Welcome to the Q&A with TV critic — additionally identified to some TV followers as their “TV therapist” — Matt Roush, who’ll attempt to tackle no matter you like, detest, are confused or annoyed or thrilled by in at present’s huge TV panorama. (We all know background music is simply too loud, it’s essentially the most frequent criticism, however there’s at all times closed-captioning. Take a look at this story for extra suggestions.)
One warning: It is a spoiler-free zone, so we received’t be addressing upcoming storylines right here until it’s already frequent data. Please ship your questions and feedback to [email protected]. Search for Ask Matt columns on most Tuesdays.
Can Late Evening Comedy Survive?
Query: Are we seeing the start of the tip of late-night TV comedy? I used to be shocked and saddened when CBS canceled The Late Present with Stephen Colbert when his contract is up, citing “monetary causes,” after which ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Dwell due to much more overt political fallout. Is free speech that endangered on this present local weather? I suppose I can at all times flip to Mates repeats for a superb snigger earlier than bedtime, however it’s not the identical. — Trevor
Matt Roush: This query, despatched throughout Jimmy Kimmel’s weeklong suspension, is now not fairly as pressing, given ABC’s announcement Monday that he would return to the air tonight. However it’s a darkish time for certain, when the pinnacle of a federal company just like the FCC can implicitly strain a community and its associates to tug off a present as a result of they don’t like what they hear. Actually, Jimmy Kimmel’s clumsy assertion generalizing in regards to the murderer was ill-advised throughout such a traumatic second, however it will probably have blown over if not for this kind of authorities interference, which units a harmful precedent. Comedians placing their foot of their mouth is hardly new, and whether or not you want his model of satire or not, censorship isn’t the reply. Dissent, be it comedic or of a extra critical nature, is the American means, and whereas the economics of a lot broadcast TV are difficult, together with in late night time, I’m glad Jimmy Kimmel shall be again on TV tonight, and I’d wish to assume at the very least just a few different unbiased voices (hiya, Seth Meyers) will survive and never be relegated to the unregulated world of pay cable and streaming.
Whereas ready to see how this is able to play out, I started considering again to an identical state of affairs when CBS canceled The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in a case of utmost self-censorship within the late Nineteen Sixties throughout one other time of political polarization over the Vietnam Struggle. In David Bianculli’s glorious e book Dangerously Humorous, he quotes from a letter that then-President Lyndon B. Johnson wrote to the comedians through the furor: “It’s a part of the worth of management of this nice and free nation to be the goal of intelligent satirists. You will have given the present of laughter to our individuals. Could we by no means develop so somber or self-important that we fail to understand the humor in our lives.”
Let Sleeping Rabbits Lie
Query: Black Rabbit is superb, however the principle factor I wish to say about it’s that I hope that its success is not going to tempt the producers and Netflix to really feel required to do a Season 2. If ever a present cried out to be a “one and finished,” that is it. However today I’m ready to be disillusioned. What are the percentages? — D.P.
Matt Roush: On this case, you shouldn’t fear. In all of Netflix’s publicity, Black Rabbit (which I might characterize extra as a “good attempt”) has been designated a “restricted collection,” and given the way it ended, it’s exhausting to think about what a second season would seem like, until below solely new administration. Although I suppose we’d have felt the identical means about Huge Little Lies or The White Lotus earlier than they had been renewed, I believe there’s little hazard of this joint’s doorways opening once more.
Mornings Are Higher with a Full Home
Query: Is it solely me? I discover it irritating once I activate Good Morning America each morning and somebody is at all times lacking. George, Robin, and Michael are virtually by no means collectively. It appears they’re gone greater than they’re working. With what Disney is paying these three, shouldn’t they be on the air extra collectively? Not solely that, shouldn’t they be simply on the air extra usually? It weakens this system IMO. What do you assume? — Scott Y.
Matt Roush: In the event you watch the promos, you’d get the concept this huge, blissful TV “household” isn’t aside. However every of those hosts juggles a really busy schedule, with aspect initiatives they’re producing in addition to different obligations in sports activities and/or information. It’s a on condition that morning exhibits are extra pleasurable when all the staff is in place, however that’s the worth of success.
Voting on Dancing
Query: Why is it that if Dancing with the Stars is filmed in Los Angeles, that California voting opens at 5 pm, but they don’t begin dancing on TV till 8 pm native time? How can we presumably vote after we haven’t seen them carry out? One other voting challenge for Cali? — Terri G., Simi Valley
Matt Roush: This isn’t a brand new challenge, however it stays a nagging one for these competitors exhibits that, over time, have needed to reduce from producing a following-night outcomes present and now stage their eliminations throughout the identical reside episode. As has been the case in recent times, the one means for West Coast viewers to take part pretty is to observe the simulcast (at 5 pm/PT) on Disney+, as a result of by the point the present airs on ABC in native prime time, it can have already got been determined.
And Lastly …
Query: What occurred to The Ed Sullivan Present on Sunday nights? It was nice to observe the present, see the good performers, and listen to their music from a few years passed by. VERY NOSGALGIC for my era. Very disillusioned to see that it seems to be off the air. To these accountable, attempt to BRING IT BACK PLEASE! — Toni H.
Matt Roush: After I initially noticed this query, I believed, “What 12 months are we speaking about?” As a result of Sunday night time was when the unique Ed Sullivan Present aired from 1948 to 1971 on CBS. However in fact, you’re speaking in regards to the licensing of the present’s syndicated highlights that had been airing most lately on MeTV. These offers don’t final eternally, and nostalgia channels are inclined to shake up their lineups every now and then. The excellent news: There’s a mess of Sullivan Present goodness on the present’s YouTube channel in addition to episodes on free streamers, together with Pluto TV and The Roku Channel.
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 identify together with your query.)