Reader Q&A
TV critic Matthew Gilbert took your questions
Boston Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert was online July 18 at noon to field your questions and comments. Miss the chat? Catch up here.
Matthew_Gilbert: Greetings on this muggy afternoon.
LittleEthel__Guest_: So since when did Katie Holmes become a star worthy of promoting on TV shows and broadway? Ia anybody actually interested? Do they think people care?
Matthew_Gilbert: Well Kat did start out on TV, you may recall, on Dawson's Creak -- I mean Creek.
Matthew_Gilbert: But then she got married to you know who, and apparently that makes her interesting in a freak show kind of way.
lg_2__Guest_: when i fist heard the title "cleaner" I assumed it would be about a violent killer type, then through more commercials I realized i was mistaken. (i love my tivo, but there isn't much on it anymore, so i have seen many commercials this summer - bleh) i like b bratt though, from L&O reruns.
Matthew_Gilbert: I though it was going to be about a maid. But it's about an extreme interventionist. He and his team drug, kidnap, and force addicts to get clean. It's not very good, but Bratt's OK.
tsa__Guest_: Don't want to hault talk of Katie Holmes, but I'm going to. I was just reading your review, Matt, about the Emmys. I believe you said "Ugh" to the thought of a Two and a Half Men. You don't think it's worthy?
Matthew_Gilbert: I've given that show many tries, and I gotta say, I just can't see the appeal. Jon Cryer is so annoying, and Charlie Sheen is just kind of smug and predictable. All the jokes are the same sex jokes, over and over again.
Matthew_Gilbert: All right, the kid is cute.
Matthew_Gilbert: Or was cute, in any case.
Matthew_Gilbert: But there are much better sitcoms out there deserving of Emmy attention.
emmys__Guest_: So you were happy about Mad Men. Do you think In Treatment will get nominated next year? Oh, and do you thikn Britney Spears was snubbed?
Matthew_Gilbert: I am happy about Mad Men, because it deserves lots of praise. It's a unique and ambitious series. Of course, I am anxious about the quality of the show, and whether all this attention will somehow spoil it.
Matthew_Gilbert: In Treatment is a pretty specialized kind of show. You really have to "get" therapy. The Sopranos was about therapy, but only partly. In Treatment is all therapy all the time. So I don't expect Best Drama recognition, much as I would like it.
Matthew_Gilbert: However, I think the actors deserve notice, especially Gabriel Byrne (nominated) and Mia Wasikowska (not nominated).
Matthew_Gilbert: Britney. Snubbed. Thank goodness.
Cambridge__Guest_: What are the chances House will get recognized for its genius this year?
Matthew_Gilbert: I'm thinking Hugh Laurie may just steal the best actor prize from Jon Hamm. He really deserves to have his big Emmy moment.
Matthew_Gilbert: But I don't think the series will win. I LOVE it, but it is nonetheless perceived as kind of formulaic. You know, illness of the week type stuff.
M__Guest_: Why aren't they ever seeing how funny How I Met Your Mother is?
Matthew_Gilbert: Because they are BLIND, M. Blind.
Matthew_Gilbert: And kind of stupid, too (see under: Two and a Half Men).
hiya__Guest_: how do you think all HDTV will work out? What kind of impact do you think it'll have on TV in general? Do you think most people will like it?
Matthew_Gilbert: I think the digital transition will work. But I'm not sure everyone is then going to go for HDTV. It's pretty intense, visually, and not for everyone I think.
tvaddict__Guest_: I'm dying for new shows. What should I get excited about? Is Grey's Anatomy doomed to be annoying again?
Matthew_Gilbert: It is doomed, especially since The Heigl is returning.
Matthew_Gilbert: I'm looking forward to new shows from JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon in the fall. Meanwhile, there's Mad Men, returning on July 27, The Closer, which just came back, HBO's True Blood in the fall....
M__Guest_: What about Heros? Are they doing 2 different shows this season? I can't figure out their ad's.
Matthew_Gilbert: I don't believe there are two shows, but maybe I missed that. At one time, there was talk of Heroes: Origins, a miniseries spinoff that would air during a Heroes hiatus. But I believe Tim Kring and NBC trashed that idea, wisely. They need to focus on the mother ship, which had an awful second season.-
M__Guest_: Well, I hope that the network doesn't take it off. I've been enjoying the re-runs as much as when they were first on.
Matthew_Gilbert: How I Met Your Mother? It's coming back for sure in the fall, and I think CBS is airing reruns to build the audience before then. I love rewatching those episodes, too. Very tightly written show.
JayCee__Guest_: How do you feel about Friday Night Lights being snubbed by the Emmys? And do you think it has any chance being back beyond next season?
Matthew_Gilbert: I think it's perfectly ridiculous. It makes the Emmys look bad, though, more than it reflects on FNL. Will FNL get a fourth season? As they say in TVAA (TV Addicts Anonymous), one season at a time my friend.
heigl__Guest_: I used to like Katherine Heigl, but her voice on Grey's drives me nuts. I guess I should say her mannerisms and inflections. It's like Gilmore Girls gone valley girls gone the Girls Next Door or something (as far as the flaky factor goes). She really drove me nuts. And I just feel like she's getting sorta high on herself in real life. Plus, she seems to have a bit of a swearing problem that is also bothering me. Please help.
Matthew_Gilbert: You won't find help in this corner. I can't stand her. She has annoyed me all along on the show, and her self-righteousness about TR Knight and her primadonna behavior aren't helping.
jlm__Guest_: What about The Riches? Do you think it will be renewed?
Matthew_Gilbert: FX has not announced its return yet. I'm not optimistic, but FX doesn't always play by familiar rules. We'll see.
Cambridge__Guest_: What's your opinion of 24? Has it run its course?
Matthew_Gilbert: I burned out on 24 pretty quickly, like maybe after the second season. I was back on for the fourth, but now I'm off it, for good I think. The writers have just gone too far with the twists, so that none of the twists matter anymore. It's all too chicken little-ish.
heigl__Guest_: So is it seriously a situation where Grey's needs her and she's gracing them with her presence this season? Or am I misunderstanding ...?
Matthew_Gilbert: Shonda Rhimes just defended Heigl at the TV critics gathering in LA, but Rhimes had to be put off by Heigl's recent behavior. So I think the show does need Heigl a little longer, both because she's well known and because the show has already gotten rid of two other central characters prematurely (Addison and Burke).
sigh__Guest_: I feel like reality TV is taking over, but it's all not too realistic, which causes me to fear that we're all doomed to live in LALA land because we'll start thinking quasi-reality is reality, then we'll devolve into fantasy in real life and it will all be backward. Any thoughts on this?
Matthew_Gilbert: Sigh, sigh.
Matthew_Gilbert: Get a grip on reality my friend.
c__Guest_: Where do you think Dexter can go this next season?
c__Guest_: I already miss Doakes
Matthew_Gilbert: I can't wait to find out. I have this feeling about one of Rita's kids, like maybe Dexter's going to become a murder mentor of some kind like his own dad.... Just a thought,
jlm__Guest_: I'm probably the only one that cares but I'd like to see Stephen Dillane win supporting actor/mini. he was brilliant as Jefferson in John Adams.
Matthew_Gilbert: Yes, he was. Tom Wilkinson was a great Ben Franklin, too. I think Adams will do well at the Emmys...
hello__Guest_: Do you think awards shows will change in the coming years? Do you see what happened this year with the writers strike and cancelling of shows could take the importance off the ceremonies in the future? or could make those in charge rethink the format?
Matthew_Gilbert: Awards shows have been struggling for a few years now, and the writers strike didn't help. The real problem is that there are so many awards shows on TV, they all lose a little importance as a result. Ultimately, they're more like variety shows than ceremonies of talent recognition.
Cambridge__Guest_: What is your guilty pleasure show? You know the one that would never be nominated but it's a good time and keeps you coming back. I need some more fun in what I watch.
Matthew_Gilbert: That would be Gossip Girl, for sure. It's in repeats on the CW this summer, and on DVD too I think.
bsgwuzrobbed__Guest_: what do you think of burn notice? i'm just picking up on it now, like what i've seen so far.
Matthew_Gilbert: I like Burn Notice, don't love it. It's an attractive diversion, lots of twists and explosions. And Sharon Gless is a real plus. Love her.
hiuhio__Guest_: how are you liking Lost's and Michael Emerson's chances of winning?
Matthew_Gilbert: I think he deserves the prize, for sure. But I suspect that Ted Danson will get the prize, because Hollywood loves him, or John Slattery will get it because Mad Men is a sensation. Fingers crossed, though -- Emerson embodies all the mystery and ambiguity of the series. He's great.
mtv__Guest_: random question: you think mtv will stick around for years to come? or has it indeed lost its power? you think they're constantly looking to reinvent? i'm just tired of the shows they have on it. I actually tend to like VH1's shows better.
Matthew_Gilbert: That's a great question. They are looking to reinvent, but I don't quite think they are succeeding. Their reality shows are awful, compared to the spectacular messes of VH1's reality shows or the hip knowingness of Bravo's reality shows. MTV is kind of sort of lost.
bsgwuzrobbed__Guest_: given this year's nods to basic cable shows, are you surprised that battlestar didn't garner any of the major noms?
Matthew_Gilbert: Nope. The voters have already made it clear they will not acknowledge BSG and The Wire. It's odd. Perhaps they think that if they finally give one of these shows some recognition, they will look stupid. Go figure.
huy__Guest_: Can we talk about how Bravo/NBC Universal have hopelessly abandoned Project Runway in the midst of this trial? The marketing, or lack thereof, was a total shock to me
Matthew_Gilbert: Because you're a good, selfless, unvengeful person, yes? I'm not surprised -- Bravo doesn't want to invest in it anymore. And anyway, the premiere drew very high ratings, so it didn't matter.
brad__Guest_: why do you think the wire has been snubbed every year by the emmy awards?
Matthew_Gilbert: Because it's too complicated and pessimistic. It's a challenging show to watch, and the voters don't have the energy and motivation to force themselves -- especially since the Wire was never a ratings success.
gecko4018__Guest_: what is the appeal of two and a half men? why do people watch it? and why do emmy voters nominate it? are u surprised the wire didn't finnally get any major noms?
Matthew_Gilbert: I don't get it -- or, rather, I think I do get it, but I don't want to explain. Because it will reveal just how cynical I can be about TV, the passivity of TV viewers, and the insider baseball of the Emmys. So I won't say it....!
Ricky__Guest_: Hey Matthew, I really enjoy your writting; smart, strong opinions! This may have been covered, but what do you think of Damages?
Matthew_Gilbert: Thanks Ricky. I like your chat questions -- really smart.
Matthew_Gilbert: Oh -- Damages.
Matthew_Gilbert: I liked it for about 6 episodes, and then I got tired of the single legal case that stretched across the season.
Matthew_Gilbert: Love watching Glenn Close chew up the scenery, but wish the show were more diversified.
capie__Guest_: given the attention given to shows on HBO/Showtime, do you think there will be more and more subscribers? Will networks like ABC, CBS, start having to compete more with the HBO shows? If that's the case, how do you think those networks could change their programming so that regular nighttime TV doesn't become as racy as HBO shows? Is it like satellite radio and radio? What's the deal?
Matthew_Gilbert: Have you heard about this new thing called color TV, capie?
Matthew_Gilbert: Kidding.
Matthew_Gilbert: But the networks have been trying to compete with pay cable for years now, with racier shows that are less morally simplistic. And sometimes, as with House, they succeed in capturing a viewership.
scarlet_woman__Guest_: aside from tina fey, I kinda think snl stars are the kiss of death for tv shows
Matthew_Gilbert: I wish it weren't so true, scarlet, although some of the SNL women other than Fey have done well (Kate and Allie...). I've got my fingers crossed for Amy Poehler -- she's leaving SNL next season for a new sitcom created by the guy who does the American The Office. I love Amy Poehler (also love Kristin Wiig).
scarlet_woman__Guest_: so what's your take on the whole "office" spin off with amy poehler? do you think it'll be a bad idea or could it be genius? I'm a huge office fan and can't decide how I feel about it yet
Matthew_Gilbert: It's still a little unclear whether the series will be a spinoff of The Office, or just a sitcom in the manner of The Office. I'm eager to see what they come up with, but prepared to be disappointed. It's that spot between optimism and cynicism where most TV critics live...
hiuhio__Guest_: only 6 months to go for lost!
Matthew_Gilbert: woo hoo!
newnetworks___Guest_: any new networks coming out? You think there will be another HBO-ish network any time soon?
Matthew_Gilbert: They continue to come out, but the new ones tend to be VERY niche oriented, like the new Planet Green for all things eco-friendly.
madman__Guest_: "Mad Men" the best written, acted, and executed show of the last..well ever- agree/disagree? Even better if it were on HBO or SHO...
Matthew_Gilbert: You are a madman, madman. Huh?
Matthew_Gilbert: Thanks for showing up for the annual Emmy Nomination Chat. See you soon.
Matthew_Gilbert: MG
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