Question:
Alias is better, hands down, than 24 and here's why. The only way that 24 can have new seasons is if some writer can think of an entirely new and different story to become the day that is 24. But honestly, how many times can a rich, well-dressed man take control of the world? If you talk about predictable, 24 is just another Die Hard. I will definitely concede that 24 is a good show and is entertaining but it has nothing on Alias. Alias has stories every week that resolve in one episode and so many intertwined plots and storylines, it far surpasses any criticism for lacking creativity. The mere storyline of Milo Rambaldi is pure genius and affects directly every season and every episode. 24 does not have anything close to a Rambaldi story. Each season is a continuation of a previous season and the show itself is ascending toward a spectacular climax. The absence of Lena Olin is just creating tension and mystery, it does not take anything away. — Mark
Matt:
From where I
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Question:
Has Monk been renewed? The last I heard it still had not been. Will another channel pick it up? There aren't any reruns on, either. This is one of the funniest shows on TV. I hope it comes back! — Diane G.
Matt:
Whoever told you Monk was in trouble was wrong. The show returns with a new batch of episodes on USA Network on June 18. This is a runaway hit for USA Network. It's not going away anytime soon.
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Question:
In reaction to the news that appeared on the TV Guide site that NYPD Blue creator Steven Bochco is threatening to pull the plug on the long-running cop drama at season's end if ABC doesn't stop censoring the show's racy content: I've been a loyal viewer of NYPD Blue since its debut, and I've stuck with the characters through their comings and goings and even the most soap-opera-worthy plots. But is Bochco now telling us that, without the partial nudity and adult language, his show no longer has value? Is he now conceding what his harsher critics have been saying for several years: that without shock value, his show has nothing to offer? Talk about giving your enemies ammunition! — Jimmy M.
Matt:
I think the issue here is more one of free expression in a climate where networks are buckling under government interference. Even at the height of the controversy during NYPD's first season, the show was never about the nudity or the language, it was about rooting for its
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Question:
As I was watching a recent repeat of Without a Trace (and enjoying Poppy Montgomery's outstanding acting), I was reminded of how much I appreciate the continuing personal storylines on this outstanding series. I am coming to realize that knowing more about the agents' lives, such as the repercussions of Samantha's shooting, Danny's familial ties, Jack and Samantha's relationship and so on interests me almost as much as learning whether and how the next missing person will be found. However, given the recent success of non-serialized drama both in first-run and in syndication, I imagine the Without a Trace "powers that be" must be under significant pressure to remove some of these serialized elements. If so, do you think they will ultimately discard these continuing stories that I'm enjoying so much? Do you think that they should? — M.H.
Matt:
Of all the many procedural crime dramas on TV right now, Without a Trace does the best job of weaving personal drama in and
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Question:
I was wondering if next year is the final year of The West Wing. When the show started, they were already two years into the first term. Bartlet was then re-elected and unless they are going to totally disregard the Constitution, the show could only be on for four more years, for a total of six. Are you aware if NBC scheduled the show knowing that it had a built-in limited run? — Traci M.
Matt:
I'm not aware of any built-in end game or if The West Wing is the least bit concerned about playing out in real time. (Last week, the First Lady made a reference to being "five years in," which makes me think there's at least a couple of more seasons left in the playbook.) Seems to me what will end the run of The West Wing is a combination of plummeting ratings and quality. Given what the show has been like lately, I'd support impeachment — the sooner the better.
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Question:
Recently, a viewer complained about the "ripped from the headlines" tag that the Law & Order shows use. I think that what the person is missing is that rarely is the story exactly the same as what happened in real life. In fact, what I love the most about L&O is that the show starts out being about one thing, but ends up being about something totally different. I do, however, have to admit that I'm a bit worried about Dick Wolf beating a dead horse. While it is true that people seem to be addicted to L&O (I'll watch episodes on TNT that I've seen at least five times and I still enjoy them!), I have to believe that at some point, this lucky streak will come to an end. What are the chances that the new Trial & Jury spinoff will face tough times? — L. T.
Matt:
The formula is genius, no question, and lends itself toward repeated viewings of any given episode. I agree that even when the inspiration is something very familiar, the legal twists in the second half usually keep
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Question:
I have been a loyal fan of NYPD Blue since its premiere season. Actors have come and gone and some I miss more than others (Kim Delaney, Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales, to name a few). I understand that sometimes actors need to move on for personal or professional reasons. As a mom, I completely understand Charlotte Ross's decision to leave the show to spend time with her new baby. As a viewer, however, I am very concerned about how the producers will handle this latest departure. For me, I love the scenes at the end of the hour with Andy and his family. Those few minutes with Andy bonding with Theo, Connie and the niece they adopted after Connie's sister's tragic death at the hands of her no-good husband, balance the episodes. I look forward to all scenes at the end of the hour, even if different detectives are featured. (I loved Medavoy's final scene with the very randy, sexually liberated older woman several weeks ago.) Andy, being the heart and soul of the 15th
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Question:
As a loyal classic-television fan, I never thought I would find a show (other than the always excellent Everybody Loves Raymond) to inspire the same emotion and admiration that series like I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeannie and Leave It to Beaver instilled in me. Yet when I came upon Arrested Development and saw how many stars were involved in the series (wry narrator Ron Howard and the hilarious Henry Winkler from Happy Days, adorable Jason Bateman from The Hogan Family and the indispensible Jeffrey Tambor from The Larry Sanders Show), I thought I'd give it a try. And, henceforth, I've become infatuated with this wonderful show. Since it's one of the few series to receive uniformly stellar notices this season, I would have thought many others would have latched onto Arrested Development, too. Yet I seem to be hearing the same thing over and over from people I know: They read the glowing reviews, are intrigued, watch the show and are disappointed because it did not match
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Question:
Is the character played by Vincent D'Onofrio on Law & Order: Criminal Intent supposed to have a speech problem? What is the explanation for him talking like that? He sounds insecure and... weird. I am a fan of the other two Law & Orders, but I don't watch CI often because of this character. I feel the dialogue doesn't flow with him. — Mariana
Matt:
With this character, it's very much a case of love him or hate him. I happen to hate him — his mannerisms drive me up the wall — but many others think he's the coolest master sleuth since Sherlock.
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Question:
I have noticed a recent trend towards including political controversies in beloved dramas. For instance, it cannot be a coincidence that ER chose now to bring out the lesbian "marriage" of Dr. Weaver and Sandy (she had never referred to her as her "wife" until the episode when she died). To those who support the legislation that would make marriage legal for only one man and one woman, this was a plea to our emotions, to try to persuade us to change our viewpoints based on a few fictional characters that have somehow become endeared to us over the years. And the sad truth is, I believe that it has worked in some cases. The media have always leaned toward the liberal and I have always tried to watch with my guard up, knowing that everything is not portrayed as consistent with my beliefs. I admit that something tore at me watching Weaver deal with this crisis in her life, trying to win back the baby that she and Sandy were raising. However, I do not think that the
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