Ask Matt: More Accolades for Mandy Moore
Welcome to the Q&A with TV critic — also known to some TV fans as their “TV therapist” — Matt Roush, who’ll try to address whatever you love, loathe, are confused or frustrated or thrilled by in today’s vast TV landscape. (We know background music is too loud, but there’s always closed-captioning.)
One caution: This is a spoiler-free zone, so we won’t be addressing upcoming storylines here unless it’s already common knowledge. Please send your questions and comments to [email protected] (or use the form at the end of the column) and follow me on Twitter (@TVGMMattRoush). Look for Ask Matt columns on many Tuesdays and some Fridays.
Give Emmys to Rebecca and Miguel
Question: I am writing about the superb performances that are being given on This Is Us in its final episodes, specifically Mandy Moore and Jon Huertas playing the aging Rebecca and Miguel. Last week’s Miguel-centric episode (which I won’t give away any spoilers) was a tour de force by an actor who has always been there as a solid supporting character on the show but was now shown to be a true prominent part of the cast. I will never forget this episode. Which brings me to Mandy Moore. Will she finally get the Emmy she deserves this year? Who knows, especially with streaming services seeming to get the Emmy love more than broadcast network shows and stars do.
Every week she not only shows her exceptional talent in playing an aging woman, which I know makeup and wigs help a lot in making the look come to life, but they only go so far if the actress cannot make it believable and each week she does. On top of that, she has to go the extra mile and bring the audience along on a believable journey of an aging woman with Alzheimer’s. I know her own castmates (specifically Sterling K. Brown) have already been out there singing her praises for the Emmy voters to recognize her and I’m sure the many, many fans of This Is Us feel the same way. Along with the entire cast, Mandy has given the television drama a character portrayal that will go down as one of the great acting achievements in the genre. I will miss this show very, very much. — Jane G
Matt Roush: I hate to admit that I’ll be surprised (happily) if she even gets nominated, given the way the Emmy voters tend to favor anything that isn’t network TV, especially in the drama field. She hasn’t made the cut since 2019, but Mandy Moore is more than deserving for her work this season, and if Jon Huertas scored a nod in the supporting category (if only for the “Miguel” episode), that would be another nice surprise. This Is Us is going out on a creative high with these episodes, including this week’s, in which Moore broke our hearts all over again as the older Rebecca continues to slip away mentally while her kids debated how best to care for and honor her. What’s just as remarkable, though, are the flashbacks that justify why her offspring describe her as “magic.” No matter what age she’s playing Rebecca, Mandy Moore is nailing it.
To Infinity and Beyond
Question: Is the main cast of For All Mankind returning for Season 3 or have they been replaced after the time jump? — Matthew S.A.
Matt Roush: Obviously, the characters who didn’t survive last season won’t be back, but otherwise it appears that most of the players in this fascinating alt-history space-race drama will be returning when the focus turns beyond the Moon to Mars. According to Apple, when the series returns on June 10 (can’t wait), you can expect to see Joel Kinnaman, Shantel VanSanten, Jodi Balfour, Sonya Walger, Wrenn Schmidt, Coral Peña, and other key ensemble members back in action. Joining the cast will be Edi Gathegi (The Blacklist) as a visionary named Dev Ayesa.
A Rant
Comment: We’ve been watching the new Law & Order since its reboot. We cannot warm up to Hugh Dancy as the new Assistant D.A. He has no charisma and no personality. Things seem to flow well until the action gets to him. He is a real downer. We would love to see him replaced. Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) could have fired him after last week’s episode, and we wish he had! — Pat K, Peachtree Corners, GA
Matt Roush: I can only think this is an unfortunate case of miscasting, as I’ve enjoyed Hugh Dancy before on stage and in shows as varied as Hannibal, The Good Fight, and Homeland. Especially as Hannibal’s Will Graham, when he had a layered, troubled character to sink his teeth into, Dancy was hard to look away from, but he seems very uncomfortable here. All-business procedurals aren’t a good fit for everybody, and while I’m trying to avoid saying something as presumptuous as that he may be too good for the material he’s being given here, it really does feel like he’s not right for it.
A Rave
Comment: Even if ABC doesn’t order the proposed FBI spinoff of The Rookie to series, they should enlist Niecy Nash for the show. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance in the two episodes of the “backdoor pilot.” What makes The Rookie so refreshing is that it’s totally different than the Dick Wolf procedurals (FBI’s and Chicago PD). — Fred
Matt Roush: I hope the show can stay this distinctive if it starts to spin itself off. That said, all indications are that when ABC announces its new lineup next week, the Niecy Nash spinoff will be part of it, either for fall or midseason.
Dousing Creative Fires
Question: As they did with TNT and TBS, has Discovery as the new owners of WarnerMedia put a halt on original scripted programming for truTV? The reason for this query is because I am curious if the upcoming new Tacoma FD season will be its last? – Alex
!['Tacoma FD': Steve Lemme Teases Season 3 Finale: [Spoiler] Is Leaving?! (VIDEO)](https://www.tvinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/tacoma-fd-season-3-finale-234x155.jpg)
Matt Roush: It hasn’t been announced that the fourth season would be the last, and it’s possible that pre-existing series that are doing well enough on any of these Turner channels might escape the cut. But the future for scripted shows on these platforms is looking pretty grim in the wake of the merger.
One Last Rant
Comment: In the most recent Feedback column in TV Guide Magazine, Lisa wrote that she couldn’t imagine anyone other than Ken Jennings hosting. I TOTALLY DISAGREE. He would be the worst choice they could make. He is egotistical, haughty, and thinks he is better than everyone. I did not like him as a contestant and like him even less as a host. When he hosts, I DO NOT watch the show and I have been watching forever, until now. Mayim Bialik is an excellent host and communicates with the contestants in a good way. She is a delight to watch. PLEASE let the powers that be in making this choice know a lot of us DO NOT LIKE Ken Jennings at all and do not watch the show when he hosts and will never watch it if he becomes permanent host. — Joan
Matt Roush: The only thing I can guarantee is that whatever decision Jeopardy! ultimately makes regarding a full-time host (or alternating hosts) is that it will not please everyone. I personally feel that Joan is reading Ken Jennings all wrong, that his confidence is actually an expression of enthusiasm for the game he loves and has excelled at. (Whether you like his delivery or demeanor is a matter of personal taste.) I also enjoy Mayim Bialik’s interplay with contestants and think they’ve each done an admirable job keeping the show going this season after the unfortunate hiccup early on regarding the former executive producer. Jeopardy! is also currently in the hands of a gifted producer, Michael Davies, who seems quite passionate about the show and its future.
I’m surprised I didn’t get more heated mail like this after TV Guide Magazine’s recent cover story essay advocating for Ken to get the top job permanently. (I didn’t write it, but I agree with the reasoning.) Until an official decision is made regarding next season and beyond, I’m going to declare the subject off-limits for now in this forum because the attacks on both of the hosts’ characters (and, apparently, even wardrobe) seem awfully personal and unwarranted.
That’s all for now. We can’t do this without your participation, so please keep sending questions and comments about TV to [email protected] or shoot me a line on Twitter (@TVGMMattRoush), and you can also submit questions via the handy form below. (Please include a first name with your question.)
