Question:
I understand that Bobby (Dylan McDermott) of The Practice is coming back next month, but wasn't he supposed to come back at the beginning of the season to explain why he, Lindsay, Rebecca and Helen left? That didn't happen — why? As a fan of The Practice, I hate that half of the staff is gone. I hate that they left with no reason. I understand why Bobby and Lindsay left, but why did Helen and Rebecca leave? We finally got a reason why the receptionist left, but I feel let down by David E. Kelley and ABC. I also hate that they are using so many of the last few episodes of The Practice to develop the spinoff. I like the concept of a serious Ally McBeal-type of show, but I love The Practice. I want the final episodes to be about the people in Young, Frutt and Berluti. — R.N.
Matt:
It will always be a puzzlement why we didn't get a bit more exposition at the start of this season about why so many regular characters had disappeared and where they'd gone to. And I've never
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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 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 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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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:
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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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:
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 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:
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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