Q: I don’t know why they keep getting different hosts for the Oscars instead of just getting Billy Crystal. Will he ever come back? — K.F.

A: It’s possible . . . and we’re sure he’ll be asked again, after this year’s mixed reviews for Ellen DeGeneres. Last year, Crystal was unavailable because he was on Broadway with his one-man, autobiographical show 700 Sundays, and it’s still keeping him busy. He’s been on tour with it in Australia, and is looking to take it to London next>

Q: Can you tell me what actor Matthew McConaughey is doing next? — S.J.

A: He’s currently filming the adventure film Fool’s Gold, with Kate Hudson; he co-stars with Don Cheadle in the adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s noveI>Tishomingo Blues<$>, which Cheadle directed; and he has plans for the comedy Surfer Dude, the romantic comeThe Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and the crime drama Hammer Down<.

Q: I think actress Penelope Cruz is beautiful. Does she have any new movies coming up? — L.M.

A: She co-stars with Gwyneth Paltrow and Danny DeVito in the comedy-drama The Good ht<$>, directed by Paltrow’s brother, Jake; with Adrien Brody in the upcoming Maete<$>, the story of the famous Spanish bullfighter; and with Ben Kingsley in Elegy. She’s also set to star with Javier Bardem in Woody Allen’s next film, due to start production iuly.

Q: I am so glad actor Alan Arkin won an Oscar. He was so good in Little Miss shine. What is he doing next? — E.S.

A: He stars in Raising Flagg, which is getting a limited release; provides a voice for the oming Bee Movie, alongside Jerry Seinfeld and Renée Zellweger; and appears in the thriller Rendition, with Reese Witherspoon and Meryl Streep. He’s currentlilming Sunshine Cleaning, with Emily Blunt, and steps next into the big-screen remake of Get Smart, with St Carell.

Q: What is actress Lucy Liu doing? — P.L.

A:<$> She has a comedy called Watching the Detectives, a horror m called Rise and the animated K Fu Panda <$>due for release. She’s also starring in a series pilot for ABC called hmere Mafia<$>, about female executives at a cosmetics company, and is set to star in the crime drama Charlie Chan<$>, playing the granddaughter of the famed fictional detective.

Q: ove the show Scrubs. Will it be on again next year? — J.I.

A: Renewals haven’t been issued yet, but given the show’s good ratings, it is expected to come back next year. If so, star Zach Braff gets a raise to $350,000 an episode, so you know he’s pulling it to return.

Q: Is it really true that the cavemen in the Geico ads are getting a TV show? — L.O.

A: Indeed it is. The two characters are going to get their own pilot for ABC . . . producers describe it as a comedy about facing prejudice. We’ll have to wait and see if it makes it to the network’s fall schedule.

Q: What happened to the cute red-hed actress from Six Feet Under? — L.D.

A: Lauren Ambrose co-stars in an upcng drama called Starting Out in the Evening, the drama Tonight at Noon, with Ethan Hawke, athe comedy-drama A Dog Year<$>, with Jeff Bridges. She’s also set to co-star with Parker Posey in a comedy pilot for Fox called The Return Jezebel James.

Q: I’ fan of Nip/Tuck. Will Joely Richardson come back to the show? — G.T.

A: Yes; the actress, who took a leave of absence last season to care for her ill teenage daughter Daisy, is set to return to the series. She and the producers are discussing now how to bring her back for the fifth season.

Q: I think Tim Meadows is very funny. I217;m sorry he left Saturday Night Live. Will he be back oV? — J.S.

A:<$> He has been; he’s made various appearances on “The Colbert Report” and the series “Help Me Help You”. He’s now set as a cast member in the new sitcom “The Bill Engvall Show”, to air on the cable network TBS.