Question:
Are you unaware that luckily for those of us who are BBC America addicts, they rerun their shows during the late-night hours, from 11 pm to 5 am? You failed to mention that alternative in your column for this week's presentation of State of Play. — Raymond S.
Matt:
I am aware of that option, and have taken advantage of it on many occasions. I tend to limit my recommendations to hours when people might actually be watching live, but it's a fact that many cable outlets double-run their shows so if you miss it during prime time, you can catch it or record it in the wee hours. Very convenient. And for those who've been asking about BBC America, having seen the references in the good reviews for State of Play or in the many stories written about The Office, the bad news is that this channel still isn't available on many systems. I didn't get it until I went digital. And am I ever glad I did.
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There goes the Space Needle. And the Golden Gate Bridge. And who knows how many cardboard characters. NBC's 10.5 (5/2 and 5/3, 9 pm/ET) is the most cornball earthquake TV-movie since NBC's The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake back in 1990. (What, is the network out of new ideas?) "Outrageous is all that we have left," says President Beau Bridges as he weighs seismic expert Kim Delaney's explosive solution to an approaching temblor that could take out the California coastline. Shamelessly stealing 24's split-screen trademark, 10.5 only musters a fraction of that thriller's suspense, despite a speedy pace and passable effects.
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When you're living among The Sopranos, death is the easy way out.
Just ask Christopher, Tony's hot-headed protégé. He nearly pays with his life after publicly threatening Tony, who he believes cheated with his fianc&aacue;e, Adriana. "I gotta live in this world," Chris bleakly mutters, looking none too happy about it.
Meanwhile, Tony frets that anyone would believe him capable of such a transgression (which only circumstance kept him from committing). "Am I that horrible? Really?"
Yes, Tony, you are. Horribly fascinating.
In this great fifth season, The Sopranos reclaims its title as TV's most diabolically entertaining, psychologically rich and emotionally provocative drama. More than ever, the show presents mob life as a terrible trap, a spiritual dead end.
Sounds like a downer, but the characters are so full of conflicted, frustrated life that it's a painful joy to watch.
Tony's estranged wif
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Question:
I have a comment and a question. First, I read in your column that the fate of Alias is unknown. But I read somewhere else that Jennifer Garner had spilled the beans and it was indeed renewed. Second, we've just learned Syd had a sister, fathered by Sloane. Is it safe to assume (and with Alias, I know few assumptions are safe) that this plot will take the place of the whole "Syd may be Sloane's child" storyline? I really hope so, because I hate the idea of Jack Bristow not being her father and of both Jack and Syd losing the only decent family relationship they have! — Amy G.
Matt:
I have no doubt Alias will return next season (even with the new changing of the guard at this most troubled of networks), but the reason the issue came up was because ABC issued a statement naming a bunch of shows they were renewing for next season, and Alias wasn't among them. Hard to say why. As for the Sloane paternity issue, it's fair to say that the new character has removed all
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Question:
I can't find the show Cracking Up in the listings. Has it been canceled or something? What gives? — Amber
Matt:
Like nearly every other midseason show this spring — Wonderfalls, Century City, to name a few others — this spring comedy was canceled pretty quickly, after only six episodes aired. I haven't a clue if Fox will air the episodes that were left on the shelf, but I doubt it.
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Question:
I gave The Restaurant's season premiere a chance to see what they were gonna possibly do this season. With the big battle of owner vs. owner and the usual employee chatter that you can find in any restaurant, one thing really bothered me: Rocco's mother. She looks so completely lost that I honestly feel bad for her. I think it's cruel what they are putting her through on TV. Not just the corporate half of Rocco's but her own son, as well — not to mention NBC! Shame on everyone involved with this show, and shame on anyone who enjoys watching the confusion and fear in Rocco's mother's eyes. If she were my mother and a television producer did that to her, I'd wrap a camera around his head. And that's being nice. This show needs to go, but let me guess: It had great ratings and isn't going anywhere. Well, either way, I won't be watching again. — Anthony P.
Matt:
Several viewers wrote in with deep concern for Rocco's mother, which didn't really register with me as I watched.
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Question:
I just love The Office! I have both seasons on DVD, but I wanted to know if there was going to be a third season. I looked on the website and there isn't any information about an upcoming season. Do you know if there will be? — Melissa
Matt:
The shelf life of a British series, even one as brilliant as The Office, is often much shorter than in the U.S. — although this season, an offbeat new show would have to be considered lucky to last 12 episodes, which is as many episodes of The Office as there are or are going to be. Ricky Gervais & Co. filmed a Christmas special last year, which I'm assuming BBC America will show us next season and which will eventually show up on DVD. But beyond that, the show is over. They didn't want to risk diminishing the show by carrying on too long, and the end of the second season does seem like a perfect place to stop telling this bleakly funny story. But sometimes I wish there were a middle ground between British series calling it quits so
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Last night, I said goodbye to Fox's Arrested Development with quite a bit of apprehension. Not just because the network has yet to renew the show — that decision may not be made until late next month, when Fox announces more details of its evolving lineup on May 20 — but because the episode billed as its "season finale" wasn't really intended to be.
The first season ended one episode short because a recent schedule crunch following a presidential press conference shifted 24 to Sunday, pushing this struggling comedy off the lineup. (As one of my co-workers suggested to me, why didn't Fox just replace one of its umpteen Simpsons repeats with that week's Arrested Development? It would have made sense, while also giving the show a chance to see how well it could perform in the more hospitable post-Simpsons time pe
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Question:
When The Apprentice started and NBC pushed Friends and Will & Grace together, they left out Scrubs, and I haven't seen it since. Then the other day I saw that it was on Tuesday and that things are moving along with Turk and Carla's wedding! I was surprised because I never knew NBC had moved it to Tuesdays! And I'm wondering has the show taken a big dip ratings-wise? Is it in danger? Oh, and I loved the Nick & Jessica show too, and would love to see it regularly. — Anthony W.
Matt:
Scrubs isn't in any danger, but it won't be returning to Thursdays as a regular, thanks to the success of The Apprentice. Because it's no longer airing aside a megahit like Friends, Scrubs' numbers have dropped, but by Tuesday's standards, it does well enough that it's part of the strategy to keep rebuilding that night next season post-Frasier. Personally, I wish it would swap with Will & Grace and see how that out-of-gas show fares on Tuesdays. As for Nick & Jessica, I think suggesting I
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Question:
I was wondering why so many people, including you, think The Shield is such a great show. I watched a few episodes but couldn't bring myself to like any of the characters, and I don't understand why so many people appreciate, let alone watch, a show where the main characters are evil. Does this say anything about how corrupt our country is becoming? — Laurie G.
Matt:
I look at The Shield as an antidote to the countless number of TV shows that overglorify the world of law and order. It isn't meant to appeal to everyone — it's raw, it's nasty, and even its most admirable characters (CCH Pounder as Det. Claudette Wyms) have an abrasive edge — but there should be room on TV, especially, as it turns out, on cable, for shows to be able to explore the darkest sides of human behavior. That is what The Shield does excellently. It's a dramatic exploration, not a glorification, of corruption. Fans of the show might find themselves rooting for Vic Mackey at times, but we're never
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