Question: Somewhere along the way, I was sure I heard that ER would wrap things up in February. I thought that sounded early, but then I considered that maybe instead of having reruns on or plugging another show in for a while they would just run the episodes all the way through and end in a sweeps month (February). I then read in a recent issue of TV Guide that the two-hour finale is in May, which would make sense. Was I totally wrong about February or did I just misunderstand something? Hope you can clear things up.
Answer: I recently checked with NBC, having some confusion on the scheduling issue myself, and all that was confirmed for me is that ER's final season will consist of 19 episodes, which will not take us to May unless the show goes into repeats or goes on hiatus at some point. Given the show's iconic status, I'm thinking NBC could stunt for a while with a greatest-hits-of-ER countdown, but that's just a guess. Regardless, it makes most sense to me that NBC would try to
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Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski, The Office
Question: I wanted to write to applaud the writers of The Office for taking the road less traveled. They have managed, it seems, to do something that most other shows have been too afraid to try: keeping their main romantic couple together and have their relationship be both happy and entertaining. Years upon years of TV watching have kept me waiting for the other shoe to drop for Jim and Pam, but The Office has handled their coupling with perfect care. What was once the sweetest unrequited love on TV has turned into one of its most engaging pairs. Jim's proposal at the rest stop in the season premiere was perfection and so in keeping with the characters. John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer continue to play their roles subtly and beautifully, and with the recent Emmys, it makes me wonder how these two (outside of Fischer's one nod) continue to be so ignored. It's refreshing to know that putting together a couple on TV doesn't automatically equal disaster. What are your thoughts on Jim and ...
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Question: Last week's Grey's Anatomy premiere reminded me why I love television. For anyone reading between the lines, you could hear the writers responding directly to all of the viewer's criticisms over the last two seasons: "Look, we hear what you viewers have been saying. We aren't your favorite show anymore. This season we are going to make you remember why this show was No. 1." A couple of shows made commentaries like this post-writer's strike as well (House's nurses' strike being one that comes to mind). Obviously, this is intentional on behalf of the writers, but I always wonder if other viewers are picking up on these same messages. I don't mean to sell the masses short or imply anything about anyone not getting it, but I know for one my wife didn't get that message at all. Based on all the e-mail you get, can you tell when these kinds of messages work and are picked up on by the viewers, and when they don't?
Answer: Since my readers tend to be a bit on the obsessive side,
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Question: I'm so encouraged about the next couple of seasons of Lost and Desperate Housewives, since the producers have established arcs for the shows and know which seasons will be their last. I really enjoyed the season premiere of Housewives Sunday night and can't wait for Lost to come back. On the other end of the spectrum, I really used to like ER and looked forward to it the same way. Two seasons ago, I started deleting every third episode or so from TiVo without watching it. Last season, I think I watched two or three episodes before giving up on it altogether, not even tuning back in for the season finale. I just couldn't get excited about this season's opener, and looking at the ratings, apparently a lot of other people felt the same way. Is the phenomenon of shows wearing out their welcome a new thing, or has it been that way since TV was created? Lately I've been thinking about 1) terrific shows that were canceled way too early (My So-called Life, Freaks & Geeks, Veronica ...
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Question: I don't think you get it. Shonda Rhimes went to many media outlets (including TV Guide) and announced over and over again what the whole "for good" meant. She went into detail about how the strike made her come to this choice to end the on/off and how she sat both Dempsey and Pompeo down to talk about this and how happy they were with the story. It's even on the season 4 DVD, with Betsy Beers stating they were together for good. It was more than some flip comment from Rhimes, and I think fans are right for feeling betrayed by her going back on it now. She has just abused Meredith over and over and overplayed make-ups and breakups for no reason. What was the reason and purpose for Rose's dozen episodes? Fans (and the media) were and are at the limit with these two, hence her going public with her very clear comments prior to the Season 4 finale. It puts this particular instance in a different light than had she never went to such great lengths to let fans know her intentions ...
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Question: I was interested to know how you felt about the Dexter premiere. I liked it, and there was nothing inherently wrong with it, but does it seem to you that the show's premiere has lost some vibrance since last season? I don't know, it's just a gut feeling. They might have overstretched themselves last year with such a monumental, high-stakes plot, that it might have been difficult to top this year, since they obviously can't repeat the Dexter being sought-by-police plot for a second consecutive season. But anyway, it's just a minor concern. I loved many aspects of it still, such as Jimmy Smits. Quinn looks to be an interesting character, too.
Answer: I liked Dexter's third season opener, and this Sunday's episode is even more thrilling, especially as it advances the unusual bond between Dexter and DA Smits. But does it pale next to what the show accomplished last season? Probably. There's no topping that storyline, and once you stop expecting them to, I think it will be easy to
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And the wannabe hits just keep on coming. The fall rollout continues in full force this week, especially on Thursday night, where three new network series based on shows from England and Australia finally arrive after months of retooling—in the case of Life on Mars, involving a complete reshoot. But network TV isn’t all that’s keeping us busy. USA Network has molded its beach-book miniseries The Starter Wife into a weekly page-turner, while PBS’ Masterpiece continues on its yearlong roll with a terrific political thriller.
Life on Mars
Airs Thursdays, 10/9c, ABC (also online via video.tvguide.com)
Previously on: BBC America. How’s the remake? Surprisingly good, considering the buzz after the show switched producers. This captures the original series’ vibe nicely, as modern-day detective Sam Tyler (the appealing Jason O’Mara) is hit by a car and wakes up in ultragritty “Serpico
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Pushing Daisies by Adam Taylor/ABC
The facts are these, dear readers: Pushing Daisies, ABC's dazzling storybook fable of colorfully romantic comedy and mystery, is finally back this week to kick off a reprise of last fall's Wednesday line-up, all of which was cut short by the writers' strike last winter. (The other shows are Grey's Anatomy's inferior spin-off Private Practice, which is almost as annoying as it was a year ago, and the decadently opulent Dirty Sexy Money, which arrives as something of a gaudy anachronism during this week of financial meltdown. One plot twist is so reprehensibly immoral I wonder how the show's fans will react.)
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For some of us, this is the week when the TV season truly begins, with the welcome return of a handful of shows that were abruptly cut short in their freshman season by the writers' strike, but were (to the surprise of many) given a reprieve by their networks, which still sees potential in them.
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Question: Being such a fan of Mad Men, I envision certain filmmakers directing an episode or two. I have always thought that a director like Martin Scorsese or even the amazing Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai would have interesting takes on NY in the early 1960s. In particular, Wong Kar Wai's style is rich in voyeurism, and he has such a fascination with the early 1960s. If you have seen his film In the Mood for Love, it is shot similarly like Mad Men, but he has an interesting way of incorporating music and movement. The Coen brothers would also be an interesting choice for obvious reasons. I was wondering if you think Mad Men would benefit from different directorial styles, or would it make the show's style too jumbled, as I consider it more like art television rather than an ordinary TV drama.
Answer: An interesting idea, especially considering the show airs on AMC (the middle initial standing for "Movie"). It's a very seductive notion to have masters of cinema take a crack at ...
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