Simon Baker’s “The Mentalist’’ (above) will take on Jay Leno.
(Cliff Lipson/Cbs)
The Globe’s Matthew Gilbert and Joanna Weiss chatted about TV with readers last week on Boston.com. Here are excerpts.
Q. Is there anything really out there like “Pushing Daisies’’ coming out this year?
Matthew: I don’t think we’ll see a unique product like “Daisies’’ again soon. Maybe on Saturday morning TV?
Joanna: “Unique’’ sometimes equals “annoying.’’ Or “small audience.’’ Or both. However, “Glee’’ has some of that sort of perky sweetness, without all of the saccharine. It’s a better offbeat show.
Matthew: I agree re: “Glee.’’
Q. What do you think about HBO’s “Hung’’? I like the main characters, especially aspiring “pimp’’ Tanya, but I find many of the supporting characters distracting. I wish they’d simply spin the Tanya character off into her own show.
Matthew: I’m with you on that. Jane Adams as Tanya makes the show. The business about Ray’s family? It’s really saggy and irrelevant.
Joanna: I don’t like Anne Heche, but then I don’t think I ever will.
Q. Any spoilers on “Dexter,’’ due at the end of the month?
Matthew: I’ve seen the first two episodes. Dexter is all caught up in being a new daddy. But is it detracting from his . . . work? Keith Carradine’s Lundy is back in town, which confuses Debra.
Q. Weirdly I think Dexter will be a good dad. I did love Lundy but thought that Debra was good with Anton.
Matthew: Don’t give up on Anton. He’s back, too. Of course, we all know who Debra is REALLY with.
Joanna: Eew!
Q. Why are the networks so in love with franchise dramas? I know people who love “Law & Order’’ and “CSI,’’ but I just can’t get into them.
Matthew: They are, oddly enough, comfort TV. You know what you’ll get, you know the bad guys will be caught in most cases. Audiences love to know what they’re going to get.
Joanna: As for franchise dramas - we know them as procedurals - they bore me. A lot. But I know what Matthew means - they’re tidy and satisfying, require minimal commitment of brain or time.
Matthew: They make the world feel safe, in a way.
Joanna: I just can’t imagine what it would be like to keep coming up with new murder plots.
Q. When is “Curb Your Enthusiasm’’ coming back?
Joanna: Sept. 20.
Q. How do you think “The Mentalist’’ will fare against Leno, and for that matter, how do you think Leno will do in his new slot?
Joanna: I think “The Mentalist’’ will do just fine against Leno.
Matthew: The success or failure of Leno will be the big question of the fall.
Q. “Nurse Jackie’’ - excellent show, yes? Will it be back?
Matthew: Yes, and yes. Season two starts filming in September.
Check out the full chat transcript at www.boston.com/viewerdiscretion. 
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
