Welcome to the Q&A with TV critic — additionally identified to some TV followers as their “TV therapist” — Matt Roush, who’ll attempt to deal with no matter you like, detest, are confused or annoyed or thrilled by in at the moment’s huge TV panorama. (We all know background music is just too loud, it’s essentially the most frequent grievance, however there’s at all times closed-captioning. Try this story for extra suggestions.)
One warning: This can be a spoiler-free zone, so we gained’t be addressing upcoming storylines right here except it’s already widespread data. Please ship your questions and feedback to [email protected]. Search for Ask Matt columns on most Tuesdays.
Odyssey Followers Left Adrift (and Bereft)
Query: Has Physician Odyssey formally been axed? We liked that over-the-top present!!! — Mark in Whitewater, WI
Matt Roush: Sadly for followers, the information was confirmed over the previous couple of days that with the solid’s choices expiring, Physician Odyssey‘s campy voyage on ABC had come to an finish. There could also be a really slight likelihood that government producer Ryan Murphy might resurrect the present, presumably on Disney’s Hulu streamer, sooner or later, however given the present’s starry solid and visitor checklist and never insignificant manufacturing prices, I wouldn’t make reservations anytime quickly for future sailings. Given Murphy’s relationship with ABC, the place 9-1-1: Nashville is becoming a member of the unique 9-1-1 within the fall, I used to be considerably shocked they’d jettison Odyssey after only one season, however prime-time actual property and budgets are ever extra treasured, so this responsible pleasure’s luck ran out.
Having a (Soccer) Ball
Query: The second I’ve been dreading since I began watching Welcome to Wrexham has come. Wrexham AFC has now been promoted to the English Soccer League’s Championship division the place they are going to be taking part in my favourite group, the Norwich Metropolis FC Canaries. I’ve been a Canaries supporter because the 2012-13 season once I began watching Premier League matches on the Fox Soccer Channel. I wanted a rooting curiosity, so I made a decision on Norwich, the place I used to be as soon as an change pupil on the native college. In that point, I’ve discovered quite a bit about how soccer/soccer groups function and the historical past, traditions, and fan and group engagement. Welcome to Wrexham has achieved an exquisite job exhibiting all of that. I’ve skilled lows and highs throughout my time as a Canaries fan with 4 relegations from, and three promotions to the Premier League. It is vitally laborious to get out of the Championship and has confirmed in recent times to be virtually unimaginable to remain up within the Premier League. All three promoted sides from the earlier season have come again down for the brand new season. Wrexham has their work reduce out for them.
I’m simply questioning how Welcome to Wrexham ends. In the event that they get promoted within the subsequent couple of seasons, they’ll need to maintain going with the present. If it takes longer or they don’t make it in any respect after x variety of seasons, then what? — Frank
Matt Roush: I like that you simply now have competing rooting pursuits within the season forward, when the Crimson Dragons ultimately face the Canaries within the Championship division. Welcome to Wrexham has humanized not solely the group however the city over 4 seasons, in order that even these with glancing familiarity with the English soccer (soccer) league system acquired caught up of their come-from-behind rise. As they famous within the season finale, when Wrexham was promoted (for an unprecedented third consecutive yr) into Championship, they’re as soon as once more the underdogs. Which makes nice real-life sports activities drama whether or not they maintain profitable or expertise a setback, so I think about they’ll maintain filming the sequence for some time longer, or for so long as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney (and FX) select to maintain it going. Nobody is aware of the way it’s going to finish, which is somewhat thrilling.
Query: Years in the past, I used to be a giant fan of primetime cleaning soap operas like Dallas, Dynasty, Falcon Crest and Knots Touchdown to call a number of. And one of many massive points of interest to those exhibits needed to do with the season-ending cliffhangers. I couldn’t wait to see “Who Shot J.R.,” who survived the Moldavia Bloodbath, who survived the Tuscany Valley earthquake, and did Val get her infants again? Sadly, there have been different cliffhangers to which viewers by no means acquired the reply, like whose child was that on Lois & Clark, and did Sam Beckett ever get dwelling in both model of Quantum Leap. I thank NBC for producing a finale for Timeless. My level is: Why do producers proceed to make use of the “cliffhanger” in so many applications when the actual “cliffhanger” is whether or not the sequence shall be renewed?
In some circumstances, like Blue Bloods and the FBI spinoffs, there was sufficient discover to write down a correct ending, however there have been so many others which have left viewers hanging. Maybe it’s a method to entice viewers to proceed watching the sequence, ought to or not it’s fortunate sufficient to get renewed, but when it isn’t, it appears to depart viewers discouraged and cautious about investing in watching a brand new sequence. Is there every other motive why some sequence will use the cliffhanger, particularly when there’s at all times the potential for cancellation? I believe you made a fantastic suggestion that producers ought to movie alternate endings for a sequence, a season finale and a sequence finale. — Rob R.
Matt Roush: This subject has come up on this column usually sufficient that I’m undecided if I or another person got here up with the notion of filming alternate endings for season — which generally inadvertently grow to be sequence — finales. This isn’t at all times possible, both economically or as a result of a present may air its finale earlier than its destiny has been decided. There are additionally some exhibits (like NBC’s now-defunct Grosse Pointe Backyard Society) which are structured in such a approach that the finale organically (so to talk) is meant to launch a brand new storyline, ought to they get an opportunity. Possibly they’d be smarter to wrap the story up in a single season and begin the subsequent thriller the subsequent time round.
Although they’re a too-often-used machine, cliffhangers are common for producers and followers of serialized storytelling exactly as a result of they play into the “what occurs subsequent” mindset of watching weekly TV exhibits. I’ve stated repeatedly that producers of marginally rated, and particularly new, sequence are fooling themselves in the event that they suppose ending with a giant twist and cliffhanger will guarantee their survival. What it often ensures is frustration for anybody who watched the present to its untimely finish.
What’s Your Emergency? Awards Neglect
Query: Why is a present like 9-1-1, with its dynamic ensemble solid and compelling storylines, constantly ignored in relation to main award nominations? From Jennifer Love Hewitt‘s highly effective arc involving home violence early within the sequence to her later kidnapping storyline, to Peter Krause‘s latest character dying, and Angela Bassett‘s intense emotional journey all through the present, the sequence showcases some really excellent performances and ensemble work. It deserves extra recognition. — Steve O.
Matt Roush: The most effective a procedural sequence like 9-1-1 can hope for are nominations in technical classes, as a result of particularly in relation to drama sequence, formulaic exhibits on broadcast TV are just about invisible to the Academy membership, who after they’re marking their Emmy ballots hardly ever look previous the high-profile and extra adventurous sequence on premium cable and streaming. That doesn’t imply glorious work isn’t being achieved on a few of these exhibits, it simply isn’t being taken as critically if it’s even being seen.
The Ready Recreation
Query: I’ve a few questions concerning the upcoming The Neighborhood offshoot Crutch on Paramount+ starring Tracy Morgan. First, what’s with the delayed launch date? Producer Cedric the Entertainer lately confirmed a fall launch date. Why do you suppose it took so lengthy for a sequence that was ordered in Might of 2024 for them to return out with eight episodes of a multi-cam? Talking of which, why do you suppose they restricted the order to eight episodes? I can’t think about a multicam sitcom could be that costly. I do know that that is on streaming the place episode orders are slimmer than broadcast, however even two extra for a complete of 10 would nonetheless match the P+ invoice. (They did 10 with former multicams Frasier and iCarly.) I’m conscious that issues do nonetheless value cash, and that Tracy Morgan is high-profile, and that they’ve introduced on Neighborhood stars Tichina Arnold and Max Greenfield to visitor star, however nonetheless, would 10 have been that dangerous? — Shirley
Matt Roush: Paramount+ has but to make an official announcement about when Crutch will premiere, however we’re already far sufficient into the summer season that fall appears more than likely. I’ve no insights into any streamers’ scheduling practices, or what it took to supply eight episodes of Crutch, however typically, it’s simpler to advertise and get an viewers for brand spanking new exhibits within the fall, and when The Neighborhood returns for its closing season, they may use it as a promotional car. As for the episode order, they could have taken a conservative method for logistical causes or to check its attraction with a brief order — not like Frasier and iCarly, this isn’t a identified commodity — with an choice to broaden in future seasons if it’s profitable.
And Lastly …
Query: I used to be watching the “Two Choices” episode of Main Crimes (S3 E7) and puzzled if it was purported to be a backdoor pilot for a brand new sequence starring Jon Tenney and Laurie Holden, and so forth. Was this the intent? If that’s the case, why didn’t it go ahead? I believe it might have been an thrilling present. — Bonnie
Matt Roush: That’s a blast from the previous — 10 years in the past, really, when TNT opted to not make a derivative constructed across the LAPD’s S.O.B. (Particular Operations Bureau), the seeds of which have been planted on this episode that aired in the summertime of 2014. One of many causes the sequence didn’t go ahead might have been due to an government transition on the time that put a crimp in sequence growth. Again then, TNT nonetheless had a sturdy manufacturing slate, not like at the moment, when you possibly can barely discover a single authentic scripted sequence value watching on a fundamental cable community.
That’s all for now. We will’t do that with out your participation, so please maintain sending questions and feedback about TV to [email protected]. (Please embrace a primary title together with your query.)