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:
When The Apprentice first came on, I was immediately taken by the show, but you seemed to have an utter dislike for the program, calling it "obnoxious" and stating "I'm not hooked, but I suppose I'll have to keep watching, however grudgingly" in your January 19 Ask Matt column. In your April 12 column, you seemed to have done a complete reversal, saying, "some weeks have gone beyond compelling to even illuminating." I was just curious what it was about the show that made you change your opinion. I love your columns, by the way — they make watching TV even more enjoyable, and you've made me take notice of great programming that I would have otherwise ignored and now cannot live without. — Brodie L.
Matt:
Glad to know that my critical inconsistency hasn't cost me a reader. And that's one of the things I love about following TV shows and trends: Even after all these years, I'm still on a learning curve. I've often discovered with reality shows that they gain in appeal as
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Question:
I loved your article in the April 25 issue of TV Guide on Arrested Development, the underwatched but brilliant new show on Fox. What do you think its chances are to return to television next season? Or perhaps, God forbid it does get canceled, of finding a home in cable or (which would be my hope) a DVD collection? Thanks!! — Francesca E.
Matt:
If it gets canceled, it's probably history, except maybe on DVD. My fear is that people will discover the show on DVD and wonder why they missed it in the first place. It's getting harder and harder for non-reality shows to break out these days, and even in a better climate a show this unusual and wacky would take some time to catch on. I remain cautiously hopeful that Fox will renew it for a second year — at the moment, repeats of the show are on the summer lineup, so that's a good sign — and I also hope Fox will move fast in putting a first-season DVD on the market to attract those fans and show them what they've missed. (It
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Question:
What are Whoopi's chances are of getting renewed? I think that it is a lot better than the other new comedies on NBC. I was also wondering what you thought of the show. — Matt
Matt:
If any new NBC comedy is to survive, it will be Whoopi. But it's a toss-up. My take: Whoopi is a very funny performer, and there were times I was amused by her rants and reactions to situations. But there wasn't much more to Whoopi for me than that, and it's not a show I'll miss if it doesn't return.
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Question:
I love Alias and 24, and I am usually satisfied with saying that they are both equally entertaining and thrilling. However, after April 18, I can finally say that 24 has the upper hand. Both shows were in similar positions of possibly killing off major characters, but only 24 shocked us all by actually going through with it. The death of Chappelle (Paul Schulze) was television at its very best. On the other hand, Alias is, of late, getting kind of predictable. What are your thoughts on the unshocking survival of Sloane? — Luis C.
Matt:
First off, just let me say that Ron Rifkin's excellent understated performance as Sloane more than compensates for the show's kooky, baroque plotting. Both Alias and 24 have been favorites of mine since they premiered during the same season, and for a while, it depended on which week you asked as to which was my favorite. This season has been trickier. Alias was really hurt by losing Lena Olin, by bringing aboard the ineffectual (until
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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 loved those reality miniseries PBS has made in the past few years, especially Manor House. These shows were a cut above most of the other reality programs, as well as incredibly interesting. Do you know if there are any plans for any more "historical" reality TV? — Rebecca
Matt:
You're in luck. The multipart Colonial House will begin airing on PBS on May 17. And I agree. This takes the reality concept of real people taking on extraordinary challenges to a much higher level.
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Question:
I've stuck with The Practice for many seasons now, continued to watch during the upheaval and was glad they brought it back after the firings. I think James Spader should be nominated for an Emmy and we're seeing more depth added to his character each week. I even planned on continuing with the new show and kind of like the addition of Rebecca De Mornay as the Lara Flynn Boyle replacement. But William Shatner may single-handedly cause me to quit. I honestly can't think back to any other character on any other show that has annoyed me more than this Denny Crane. It would be one thing if he was the least bit "David E. Kelley-quirky," but I'm at the point where I'd rather watch a show centered on the Sharon Stone character than this. From the repetition of his name to the blank stares, this character has to go for me to stay with the show. What's your take and have you heard from anyone else on this topic? — Adam
Matt:
I've heard pros and cons but none quite so passionate
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Question:
I was wondering how you have been taking the last few episodes of Alias. I admit the show has been shaky creatively at times this year, but it still remains one of the few shows I will actively schedule my evening around, and I think the last few episodes have been fantastic. Vaughn finally finding out about Lauren and his slow-burn rage; Sydney finding out about her half-sister, and Jack's reaction to the news that Sloane and Irina had an affair; and, in the April 18 episode, the wonderful wordplay and interaction between Ron Rifkin and Victor Garber in their scenes together. Giving these two powerful actors a good chunk of the show was a great decision on the show's part, and I, for one, was thrilled to see it. Just wanted to know if you had felt the same way. Enjoy your column, and please keep up the good work. — Beth
Matt:
It has gotten much better lately, although it's still a chore if you try to approach much of it logically. (One digression: I'm still shocked at
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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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