Question:
I love BBC America and have been hooked on a soap-opera-type show called East Enders. Is this show still being produced? Also, I would like your take on it. — Angelo M. in Philadelphia
Matt:
East Enders is still in production, and still airs in limited distribution on some PBS stations. But BBC America dropped it for low ratings — see, such things even happen on fringe cable — eliciting a considerable outcry among the show's groupies. I watched the show when it first came to the U.S. quite a while back (the Den and Angie days) and was impressed by its realism. It felt like a throwback to the earliest days of soaps, before things got so outrageous and overdone, and I got caught up in the everyday lives of these people. But eventually, I grew out of the habit because I just couldn't keep up. I still know people who watch, though, and occasionally I encourage them to talk about it, like catching up with old friends.
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Question:
You rarely mention Survivor: All-Stars in your column, so I was wondering how you felt about the show. I, for one, have been less interested ever since the idiotic members of the Mogo Mogo tribe started voting off their strongest players. Yet, I still tune in every week to see if the remaining players will be dumb enough to let so-arrogant-it's-disgusting Boston Rob win. And if he'll ever realize that even if he does make it to the final two, there is that whole part of the game that doesn't revolve around him, meaning, of course, that the jury votes for the winner and with all the double-crossing he's done, there's virtually no chance that they'll vote for him. — Amy J.
Matt:
While it's irritating when the votes at tribal council seem to fly in the face of logic — the first chance the new blended tribe got to vote Boston Rob out, they should all have plotted mutiny (except, I suppose, Amber) — I still enjoy the show, and have found the All-Stars season to be pretty
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Question:
Regarding last week's column comparing Alias and 24 — why on earth would you compare them? 24 is supposed to be a gritty, hard-edged drama, and Alias is escapist adventure. Is this because they ran in the same timeslot once? Because the main characters work for the government? You might as well throw in The West Wing while you're at it. I guess your straight-faced reply to the question annoyed me because it featured more of the backhanded praise you've been giving Alias lately — with a lot of phrases like "Oh, it's better" or "We have that much to look forward to." Personally, I don't see what people's problems with season three have been — I miss Lena Olin, too, but there have been great storylines with Sloane, with the relationship between Jack and Sydney, with Lauren turning evil and now with the introduction of Syd's sister, whom I liked on introduction. You once said that people were too quick to dismiss, nit-pick and give up on good programs — so why are you so
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Question:
What ever happened to the show Line of Fire? It filled the void of NYPD Blue on Tuesday nights for quite a few weeks, then it just disappeared. I have always been a Blue fan, but I have to admit I enjoyed Line better. Is this show ever coming back? Or is it yet another of the shows that will never return? — Sarah W.
Matt:
We really don't know. But I'd doubt we'll see it again. The ratings for its tryout run in the winter were pretty negligible, partly because it was launched right around the holidays — not the best environment for a show this dark — and also because its scheduling worried many NYPD fans, who thought it was replacing their favorite show for good. Yet another dropped ball by ABC. But it's difficult to predict anything about this network's future plans right now, because of the current regime change in ABC/Disney's executive suites.
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Question:
What's the status of the Sci Fi Channel continuing the new Battlestar Galactica as an actual series? — Erik
Matt:
It's a go, and it will return as a weekly series early next year with many of the same actors as in the miniseries.
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Question:
Like many other loyal American Idol viewers, I found myself hugely disappointed when Jennifer Hudson, this season's most-improved contestant, was prematurely voted out of the competition. But what upsets me even more is America's overdramatic reaction to the vote. Elton John's remarks about the vote being "incredibly racist" show just how desperate people are to cry foul without actually examining the facts of the show. American Idol isn't like Survivor, where everyone gets together and decides who the week's loser is going to be. The American Idol vote hugely depends on which people care enough to pick up a phone and vote. If enough of your fans don't make it to the phone on one particular night, be it due to a tornado or an assumption that certain contestants are "safe" or just sheer laziness, unfortunately there can be flukes like what happened to Jennifer. But before someone calls American Idol racist, they should actually stop and look at who is on the show. One
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Question:
I was never more disappointed in an American Idol vote outcome as I was when Jennifer Hudson was voted out. How George Huff and John Stevens could still be singing that far into the competition is ridiculous. As much as everyone dislikes Simon, he, at least, knows what he's talking about. If only these teenage girls that are doing the voting would vote on talent, this could have been a great American Idol. Unfortunately, they are voting on popularity, which will result in yet another so-so winner by the looks of things. It's truly a shame that we end up with mediocre talent because of popularity. — William B.
Matt:
Welcome to the real world and to the music biz. I enjoy Idol in spite of myself, but find the most excruciating moments to be when the contestants are trying to mimic the hot stars of the moment. Unfortunately, poor John Stevens wasn't even very good at parroting the stars of bygone eras.
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Question:
In your April 26 Dispatch, you state that the true season finale of Arrested Development ("Let Them Eat Cake") is not scheduled to be aired by Fox. However, the TV Tome website is reporting that Fox will air the episode either May 30 or June 6, likely the latter. Are they correct? And is it true that Arrested Development is on Fox's rerun schedule for the summer? If true, I am cautiously optimistic that there is still hope for the show. After all, why show reruns if you have already canceled the series? — David E.
Matt:
I got an update from TV Guide's scheduling department that the actual season finale of Arrested Development is likely to air June 6, conveniently outside the regular season and sweeps month. Still, better than nothing. (And don't go to the TV Tome website for this info unless you want a spoiler on one of the episode's climactic surprises.) I agree there's cause for hope in Fox's regular scheduling of repeats during the summer for exactly the reason you
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Question:
Much to my absolute horror, the finale of Friends is upon us. I can't help but wonder how it will end. We know the obvious: Monica and Chandler adopt a baby and they move out of the city. But who cares? How do Ross and Rachel end up?!?!? Any true Friends fan knows the show is about Ross and Rachel, with some storylines about the other four thrown in. It would be an absolute travesty to end the show with Ross and Rachel living on different continents. However, I believe that ending would be too predictable and the writers have probably chosen to keep Ross and Rachel apart. What's your opinion? How do you think it should end, and how do you think it will end? — Courtney
Matt:
The only thing I can say with any certainty is that however Friends ends, it's unlikely to live up to everyone's expectations, especially where Ross and Rachel are concerned. However it's resolved, or unresolved, people will think it's either too predictable or not satisfying or romantic enough. The
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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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