the competition. As usual, Jonathan Bennett presides over the champions' tournament, with Disney visual artist Brittney Lee sitting in as the third judge as a number of classic princesses come to life with the help of flour and eggs. Expert pastry chefs and regular "Cake Wars" judges Richard Ruskell and Waylynn Lucas fill the other two judges' seats. Despite this week's Disney princess theme, not everyone gets a happy ending. Only one baker takes home $10,000 and gets to have his or her beautiful creation be the centerpiece at a special event, and since this is their second win, it really is the icing on the cake. Jonathan Bennett hosts "Cake Wars" Pastries become royalty in 'Cake Wars: Champs' finale 10 | Cooking this week Friendship Haven 2 x 2.5" Noah's Ark 2 x 2" 2nd Shift Plumbing 2 x 1.5" CALL TODAY FOR AVAILABILITY! Section 8 senior housing An Independent Retirement Community 2600 W. Jefferson St. Kokomo 765-459-9343 24/7 Complete Sewer & Plumbing Service Call Someone Who Gives a Shift! callsomeonewhogivesashift.com PC#10500764 (765) 863-8522 ! NO EMERGENCY FEES!

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