AboutBarbara L. Baker Expertise I am a professor of communication at a midwest university, who has expertise on subjects related to film. I can answer general questions on film comedy (especially in the United States) and comic theory. I have a particular interest in satirical comedy, especially of the 1960s and 1970s. I also could answer questions related to specific comic genres, such as comedian comedies, screwball comedies, "stupid" comedies, and so forth. The more specific you can make your question, the better (e.g. main plot details, main characters, possible character names, how you viewed the show, etc.). I also need to have a release date (or range of dates, or at least the year you viewed the film).
I am less able to answer questions about TV shows and series, and recent comic films and actors (although I would do my best to find out). I cannot answer questions about specific "Our Gang" episodes, anime/magna or about film collectables. I generally cannot provide movie recommendations, since what I find funny others may not. Nor will I answer obvious homework (although I will point you to resources to help answer the question, if asked). I also can't help you find movie stars, or where to buy movie memorabilia, or tell you how to break into the business.
Experience Course work in comedy films along with teaching about comedy films for several years; I've also conducted research into comedy films and TV shows.
Education/Credentials Ph.D. in Communication, emphasis in film and rhetoric
Question Hi! I have a question about "Miss Congeniality"'s Heather Burns. I have asked this question numerous times to other experts, but here goes; Heather Burns plays "Cheryl (Rhode Island)" on "Miss Congeniality". I have looked on all the sites, but can't find anything on Heather Burns. If you could find some web sites on her, i would be very thankful. Thanks for your time.
Answer Dear CWolff: Well, I've looked all over the web, and here is what I've discovered about Heather Burns:
First, there doesn't seem to be a specific website just for her (unlike many actors). At least not in the places I checked. However, I was able to locate some facts about her; most of this information came from movieweb.com (production notes for "Miss Congeniality") and the "Heather Burns" information site on the Internet Movie Data Base (http://us.imbd.com).
Heather is a Chicago native who started out studying at Chicago's famed "Second City." I couldn't find her birthdate or current marital status, but did find out some biogaphical information. Heather spent a summer at Yale Drama School and earned a B.F.A. at NYU. She spent three years studying with the Atlantic Theater Company, and worked on several independed films. She also appeared in two television pilots ("Nearly Yours" and "Chicks").
Heather appeared in the television series "One Life to Live" as "Herrick #1" from 1996-97. She also had a guest appearance in a "Law & Order" episode on 4/1/98 (as "Carrier"). She had a recurring role on the cop show "The Beat" (2000), as Beatrice Felsen, who is the girlfriend of the character Zane Marinelli (described an an edgy cop, partnered with "clean-cut Mike Dorrigan"). Heather apparently also played a recurring role on the recent Fox tv series "The Street" (although not listed in her credits on the imdb site).
Her film credits include playing Christina Plutzker in "You've Got Mail" (1998). She played Meg Ryan's bookstore employee and confidant. As you know, she played the contestant from Rhode Island, Cheryl Frasier, in "Miss Congeniality" (2000). Also in 2000, she also played the character of Lydia in the independent film "You Are Here*", directed by Jeff Winner. It is described as a comedy/drama.
Interestingly, earlier this year Heather Burns also was in a limited run play in New York City, Kenneth Lonergan's "Lobby Hero." Again there are two NYPD cops--one described someone with a "penchant for making his own rules" named Bill. Heather plays his partner, a woman named Dawn who is a recently appointed rookie. According to the review in "CurtainUp" (obtained from file//c:\windows\TEMP\triAKAGK.htm), this play was presented at Playwrights Horizon until 4/15/01 and then moved to the Houseman Theatre for a run to Labor Day, 2001. As Dawn, Heather got mixed reviews, from what I can tell (the "CurtainUp" reviewer, Elyse Sommer, liked her performance, but others did not).
I'm not sure what she may be working on at the moment--usually the imdb indicates work in production, so, except for "The Street," she may be between roles.
That is pretty much the extent of the information I've been able to locate in a couple of days. I'm disappointed I couldn't locate a specific web site just on her, but I hope this answer provides you with more information than you had. I'm intrigued enough to keep looking, and if I locate anything else (especially a website on her), I'll update this answer.
