In an item about Bruce Dern in your column for the week of Sept. 11-17, you note that he will be starring in a new HBO series that looks at "a modern-day polygamous Mormon family." There are no "modern-day polygamous" Mormon families. The Mormons outlawed the practice over 100 years ago.
—Natasha P., Spring Creek, Nev.
Indeed, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) officially banned polygamy in 1890. A publicist for the HBO series Big Love confirms that the family depicted will be portrayed as polygamists, but "will not be Mormons." Even so, expect the controversial Big Love, which also stars Bill Paxman, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Chloë Sevigny, to light up a few switchboards when it debuts next spring. Superstar Tom Hanks is the executive producer.
