By David Inman
Special to The Courier-Journal

Dear David: I remember a sitcom from some years ago about a U.S. senator. One of the cast members was David Hyde Pierce of "Frasier." I believe the senator was played by John Forsythe. Pierce was married to the senator's daughter, who was very weight-conscious, and her name was Marisse. Does this have any connection with why Pierce's first wife on "Frasier" was also named Marisse? -- E.G., Louisville

Dear E.G.: Now hoooooold on thar, as Quick Draw McGraw used to say.

The senator sitcom, "The Powers That Be," ran on NBC in 1992-93. As you say, John Forsythe played Sen. William Powers. Also in the cast were Holland Taylor (now of "Two and a Half Men") and Peter MacNicol (later of "Ally McBeal" and "Numb3rs").

Pierce played Theodore Van Horne, a congressman who was married to the senator's daughter, Caitlyn, played by Valerie Mahaffey. Their son Pierce was played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who would go on to play Tommy on "3rd Rock From the Sun."

So Pierce's character's wife was not named Maris (note the spelling), the name of his unseen wife on "Frasier."

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/FEATURES07/801090688/1010/FEATURES