Welcome to the Q&A with TV critic — additionally identified to some TV followers as their “TV therapist” — Matt Roush, who’ll attempt to handle no matter you’re keen on, detest, are confused or pissed off or thrilled by in right now’s huge TV panorama. (We all know background music is just too loud, it’s probably the most frequent grievance, however there’s all the time closed-captioning. Try this story for extra ideas.)
One warning: This can be a spoiler-free zone, so we gained’t be addressing upcoming storylines right here except it’s already widespread information. Please ship your questions and feedback to [email protected]. Search for Ask Matt columns on most Tuesdays.
Is Sunday a Demise Sentence for Backyard Society?
Query: I’ll sum up my ideas in a single line: WTF is NBC doing!? To elucidate: I’m drastically anxious about the way forward for Grosse Pointe Backyard Society. It’s a serialized drama on NBC, airing Sundays at 10/9c in 2025 – that’s loads of components that would contribute to its downfall. It’s an amazing present already, too, and I’d actually hate to see this lovely idea get misplaced within the Sunday night time loss of life slot. The collection premiere bought 1.8 million viewers dwell, I learn. I completely predicted the numbers could be someplace across the low [2 million] vary, however that is an abysmal efficiency for a PREMIERE. I can solely think about it should go downhill from there. And I imagine that NBC ought to have identified this from the get-go. Why would they make investments time and money right into a present like this simply to deal with it to a disastrous timeslot!? So, do you could have any ideas on what NBC’s thought course of was when scheduling the present? Do you suppose that they may present some mercy when contemplating it for a renewal? Perhaps a transfer to Peacock? — A pissed off Shirley
Matt Roush: It’s fascinating to see Sunday known as a “loss of life slot,” when historically it’s among the many most watched nights of the week. However that’s again when broadcast community TV dominated the trade, and that’s not the case anymore. CBS continues to do nicely by its scripted Sunday exhibits, and Fox has its animated lineup, however ABC has principally deserted the night time for half of the yr — which is about to alter when American Idol returns, not the phenom that it was however nonetheless a identified amount. For NBC, the problem is to begin from scratch as soon as soccer season is over. I applaud them for making an attempt a full night time of recent unique programming, however unquestionably it’s a threat, and the present airing on the finish of the night time (on this case, Grosse Pointe Backyard Society) is usually probably the most weak. I want that Fits LA was as a lot enjoyable as the unique collection, which could assist give Grosse Pointe an even bigger enhance.
I’ve stated repeatedly on this area that I don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to same-night scores numbers, as a result of that’s simply a part of the metrics a community makes use of to find out a present’s success. If it pops on Peacock and does nicely in delayed viewing, a present can survive puny linear scores so long as the demographics and buzz are robust. And by a minimum of one account I noticed, NBC’s new lineup was decided an early success in delayed viewing throughout all platforms, with Grosse Pointe‘s pilot episode constructing to three.3 million views, rising 90% in whole viewers and 216% in the popular demo. I’d prefer to see NBC give a protracted leash to Grosse Pointe, which as Shirley rightly notes will discover it onerous to construct an viewers if individuals don’t latch on from the start (the best way they did again within the day for a soapy Sunday night time hit like Determined Housewives). It’s manner too quickly to foretell its future, however I doubt that if NBC drops it, Peacock would swoop in for a renewal. Nonetheless, you by no means know nowadays.
Competing Towards the Oscars
Query: I used to be shocked that in opposition to the Oscars different networks had been exhibiting new episodes. Throughout any of the awards or massive exhibits, don’t the opposite networks often save new episodes and go along with reruns? — Scott S.
Matt Roush: There was a time when the Oscars present was such a powerhouse that almost all competing networks would play useless. That point has largely handed. I’m answering this with out understanding how nicely (or badly) this yr’s present fared within the scores, however with no blockbuster movie like Barbie and Oppenheimer to command consideration — I’d prefer to suppose the primary half-hour drew a crowd with the Depraved/Oz medley and Conan O’Brien‘s monologue — the Oscars aren’t as massive a draw as they as soon as had been. And given what number of main occasions disrupt the established order on Sundays via February — this yr together with the Tremendous Bowl (the place everybody else does principally go darkish), the Grammys, and even Saturday Night time Reside‘s 50th-anniversary celebration — I’m not shocked that the competing networks determined to not concede yet one more Sunday night time to an enormous present that isn’t that massive, providing loads of room for alternate options. I get that NBC had simply launched its new Sunday lineup the week earlier than (see the final query) and wasn’t keen to threat dropping no matter momentum they’d, and CBS and Fox didn’t blink from their common schedule. Given the meh nature of this yr’s present (right here’s my evaluation), I’m considering the opposite networks had been sensible to stay with originals for when viewers started to really feel the urge to float away.
Why Not Simply Let Nature Sing?
Query: My husband and I completely benefit from the surroundings in The Americas with Tom Hanks. We’re senior residents and our listening to is nice, however the music within the background is so loud that typically it’s troublesome to listen to what he’s saying or stated. Why do they try this? It nearly got here to some extent that we needed to give up listening and simply watch the segments with none commentary. — Pauline T.
Matt Roush: Hans Zimmer‘s rating for this dazzling nature collection isn’t refined, that’s for certain, and this is only one of so many complaints I frequently subject on this difficulty of loud music. With The Americas, there are worse fates than hitting the mute button and simply having fun with the surroundings, I suppose, and I think about exercising the closed-caption choice may muddle the display screen. Right here’s the place I sometimes steer readers to a narrative we did some time in the past suggesting methods to reinforce the sound popping out of your TV, as a result of producers are addicted to those loud soundtracks, and that doesn’t seem more likely to change.
Gone However Not Forgotten
Query: Now that Rochelle Aytes is not portraying Hondo’s spouse on S.W.A.T., do the writers and producers suppose followers don’t discover her absence? Her character and their new child lady had been an enormous presence in a lot of the storylines. Now hastily there’s no spouse and daughter? I do know it was talked about as soon as that they had been visiting her mom, I imagine?? So are they planning on casting a brand new actress for the function of Hondo’s spouse? Or simply depart the followers guessing and considering we’re silly? — Melinda
Matt Roush: Such issues occur when a present lives on the bubble from yr to yr, and within the case of Rochelle Aytes, when S.W.A.T. was unexpectedly renewed for an eighth season, however her character of Nichelle would have been demoted from common to recurring standing, she selected to pursue a unique series-regular function in CBS’s new present, Watson. As an alternative of killing her off or recasting her, S.W.A.T.‘s producers have written the character out of the present in the meanwhile, with the choice of bringing her again ought to her schedule or the storyline enable. This gained’t appease S.W.A.T. followers, however that’s how the enterprise works. And may Watson not get a second season and S.W.A.T. continues, chances are high you’ll see extra of Aytes as Nichelle sooner or later. Simply not proper now.
Characters Enjoying Disguise and Search
Query: One week I seen that OA was lacking from FBI. The following week, Maggie is lacking. The identical factor occurs on Ghosts when a number of of the ghosts usually are not on. I’m simply curious — is that this a cost-cutting factor or are the actors taking a trip? — Tom in Baltimore
Matt Roush: For FBI, and a number of other different TV ensembles (Gray’s Anatomy most famously and visibly), shrinking budgets have led the producers to write down sure characters out of some episodes this season. That hasn’t been reported to be the case about Ghosts, a minimum of not that I’m conscious. The reason often given when a ghost character is lacking is that there wasn’t room to service the entire characters, relying on what the story of the week is. It’s a reasonably large forged and having all of them stand round as a Greek refrain with possibly one or two strains is probably not definitely worth the effort. This may very well be a cost-saving transfer, however these actors are contracted for a full season, in order that appears to be principally a artistic resolution, although I suppose you may look it at just like the actor will get per week off when that occurs.
Worrying Mindfully
Query: Have you ever heard something about whether or not Sensible Minds will get a second season? My husband and I completely loved the primary season and hate to suppose we gained’t understand how the whole lot performs out. — Gary
Matt Roush: Haven’t heard something and possibly gained’t till NBC makes its plans identified for subsequent fall. Sensible Minds aired a whole 13-episode first season, and its destiny could rely on how nicely the Monday time interval’s new occupant, The Looking Social gathering, fares and whether or not NBC chooses to have two dramas share the time interval subsequent season or go one other manner. I’d prefer to see extra of the Zachary Quinto medical drama as nicely, so am selecting to remain optimistic for now.
And Lastly …
Remark: My spouse and I watched the primary season of Prime Video‘s The Sticky and are so dissatisfied there won’t be a second season. Any likelihood that Netflix or another person may step as much as the plate and produce a second season? We thought it was the most effective Canadian export since Schitt’s Creek. — John C., Denver, N.C.
Matt Roush: Don’t I want! This maple syrup caper wasn’t simply nice enjoyable but additionally gave the nice Margo Martindale one in all her fiercest and most entertaining roles in a protracted whereas. (And let’s not neglect Jamie Lee Curtis going excessive because the present’s Large Unhealthy.) It’s a disgrace that we gained’t see extra of this, however it appears past a protracted shot for one more streamer to select up a rival’s castoff.
That’s all for now. We are able to’t do that with out your participation, so please hold sending questions and feedback about TV to [email protected]. (Please embrace a primary title along with your query.)