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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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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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:
First let me say I'm an unabashed Sopranos fan, and I love that the series takes its own sweet time as the storyline unfolds slowly over the 13 episodes. But what was the deal with the April 18 episode taking the subplot almost verbatim from an episode a few years ago? An outside acquaintance (Tim Daly/Robert Patrick) gets drawn into the high-stakes card game and gets taken for more than he can possibly repay. Christopher/Tony assumes the debt, and when it can't be satisfied, they rough the poor guy up and take almost everything the guy owns. The final kicker being taking possession of the guy's car. I love the show, but feel the series is way too young to recycle plot lines already! — Tim D.
Matt:
You have a point, but I felt the circumstances were different enough — Robert Patrick lived in the community, the father of a friend of Meadow's; whereas Tim Daly was a Hollywood burnout and rehab buddy of Christopher's — that I didn't mind much. The Sopranos is so unlike a
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Question:
I just wanted to say bravo to 24! At first, when I saw that Kim was getting involved, I was very scared considering her stupid past, but the writers came up with a very intelligent, suspenseful storyline. I was on the edge of my seat during the entire sting operation. Overall, I thought the episode was exceptional. What did you think of Kim's latest exploits? — Tom B.
Matt:
Having been among those who said at the time that they killed the wrong Bauer at the end of the first season, I'll admit I was impressed — especially by the way Kim stood up to her father to remind him she wasn't a charity case and she had to do her duty. But I don't think I was caught up in the suspense as much as in the fear that she would be kidnapped, and that we'd have to go through all of that nonsense again. Thankfully, they went another way. And I can't wait until the next episode.
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Question:
I like watching ER, but I'm not a true-blue fan. If I miss a week I don't shrivel up into a wailing ball. However, I feel motivated to come to its defense on two points you've recently made negative comment on. The more recent is the death of Weaver's wife, Sandy, and what you referred to as DLS (Dead Lesbian Syndrome). You may have missed what I think the writers were going for: to depict how truly deep and solid a relationship bond can be between members of the same gender. Through the at-home glimpses and powerful acting, we saw just how "normal" and beautiful the love and marriage of two gay people can be, how similar it can be to the best of what that institution has to offer. We saw how agonizing losing that partner can be and we saw how vulnerable the survivor of that loss can be to the technicalities of their lack of legally recognized status. It gave us something the mean-spirited debate over gay marriage threatened to drain away, and that's the realization
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Question:
With the coming of the new Farscape miniseries, and the announcement that miniseries or "movie of the week" installments may be in the offing for the WB's canceled vampire drama Angel, it seems that a lot of genre TV is coming back from the dead. Considering a great majority of genre fans (and critics, yourself included) believe that shows like Farscape have been canceled before their time, do you think that the future of genre television will involve a short run, followed by less-expensive-to-produce miniseries offerings? It seems that the networks have less faith in narrow-band projects like genre TV, and don't know how to market them well. Could it be that the future of genre TV will be in bite-sized packages? — Tony R.
Matt:
Like you, I'll take this material however I can get it. And it may make more sense to package these sorts of shows as "event" miniseries or movies, continuing their life without asking for a weekly commitment. But there still needs to be a place
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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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