TV critic Matthew Gilbert took your questions
September 5, 2008
- |
Boston Globe TV critic Matthew Gilbert was online Sept. 4 at noon to field your questions and comments. Miss the chat? Catch up here.
The transcript follows.
Matthew_Gilbert: Greetings, friends, on this perfect afternoon.
Pedros_Midget__Guest_: What is the deal with "24"...any word on when it will be back?
Matthew_Gilbert: 24 will be back this fall, but only for a two-hour movie, which I believe will be a prequel to the next season. THe season, however, won't start until after the new year -- January, I think.
In_treatment_fan__Guest_: What's the plan for In Treatment. I heard it was coming back for a second season. I loved it last year!
Matthew_Gilbert: YES IT WILL BE BACK. Woops, sorry. Yes, it will be back, and I couldn't be more pleased about it. What a great show, with a knockout performance by Gabriel Byrne. No word on when it will return, but I'd guess sometime well into next yesr.
tbonedaddy__Guest_: will cbs be picking up "swingtown" or "flashpoint" for the fall season??
Matthew_Gilbert: tbonedaddy. like it.
Matthew_Gilbert: no, neither show is on the CBS fall schedule. But the canadian production company that made the first season is making another, so CBS may pick it up at some point. And CBS is showing Swingtown to cable nets, in case they want to pick it up.
kp__Guest_: Love 30 Rock! Any scoop on that
Matthew_Gilbert: Jennifer Aniston will be paying a visit this season, as a stalker of Jack. Last season, it was David Schwimmer -- so NBC is keeping the Friends cast in play.
the_new_pam__Guest_: Am I alone in being kind of excited for Kath and Kim? Do you foresee good things for the show?
Matthew_Gilbert: I really love Molly Shannon. Remember her on "Will and Grace"? So I've got my fingers crossed. But sitcoms are hard to pull off, remake or no remake.
manda125__Guest_: Do you think there will be any changes to the show with Scrubs moving from NBC to ABC?
Matthew_Gilbert: The show is getting older, and needs a few changes. Really, last season was kind of not so great. So I hope ABC has brought some new energy to the table. But I haven't heard any clear indication that the show will be different.
BostonDotCom_2__BostonDotCom_: Matt I am somewhat ashamed to admit I thoroughly enjoyed the new 90210 (but was disappointed they didn't mimic the original series classic opening song!)...do you think it'll succeed or just disappear, never leaving up to the original? Also, what were you feelings on the original 90210 when it was on air?
Matthew_Gilbert: This is a safe place, my friend. No shame here. Can you imagine if a TV critic started doling out shame?!!
Matthew_Gilbert: But I still think the show will die off this season. It's just so unremarkable. It has no spirit, none of the humor of "The OC" or "Gossip Girl."
BostonDotCom_2__BostonDotCom_: Molly Shannon was also great on the Seinfeld ep. where she can't swing her arms when she walks -- "like she's carrying invisible briefcases"
Matthew_Gilbert: Yes, and on a short-lived Fox sitcom by Mike White called Cracking Up. The show was mediocre, but Molly rocked it.
Matthew_Gilbert: Also, see Year of the Dog, a movie in which she goes full-on dramatic. It's really good, and doesn't go where you expect.
Tony__Guest_: Hi Matthew, Do youknow of any sitcoms coming out this season that are geard to families, such as everyone loves raymond. It's really hard to sit and watch tv with children with todays sitcoms such as 2 1/2 men, the subject matter is too crass.
Matthew_Gilbert: You make a great point, Tony. I really don't see much family-friendly comedy coming up.
Matthew_Gilbert: Priviledged, which premieres next week on the CW, could be family-ish, in the way Gilmore Girls was. It's a dramedy about a Yale grad nanny-ing two VERY BRATTY super-sweet-16 type rich girls.
gg__Guest_: What about the Office? what will happend to Jim & Pam, Angela&Dwight& Andy?
Matthew_Gilbert: I'm still reeling at the sight of Dwight and Angela. As Valerie Cherish might have said on "The Comeback," I DIDN'T NEED TO SEE THAT.
Matthew_Gilbert: I know that Michael will be involved with Jan's pregnancy, but it's not his kid.
Kayla__Guest_: I haven't watched SNL in years, and it seems I haven't missed much. But do you think Tina Fey would return to do Sarah Palin?
Matthew_Gilbert: I think so absolutely. She loved appearing last season in the Clinton skit.
Matthew_Gilbert: But of course, as Jon Stewart pointed out on the Daily Show, Megan Mullally could fill the bill, too.
Kayla__Guest_: havent read your fall preview yet so am not sure if you've already seen fringe? i'm having a hard time getting excited... ANOTHER JJ Abrams mystery centered around a plane crash which will probably take years to resolve, if it ever even GETS resolved...? I don't know if I can handle another commitment like that!
Matthew_Gilbert: I was not crazy about Fringe. Too X-Filesy. But if anyone can improve the show after a mediocre pilot, it's JJ.
Matthew_Gilbert: Fringe is quite different from Loat -- there's a mythology, but it's clearly more scientific in origin.
KL94__Guest_: Why did you have to bring up the Comeback!?? :( what a waste of a great show! I've read some negative things about HBO series lately, do you think they'd ever bring it back?
Matthew_Gilbert: Sob. No, HBO will never bring back The Comeback. I'd bet money on that. But we have that one season to always .... cherish.
JediFonger__Guest_: hi Matt =D. have u seen True Blood? Alan Ball's track record is amazing, i'm can't wait =D.
Matthew_Gilbert: Jedi, I have seen it, and I like it a lot. NOT FOR EVERYONE, for sure -- It has the same supernatural-as-metaphor setup as Buffy, but it's more R-rated than Buffy. It won't be a huge hit, I think, but it will develop a loyal niche audience. And HBO likes those niches.
I_Heart_Matthew__Guest_: I'm so disappointed at the lack of general buzz for this fall's TV season. Is it due to the delay in networks releasing previews, or is there really nothing to buzz about?
Matthew_Gilbert: It's a mix of things, this current lack of major buzz. Partly, it's the delay in previews due to the writers strike; partly it's the small number of new entries (half as many as usual), also due to the strike and the need to reintroduce the promising but cut-off shows from last season; and then also the lack of anything dazzling.
Matthew_Gilbert: A lot of buzz surrounds Fringe, I guess, but I think it's going to dissipate quickly if the pilot is a true indication of what the series will be.
JediFonger__Guest_: re: True Blood. u mean much like alan ball's other works? ;). nyce. i look forward to it. i read a few months ago that Sarah Connors Chronicles was cancelled... and now i hear there will be a season2... which is it? cancelled or coming back?
Matthew_Gilbert: True Blood has the humor of Six Feet Under, and also some of the psychological drama. Sarah Connor IS coming back, for sure, and soon.
Eddie_Spaghetti__Guest_: What happened to the much hyped "Geico Caveman" sitcom? Did that one pass me by?
Matthew_Gilbert: It's gone for good. Although it did have a few champions, who claimed it actually got good toward the end of its run last season.
KL94__Guest_: Matt, any insight as to why this will be ER;s last season? Sure, it's run it's course and I haven't watch religiously in years, but it seems like one of those "anchor" like shows the network wouldn't ever get rid of, like the Law and Order franchise. I'm sure it's not as strong in the ratings as it once was, but what other options does NBC really have to take it's time slot over?
Matthew_Gilbert: ER is VERY expensive to make. And it's just time to let go. Unlike Law and Order, ER is a soap opera with ongoing storylines, and they have become forced and redundant. NBC will find something for its Thursday lineup, which desperately needs a ratings charge.
Tracy__Guest_: HBO is doing a free preview this weekend....I don't work for HBO! I am curious about True Blood - so I will check it out. I am also curious about Sons of Anarchy. I DVR'd it - is it worth space it is taking?
Matthew_Gilbert: I like Sons of Anarchy. It's a litte heavy-handed, and you can see it trying to be the Sopranos of the motorcycle gang world. But still, check it out. Charlie Hunnam is good (and kind of Heath Ledgery) as the lead, and Katey Sagal is fierce as his mother. Also: Drea de Matteo is a welcome sight.
the_new_pam__Guest_: If you could pluck three still-running shows off of the air right now, what would they be? Reality shows are exempt, because--let's face it, most of them go without saying...
Matthew_Gilbert: DEFINITELY Scrubs, because I love the show so much but it's way past its prime. I hate seeing good sitcoms (like Frasier and Will & Grace) overstay their welcome, outlive their creative peak, and sully their legacy with a few bad final seasons.
Matthew_Gilbert: Also, Law and Order SVU, which I think has gone from kind of cool to very ridiculous in the past two years. The personal dramas about the two leads are, in short, DUMB.
Matthew_Gilbert: And finally, the mediocre and unnecessary Private Practice. Send Kate Walsh back to Grey's, which needs her desperately.
Eddie_Spaghetti__Guest_: Is there any chance Robert Dinero signs on to the "Meet the Parents" sitcom?
Matthew_Gilbert: Eddie Spaghetti, is your raviolli stuffed with cluelessness. Uh, no. No De Niro on a prime time sitcom.
of_honor__Guest_: Will "How I Met Your Mother" become funny again or is it too far into the classic sitcom traps (characters unneccessarilly coupling, etc.)?
Matthew_Gilbert: A really good question, of. I HOPE HOPE HOPE that the show will continue to be funny, despite the soapy elements that seem to be taking over. Barney loves Robin. NOOOOOOO.
cheesesteak__Guest_: Is Dexter coming back to Sho anytime soon?
Matthew_Gilbert: YEESSSS.
Matthew_Gilbert: On Spet. 28.
Matthew_Gilbert: With Jimmy Smits.
Jay__Guest_: Maybe , I'm crazy, but I liked the show "Reaper". Is that going to be on this fall?
Matthew_Gilbert: Yeah, I can understand the attraction to that show. I'm not positive, but I believe it will be back next year. Definitely not this fall.
cheesesteak__Guest_: Jimmy Smits, cool ... hero, villain, or enigma?
Matthew_Gilbert: Let's hope it's the third. I think he's an ambitious DA who uses Dexter's ... talents .. to his own ends. CAN'T WAIT. It was No. 1 on my top 10 list last year.
Matthew_Gilbert: The only bad news: No more Lila. Jaime Murray, the actress who played her, is in a new CW comedy called Valentine, about a family of Greek gods who play matchmakers for humans.
Matthew_Gilbert: Nope, not making that up.
kd__Guest_: Any news about Friday Night Lights. Is that another show thats gone forever?
Matthew_Gilbert: NOT GONE. Friday Night Lights is returning in October to people who subscribe to DirecTV. And then that same season will begin airing on NBC in February.
Matthew_Gilbert: By making that deal with DirecTV, the show was able to afford to stay in production.
Nicolina08__Guest_: When is LOST coming back? I heard that Michelle Rogriues is returning??
Matthew_Gilbert: In February, I believe. And yes, I've heard that Rodriguez will be back, although I'm assuming it's as a specter of some kind, or maybe in a flashback.
Jack_s_tears__Guest_: have any good lost scoop? also, how many appearances will i be making this season?
Matthew_Gilbert: No, just some of the inconsequential casting news that's been circulating. But I do expect to see many Jack tears, and even more Jack grimaces. Seriously, I miss those grimaces right about now.
JediFonger__Guest_: matt, did u watch season2 of dexter? there was no way lila was coming back after the season finale ;).
Matthew_Gilbert: I know. I know. I wish they hadn't done that. Did we see him do it, though? No. So you never know.
Wiltsan__Guest_: Late to join so not sure if there was any discussion of Survivor or Lost? I think I am one of the few that still enjoy Survivor but saw the "cast" this year and it looks like it is going to be all young hotties, which I do care for as all the time is spent on hookups rather than strategy and challenges. What say you? Over it or like the drama?
Matthew_Gilbert: Over it, I'm afraid. LOVED Survivor for the first four or five seasons, but then I got tired of the game.
sue__Guest_: speaking of HBO shows- LOVED "In Treatment" anything up with a second season and new patients?
Matthew_Gilbert: There will be a second season. And I guess you could look into the already-aired second season of the Israeli series that In Treatment is based on, if you want to get an idea of how the HBO version will develop. Maybe there are plot descriptions (in English?) somewhere on the web? Do Israelis obsess about every episode of every TV show like we Americans do?
Tomuns__Guest_: Hi Matthew, love your work. Did you watch any of In Plain Sight? The lead performances (w/ the exception of Leslie Ann Warren, who was so far over the top) really grew on me as the season progressed. Any idea on how it did ratings wise?
Matthew_Gilbert: Thanks man. So yes, I did see In Plain Sight, and it kind of annoyed me. I've like Mary McCormack here and there (though not on the West Wing), but she didn't work for me on In Plain Sight. So mopey. And she needs to lay off the lip plumping activities, you know?
Matthew_Gilbert: Thanks for showing up, friends. See you in a couple of weeks.
Matthew_Gilbert: MG
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
