Will Ed Schultz be coming back on radio again? — A.H., Fort Lauderdale

Poor ratings got Schultz knocked off WINZ, AM 940 and are likely to discourage other local stations from picking him up. However, you can listen to his show via his Web site, bigeddieradio.com.

In what year was the ban lifted that allowed anything to go in the movies, such as profanity, racy sex scenes and really bad violence? Kids say anything and everything. Also it looks like reality taking over mainstream TV with all the new shows popping up every day. — D.D., Pembroke Pines

Starting in 1934, filmmakers voluntarily adhered to what was known as the Hays Code, which policed the content of movies. Along with its tenets against sex and violence were prohibitions against depicting homosexuality, which was labeled a perversion, and interracial relationships. Crime could never pay and the law could never be mocked. Religion also could only be presented in positive terms. None of this could have happened absent a 1915 Supreme Court decision that said movies were not protected by the First Amendment. A 1952 decision overturned this, opening the way for more realistic depictions of society. From there, the evolution was gradual but the generally accepted final turning point came when filmmakers abandoned even the few remaining remnants of the Hays Code and went to the letter rating system for movies. You might not approve of contemporary content but at least there are guidelines to warn you what to expect.

Whatever became of Marcia Gay Harden, who was splendid in Miller's Crossing? — L.C., Tamarac

Nothing has became of her. Her career continues to flourish even if none of her recent roles have drawn the plaudits of her Oscar-winning supporting actress turn in Pollock and her Oscar-nominated performance in Mystic River. Right after winning the Academy Award in 2001, she had a co-starring role in the CBS drama series The Education of Max Bickford, opposite another Oscar winner, Richard Dreyfuss. Despite the heft of its marquee, it lasted only one season. Hardin currently has at least five films in production, post-production or awaiting release.

I am crazy about Charlie Rose. His program on PBS is always engaging. Please write about his life's journey. — L.C., Sunrise

Rose, 66, was born in Henderson, N.C. A protege of Bill Moyers, he has been doing his PBS interview show since 1991. He also has made stops at CBS (60 Minutes II), the BBC and local stations in New York and Dallas. His only marriage ended in divorce in 1980 after 12 years.

The Marlins' TV broadcasters go too far rooting for the Marlins. They are not objective in their reporting. Are they paid to do that? — Murph, Plantation.

Short answer, yes. The announcing team works for the Marlins. As far as being homers, they are no worse and, in some cases, a lot better than you will find in any city in any major sport. New York is the Big Apple, the nation's communications center. Have you ever heard the sickeningly self-aggrandizing (often at the sake of accuracy) calls of Yankee broadcaster John Sterling? If this is the best baseball's most storied franchise in the nation's No. 1 market can do, you have no complaints about the Marlins broadcasts.

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Write to Tom ...

Send your questions to Tom Jicha, TV/Radio Writer, Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-2293 or tjicha@Sun-Sentinel.com. Please do not send self-addressed stamped envelopes.


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