



Question: What is the deal with the little girl on the Pepsi commercials? For a kid who is not particularly cute or talented, she gets shoved in our face so much. My wife and I are trying to figure out which powerful figure in Hollywood she is related to.

A. The 9-year-old Hallie Kate Eisenberg doesn't come from a powerful show business family, unless you consider that her mother dabbled as a clown in her hometown of East Brunswick, N.J., and her brother, Jesse, played one of the kids on the short-lived Fox series Get Real three years ago. You're entitled to your opinion, but Al Pacino, who used Hallie in The Insider, and Robin Williams, who had her in his movie Bicentennial Man, must think she's either cute and/or talented.

Q. I am a big fan of Hogan's Heroes, which is shown several times a day on TV Land. Recently, I saw an episode, which appeared to be the first, in which they introduced the character played by Larry Hovis as Lt. Carter. After that, he is always referred to as Sgt. Carter. Did I hear something wrong?

A. Your hearing is as sound as your knowledge of Hogan's Heroes history. Hovis was originally hired solely for the pilot. However, between the shooting of the pilot and the show's premiere, two actors dropped out and Hovis was elevated to regular status. It was felt that he would be more of a regular Joe as an enlisted man than an officer, so his character was busted in rank.

Q. On a recent Survivor, I saw an ad for a new Big Brother. Is it really going to happen? If so, when will it be on?

A. Big Brother 3, which is definite, will likely premiere in early July.

Q. I recently saw Michael J. Fox on NBC's 75th-anniversary special. Once again, the audience gave him a standing ovation. It doesn't make any sense to me why they do this. Michael J. Fox is not the only person in the world with an illness.

A. I see your point. So what if Michael J. Fox is one of the nicest people in show business, loved by everyone who knows him? Why waste energy on affection and sympathy when it can be reserved for more productive emotions, such as bitterness and envy?

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