Ask Matt: Cancellations (‘Equalizer’), Finales (‘Conners’), Changes (‘Elsbeth’), Reboots & More
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, it’s the most frequent complaint, but there’s always closed-captioning. Check out this story for more tips.)
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]. Look for Ask Matt columns on most Tuesdays.
No Longer an Equal(izer) Playing Field
Question: Once again, shame on CBS. Even though it appears The Equalizer had higher ratings than other shows, it didn’t matter. They canceled the show anyway. I agree wholeheartedly with fan comments in the email announcing the cancellation. The Equalizer is in the Top 25 (per TV Guide Magazine). Where’s NCIS: Origins or NCIS: Sydney? Not in the top 25! So frustrating and disappointing. — Sharon
Matt Roush: It’s becoming something of a refrain this season to keep explaining that ratings don’t tell the whole story anymore. (And in the most recent issue, seeing that the live numbers for The Equalizer, tied for 20th — behind Sydney for a change — amounted to a mere 3.8 million tells you a lot about the decline in live-TV watching in today’s digital world, although CBS traditionally does better than most.) As we’ve explained repeatedly in this space, decisions like these are more driven by the economics of series production, with less regard to ratings, and because CBS’s parent company of Paramount doesn’t own properties like The Equalizer or Dick Wolf‘s Universal-produced FBI series or S.W.A.T. from Sony, negotiations become more complicated (license fees, budgets, etc.) the longer these shows run, all of which sealed the fate of many of these “on the bubble” shows during a year when CBS’s parent company is in the process of being sold.
Regarding The Equalizer specifically, the writing was already on the wall once the network moved the show to the 10/9c Sunday hour, which often results in airing very late (in Eastern and Central time zones) or even being bumped on nights of sports overruns. For a while, it looked like the parties involved were aiming for a shortened final season, but ultimately, that didn’t happen. It’s a disappointing but increasingly common development.
Fond Farewell to The Conners
Comment: I commend The Conners finishing off an impressive run with a pleasing final episode. It’s always great when the writers have the time to craft an ending that is respectful to the characters and the viewers who supported the series. If anything, it was even better than Roseanne‘s final episode, which was during an awkward final year. And honestly, I didn’t understand why they needed to even finish it — clearly again all about money.
My only quibble: the absence of Michael Fishman‘s DJ and his family left a sour note. When they got rid of him a few years back, it made sense structurally (he wasn’t doing anything) but negated a bit of the “family” vibe that the series was always known for. I mean, just ignoring him feels off. I thought they could have at least gotten him and his daughter in the last episode to wrap up the Conners’ arc. Fishman has indicated that he would have been open to a return, so it appears the closeness of the cast and production isn’t as cozy as they have indicated over the years. — Linda
Matt Roush: I’ve seen complaints elsewhere that Roseanne Barr herself was missing from the vintage clips that ended the series finale — though considering the acrimonious way she left the reboot (and what they might have had to pay to use her image), I wasn’t at all surprised. The fact that they brought the family together at Roseanne Conner’s graveside to remind us of where it all began felt like an appropriate homage. Given that ABC only gave The Conners six episodes to wrap things up, the absence of DJ and his daughter wasn’t a shock, although I understand why that would be unsatisfying to those who remember the family back in the day. I wholeheartedly agree that The Conners ended on a better note, however hasty and incomplete, than that terrible final season of the original Roseanne.
Sorry to See Elsbeth’s Sidekick Go
Question: I have always been a big Columbo fan, so when I first watched Elsbeth, I was hooked. I liked the way you knew from the beginning who did it and the journey she took to finding the killer. I was so disappointed when I read that the character of Kaya (played by Carra Patterson) has been reduced to the status of a guest star and not a regular. While I enjoy the quirky nature of Elsbeth and the rest of the cast, the true heart of the show was the friendship between Kaya and Elsbeth. It was so touching and so natural. I was glad to see Kaya was promoted, but when they kept having different people to work with Elsbeth each week, I had a sinking feeling that her promotion meant the two would be pairing up again. Do you know if the actress decided to cut back on her hours? If it was the writers’ decision, it just makes no sense to me. — Laura
Matt Roush: On the plus side, the producers and Carra Patterson herself have maintained that Kaya will remain a part of the world of the show, though on a potentially recurring guest-star basis. If Patterson has said anything to suggest she wanted to reduce her presence, I’ve missed it, so I’m looking at this as primarily a creative decision. And it seems to me that the show’s writers and producers laid the groundwork for this shift throughout the season. Given Kara’s promotion to detective (even before her new gig that’s taking her away from New York City), it would be odd for her to remain Elsbeth’s full-time sidekick, since we’ve seen the quirky consultant work alongside many other detectives. I get that this leaves a hole in a show where, besides Elsbeth, there were only two other full-time regulars (Patterson and Wendell Pierce as Capt. Wagner), but I’m keeping an open mind as the show continues to evolve. I enjoy Elsbeth‘s formula, but some of my favorite episodes have been when they shake things up a bit, and this move could be part of that.
The Growing Pains of a Reboot
Question: I recently heard about NBC developing a Royal Pains reboot. It seems only the main star (Mark Feuerstein) has signed on for it so far. I am worried that if more cast members from the original don’t come back, it will end up like Suits LA. Do you have any information on this reboot? — Nancy F.
Matt Roush: You know as much as we do, given that the late April announcement was all very preliminary, and “in development” is the key takeaway here. We’ll be hearing more about casting as the show takes form, and we’re still far away from the network actually giving the show a green light, but it sounds like the premise is to take the concierge doctor into a new direction with a new purpose, which could mean an entirely new supporting cast. Which wouldn’t necessarily be fatal, as long as the new Royal Pains doesn’t make the same mistake as Suits LA and forgets certain elements like preserving the original’s “tone” and “fun” and “good storytelling.”
Are We Desperate for a New Housewives?
Question: Given the tendency toward reviving established IP (intellectual property), I probably should have expected Disney to try to use Desperate Housewives again at some point. But I have to admit that a reboot was not on my Bingo card. I was a fan of the original series. Although its quality varied wildly throughout its run, I generally think of it very fondly now. I know and like Kerry Washington from Scandal, but the one name that seems to be missing is Marc Cherry. Although Disney owns the property and can do whatever they want with it legally, it feels like the show was very much his vision. I’m not sure doing this is a good idea if he is not involved at all. Also, the logline basically sounds exactly like Desperate Housewives, so I’m not sure why they would need to change the name to Wisteria Lane. What are your thoughts on this? — Jake
Matt Roush: I gather, since this new version from Kerry Washington’s production company would be for Onyx Collective, which typically streams its shows on Hulu, that we’d be seeing an even more diverse cast should it go forward. And it’s too soon to know whether Marc Cherry will have an advisory or some other relationship with the show, though you’d think out of respect, they wouldn’t entirely ignore him. As with most things at this stage, I’ll keep an open mind, while expressing some skepticism at recycling old titles with the hope that creative lightning will strike twice with miracle casting. I’m OK with renaming the series Wisteria Lane, which has an iconic soap feel to it in the tradition of one of my all-time faves, Knots Landing.
And Finally …
Question: I just finished with Season 3 of Yellowjackets, and boy, am I exhausted. It’s not easy to watch with all that evil and insanity and cannibalism and stuff. Surely, isn’t it time to bring this series to an end? What else do we need to understand about these characters? Any further episodes will just be more of the same. And I promise you, I truly never did, after three seasons, completely work out who in the past were all the people in the present. (Though there are two dozen people with bigger and more important roles, I did love Elijah Wood, especially in episode 5.) — D.P.
Matt Roush: Given where they left things at the end of the third season (an improvement on the dragged-out Season 2), with Shauna past and present exposed as the main villain but with consequences then and now somewhat unresolved, and with at least one major character (Hilary Swank‘s adult Melissa) still on the loose, I’d be OK with another season, as long as the fourth was confirmed as the last. I’ve had enough.
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]. (Please include a first name with your question.)
Conversation23 Comments
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So tired of good procedural shows being canceled, and we are left with competitions, game shows and reality shows.
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I want the equalizer not to be Canceled and that's my favorite show and they the CBS Paramount should keep the equalizer not to be cancelled and what's your input about the show to keep for the next season when they get married a webbing.
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A shout -out, without loud volume, to you Matt Roush, The Best TV Maven!
Love your articles & especially the Late Night Talk Show guest listings!
You’re a “40 Share” -Boomer TV gal😉📺
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Matt Roush is the best, that's for sure!
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I think the Equalizer needs to come back for one more season. You guys keep taking the good shows of and leaving the new ones. You need to keep the equalizer on
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I totally agree! CBS is famous for doing this!
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Any way to save it? We did it before with SWAT!!
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Bring back Cold Case. I know the constant original music was too expensive, but what a great show it was.
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Cold Case? That show ended in 2010. It's not coming back.
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I think that the problem is not that people have not heard of the changing business dynamics, we just don’t like it. Ratings should matter! We are the audience, we think of ourselves as the reason shows are successful or not in the first place. The advertising is to get us to watch a show, the ideas and plots are geared toward getting an audience to watch, but somehow it doesn’t matter in the end if we watch or not??? I do often see that ratings are used as a reason when some shows are cancelled—even now a days, but being rated above other shows is no guarantee of success. Even if the reasons are explained, we are still mad when it appears that we don’t seem to matter anymore. It stinks! Matt can explain it very well every year about this time, but we will never like it or accept it. Caring more about a merger is what’s wrong with the “entertainment” business, and maybe why ratings are down so much in broadcast—streaming aside. I’m reading and hearing a lot of complaints about too many cancellations on streaming too.
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It sounds to me like the powers-that-be behind The Equalizer had a strong inkling that this might be the last season, and that's the reason the 'season' finale ended as it did. Every storyline was tied up with a nice red ribbon (although some of it seemed rushed). And btw I too thought Dante's popping the question seemed to come from out of left field.
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I've had it with CBS! I can't help but wonder what they are thinking...or perhaps not thinking at all. Advertisers need to start paying attention to what the viewers are saying. I won't watch any new shows. I am tired of watching, getting into a good show, than having it yanked away. Not sure where I stand with Elsbeth. Losing a main character just doesn't sit well with me. Different network, but I feel the same about losing Nikki on Alert.
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I wonder if others are having the same entertainment crisis I am having. For example, I’ll start a series like Mobland and really enjoy it, but as it gets darker and darker, I find myself saying “No Mas!” When the amorality on the screen begins to mirror real life, I find it is not what I’m looking for. I have stopped watching several movies and series for that reason. We all need balance in our lives and with corruption so bold in the real world, the balance is definitely off. I haven’t gone so far as to watch the Hallmark Channel, but I have found PBS to be a welcome respite.
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Comfort food television is indeed a nice respite from reality. Thank god for the sitcoms in 2001. That’s for sure.
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The Queen is no Denzel Washington. She never made sense as the star. I would love to see a reboot of Cold Case. That show was legendary.
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Why on earth were the fbi cancelled and equalizer but Elisabeth mattock weren’t omg have the top wigs lost there marbles I think they all need cat scan because there brains aren’t working all the good show swat fbi equalizer blue bloods what is the matter with people channel wcaxtv has lost it thank god cow and abc have it I can’t imagine it’s just terrible all the good ones gone for what to put on the reality game shows that omg it’s terrible what they have done they need to rethink I’m no longer watching cbs it’s not worth my time
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There is no such show or character as Elisabeth Matlock. There is Elsbeth and Matlock-- two separate shows.
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Matt you are the true TV guru. Thank you and bless you for all the inside intel you relay to us.
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My wife and I were very happy a year ago when CBS made what we considered a great move in saying East New York was being kept and Equalizer was going to be canceled. East New York, in my opinion was a fantastic show and Equalizer had run out of gas. Our disappointment when they changed their decision and kept Equalizer and canceled East New York is still a sore spot for us.
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It was two years ago, and the network rescinded the cancellation of SWAT (the first time - they did this twice), and cancelled East New York. The Equalizer was never part of that equation; you’ve spent two years hating on the wrong show.
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Yeah you and your wife need to pay closer attention to what’s what.
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People need to keep in mind that NCIS Sydney will always be renewed over a higher rated show for the sole reason that Paramount needs at least one Australian based show for as long as they own the Channel 10 network down there.
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I’m reading conflicting articles as to where Wisteria Lane (Desperate Housewives reboot) will air. Some say Onyx and Hulu
others say ABC as well. Hope it is as addicting as the original and that it airs on ABC.
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