Q: Whatever happened to Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford of The Rifleman?

A: After the series ended its five-season run in 1963, Connors starred in Branded, which aired on NBC in the 1965-66 season and remains a cult fave, and Werewolf on Fox in 1987-88. He died in 1992. Crawford acts occasionally but puts more energy into leading the Johnny Crawford Dance Orchestra, specializing in music of the 1920s and '30s.

Q: Do you have any idea as to what or who is holding up the DVD release of the 1974 buddy cop film Freebie and the Bean?

A: The movie, which starred Alan Arkin and James Caan, has been released by Warner Bros. through its online archive series, where you special-order the DVD and a copy is dubbed for you for about $20. Check it out at www.wbshop.com, by clicking on the movies bar and then the Warner Archive line.

Q: I believe I saw a preview for a new fall series with Craig T. Nelson as one of the actors. If so, can you please identify it?

A: Nelson -- star of Call to Glory, Coach and The District -- is a member of the ensemble on Parenthood, a series version of the Ron Howard film. It was set for NBC this fall but was postponed until midseason after star Maura Tierney began treatment for breast cancer. She has since left the show.

Q: I would like to know if the Moonlight series male star is in a new medical series.

A: Alex O'Loughlin is now starring in Three Rivers, a medical drama airing at 9 p.m. Sundays on CBS.

Q: I was wondering if there was ever a release of the TV series Amerika with Kris Kristofferson.

A: For those of you tuning in late, Amerika was a big-event miniseries on ABC in 1987 that showed what the United States might have been like 10 years after a Soviet takeover. I do not know of an authorized release of it on VHS or DVD.

Q: I am in my 80s, and when I was a young man in a very small Texas town, I saw a movie called Valiant is the Name for Carrie. I was so impressed with it that I even named one of my daughters after the title character. I have tried to find a copy of the movie without success.

A: I think you are remembering Valiant is the Word for Carrie. Based on a novel by Barry Benefield, it starred Gladys George as Carrie, a woman who worked with orphans. George was nominated for an Oscar for her performance. Alas, it does not appear to have found its way to an authorized video.

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