Q&A

Hollywood

Q: My friend was telling me about a game show where the contestants have to run through an obstacle course shaped like a giant mini-golf course. Apparently it was actually produced by a famous golfer. What’s it called?

A: Faced with a nearly endless number of possible golf puns, ABC named its mini-putt themed game show “Holey Moley.”

Contestants have to, as you say, negotiate physical obstacles (i.e.: duck rolling logs, go down waterslides and so on) while also completing rounds of actual miniature golf.

The premise allows for a giant, wacky set and a lot of fun banter from commentators Rob Riggle (better known as a comedian on shows such as “The Daily Show” and “NTSF:SD:SUV”) and Joe Tessitore (who is a real-life ABC sportscaster and is obviously having a hoot on this assignment). Muppets such as Kermit the Frog (voiced by Matt Vogel, “Sesame Street”) and Fozzie Bear (voiced by Eric Jacobson, “The Not Too Late Show With Elmo”) have also provided commentary this season.

The show is produced by an avid golfer who is famous, but not for his golf game. Stephen Curry, who produces the show and serves as its on-screen golf pro, is better known as a point guard for the Golden State Warriors — he’s a multiple-time NBA MVP and one of the most successful basketball players of all time.

Curry’s not just there as a money man or as an on-screen talent who got a producer credit as a favor. He was closely involved in the development of the show, which has been brewing since his childhood (sort of).

“As a kid, mini-golf was one of my favorite things to do,” he told USA Today. “The show is about my love for golf and

to provide entertainment to bring families together over the summer. I wanted to be involved in it, not just behind the scenes but on camera as well.”

“Holey Moley” has aired four seasons so far (many of which have gotten their own punny subtitles, such as the most recent “Holey Moley: Fore-Ever”). Though there’s no word on a fifth season yet, a renewal seems likely — it airs in the summer when networks struggle to fill their schedules and gets decent ratings. It also seems, like most game shows, to be relatively cheap to produce.

Q: I just finished watching “Life & Beth” and I’m wondering about the guy who plays Beth’s boyfriend in the first couple of episodes. He’s in a lot of things with Amy Schumer, isn’t he? Are they together or something?

A: Good eye.There is a relationship there, but it’s not the romantic kind.

Amy Schumer and Kevin Kane have worked together loads of times over the years — a professional relationship that started when they were in acting school together in New York. Kane told Spin magazine that they started a theatre troupe together, and when Schumer’s career started taking off, she chose to keep working with Kane — basically to continue working like they’re in a troupe.

“I think the biggest lesson we’ve learned is usually you’re always thinking there’s that one door, that one audition or whatever it is to get you in and get you moving, but it’s really just the community you put together,” Kane said. “That’s the way we always worked.”

(That was his serious answer.As a comedian, he also offered a funny answer about how they like to write unflattering characters for each other to play because they’re both jerks — he didn’t say “jerks.”)

The Hulu series “Life & Beth” is just the latest of their many collaborations. Kane was also a producer and supporting star on Schumer’s Comedy Central series, “Inside Amy Schumer,” and served in a similar capacity on her big-screen projects “I Feel Pretty” (2018) and “Trainwreck” (2015), among others.

Q:When is “NCIS: Los Angeles” coming back? It is coming back, right?

A:This is a classic good news, (slightly) bad news situation.

The good news is that “NCIS: Los Angeles” is indeed coming back, just as it has every year since it debuted in 2009. CBS knows a good formula when it has one.

The bad news is that you’ll have to wait a relatively long time to see it.The 14th season doesn’t arrive until Oct. 9, making it one of the later broadcast debuts. This includes the other “NCIS” shows — “NCIS: Hawaii” (Season 2) and original-flavor “NCIS” (Season 20) — which both debut on Sept. 19.

CBS didn’t offer an explanation for the late return. It just said that it “couldn’t be more excited” to have all three highly successful shows back on the schedule.

Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided.