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February 11 - 17, 2018 WHATS UP! T5 BY ANDREW WARREN TV Media Animated politics: Getting skewered by comedians is part of the job of being a politician, and holding the highest office in the land draws an even big- ger target for their jokes and send-ups. The current presi- dent certainly hasn't been im- mune to ribbing, and Stephen Colbert's new series continues this proud American tradition. "Our Cartoon President," which springs from the mind of the "Late Show with Ste- phen Colbert" host, premieres Sunday, Feb. 11, on Showtime. The comedian serves as exec- utive producer on the series that presents itself as the "tru- ish" adventures of President Trump and the family mem- bers, friends and confidants with whom he interacts dur- ing the course of his duties. This isn't the first time Col- bert has brought an animated Donald Trump to the screen. The animated avatar first ap- peared in "The Late Show" during last year's election, along with cartoon versions of Hillary Clinton and a Bernie Sanders supporting bird. Veteran voice actor and im- pressionist Jeff Bergman voic- es the president in the new se- ries. He may not be a house- hold name, but he's voiced some of the most iconic ani- mated characters around, in- cluding Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Foghorn Legorn in "The Looney Tunes Show," George Jetson and Mr. Spacely in "Jestons: The Movie" (1990), and Fred Flintstone in "The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age Smackdown" (2015). Colbert has been a frequent critic of Trump, skewering him almost nightly in "The Late Show." "Our Cartoon President," though, has been advertised as more than just a comedy that pokes fun at the man; it's also a workplace comedy and a character study, albeit one where the office is oval and lacking in character. Animated Trump has been a hit since he first graced "The Late Show," and now he has a series all his own. "Our Car- toon President" premieres Sunday, Feb. 11, on Showtime. Double the Lopez: A fa- vorite former guest star is re- turning to "Will & Grace" af- ter almost 14 years. Way back in the NBC comedy's sixth season in 2004, R&B hitmaker Jennifer Lopez ("Gigli," 2003) guest starred in the two-part season finale, and now she's returning to the role in the re- vived series. As of press time, no date had been announced for the epi- sode or episodes in which she'll be appearing, but what is known is that she won't just be returning to the role she played previously, a satirized caricature of herself. While she is lined up to reprise that character, she'll also be play- ing the one she stars as in her own series, "Shades of Blue." In the cop drama, which also airs on NBC, Lopez stars as NYPD detective and FBI in- formant Harlee Santos. Al- though the show has been re- newed for a third season, no premiere date has been an- nounced. In her previous "Will & Grace" appearance, Lopez performed at Karen's (Megan Mullally, "The Kings of Sum- mer," 2013) wedding, letting Jack (Sean Hayes, "The Three Stooges," 2012) fill in as one of her backup dancers after the regular one twists his ankle. "Will & Grace" has never had any difficulty attracting guest stars, but bringing back Lopez in two different roles is certainly going to get tongues wagging. "Will & Grace" airs Thursdays on NBC. Maitland unmasked: Good news, "talent" show fans: the revived version of "The Gong Show" has been re- newed for a second season, and ABC has finally spilled the beans on just who that guy acting as host is, in case any- one was still wondering. It was perhaps the worst- kept secret on television, but it's been finally confirmed that host Tommy Maitland isn't actually a British comedi- an transplanted to the United States to host a revived game show. Instead, he's Canadian- American actor and comedian Mike Myers. That the "Austin Powers: In- ternational Man of Mystery" (1997) star and former "Satur- day Night Live" performer is the real Tommy Maitland probably won't surprise any- one. Members of the media had seen through the layers of makeup and deduced the truth before the first episode of "The Gong Show" even aired last summer. "The Gong Show" isn't about Myers or his Maitland persona, though; it's about the performers competing to win a gong trophy and an over- sized check in the amount of $2000.17. Each episode brings amateur performers of ques- tionable talent on stage to per- form in front of a panel of ce- lebrity judges. This isn't "America's Got Talent" — the acts range from ludicrous to bizarre to just downright eye- brow-raising, and at any time one of the judges can strike a large gong, immediately end- ing the act and sending the performer packing empty- handed. "The Gong Show" is simply ludicrous, but that's what it's meant to be. Disguising Mey- ers as an unknown British co- median is all part of the fun, and clearly enough of an audi- ence pleaser that ABC agreed to warrant a second season. Watch for "The Gong Show" to return this summer to ABC. ADMIRE ADORE AFFECTION AMOROUS BE MINE BELOVED BOUQUET CANDY CARD CHARMED CHERUB CRUSH CUPID DARLING DESIRE DEVOTION DOVE ENAMORED FLIRT GIFTS GIRLFRIEND HEART HUG KISS LOVE LOVEBIRDS PASSION PINK POEM ROMANCE ROSE SECRET ADMIRER SENTIMENTAL SMITTEN ST VALENTINE SUITOR Be My Valentine? A scene from "Our Cartoon President" WORD SEARCH STARS ON SCREEN Solution on page T23 A/Elder Law Practice 2 x 3