Ask Matt: Renewal Anxiety, RIP Eric Dane, a ‘Pitt Fall’ & More
Welcome to the Q&A with longtime 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 every other Tuesday.
Is the Party Already Over?
Question: Timeless, the Quantum Leap remake, Brilliant Minds. These are all NBC shows that were loved by fans, struggled to get renewed for a second season, and then died. (Yeah, I know the decision hasn’t yet been made regarding Brilliant Minds, but things don’t look good.) I am wondering if the (hunting) party might be over or if they should start “hunting” for another network or streaming service, given NBC’s past track record. I am hooked on The Hunting Party and was on the edge of my seat last year, waiting to hear if they would be renewed, especially with the cliffhanger that ended Season 1. I really enjoy this program, and I would hate to have dedicated so much time into viewing it, only for it to end with yet another cliffhanger and so many unanswered questions.
I know some programs have managed to go out with a series finale in which everything is tied up in a nice bow. If they are going to cancel a program, can’t they do it in such a timely fashion as to give the series a proper farewell? Or maybe, as was the case with Timeless, produce a two-hour special that wraps up the show and gives the fans the closure they deserve. I remember the first season of Cheers didn’t do that great, but NBC renewed and 10 seasons later, it was part of TV history. Can’t they take a chance on The Hunting Party? — Rob B, Woonsocket, R.I.
Matt Roush: It’s harder than ever to predict the future of network shows that aren’t part of a franchise and don’t look to be either a surefire hit or obvious failure. With The Hunting Party, which appears to be in a classic “on the bubble” situation at this point in its sophomore year, the network is most likely weighing aspects including demographics, how well it performs on the streaming platform, its potential for growth, and whether they think they’ve got another hourlong show in the pipeline that could perform better. When The Hunting Party launched, I figured NBC was grooming it to be their next The Blacklist, with its villain-of-the-week format. But Blacklist premiered back in 2013, just as the streaming revolution was about to explode. Things are so different now, and the way we watch TV has changed dramatically. Bottom line: It could go either way, and I won’t be surprised in either case.
Regarding the closure issue: When a show isn’t guaranteed renewal, it’s up to the producers/writers whether to engineer a season-ending cliffhanger that may leave viewers dissatisfied if it doesn’t return. It’s not the network or studio’s duty to pony up for an extra episode, let alone a TV-movie (which is a rarity in and of itself), to finish the story. With something as open-ended as The Hunting Party, it’s difficult to imagine what that would even look like.
When McSteamy Was McSteamy
Question: Is it safe to say that the late Eric Dane was the “new” Gregory Harrison back in the mid-2000s? Mr. Dane, God rest his soul, gained notoriety back in 2006 when he appeared shirtless. A generation earlier, Gregory Harrison gained notoriety in the 1980s by appearing shirtless on Trapper John, M.D. Both Grey’s Anatomy and Trapper John were medical dramas. Both Dane and Harrison played surgeons.
Matt Roush: It’s a fair comparison, and there’s no doubt that Gregory Harrison was a leading TV sex symbol of his time, even spoofing his hunk appeal after leaving Trapper John by going extremely and comically shirtless in the 1986 primetime soap parody Fresno. (He later played it straight on Falcon Crest.) With Eric Dane, it was probably a more heightened situation because he dove head and chest-first into an even more sexually charged environment during Grey’s Anatomy‘s heyday.
Comment: While I was watching the clip package Grey’s Anatomy put together for Eric Dane, it occurred to me that those clips were better than anything in the actual episode proper. What a loss Dane is. — Jake
Matt Roush: No question that Eric Dane will be missed, and he’ll also be remembered for putting a public face on ALS, including with his guest appearance on Brilliant Minds just months before his untimely death. And boy did that minute-long clip reel of him as Mark Sloan bring back memories of when Grey’s Anatomy was operating at full steam (no pun intended).
No Holiday for The Pitt’s Doctors
Question: My question concerns The Pitt. Dr. Melissa King keeps talking about a deposition she has to give that afternoon. The second season takes place on July 4th. I don’t believe any lawyer would be working on that holiday. Did I miss something, or did the show “drop the ball?” — Mary-Ann
Matt Roush: This plot point, though a strong one for Mel (the terrific Taylor Dearden), has become the subject of debate among the Pitt fandom for this very reason. Why would any lawyer book a deposition on this holiday, especially on the country’s 250th birthday? If there’s a flaw in this brilliant medical drama, it’s in the way it piles so many crises into a single day, and this particular contrivance exposes it more than most. (It also seems strange that Langdon’s first day back from his exile would be on a holiday.) I’d probably have preferred it if Mel had done the deposition a day earlier and was bottling it up until she couldn’t any longer, or spent the whole day anticipating it on the 5th, and we’d discover how it went next season. I was hoping there would be some exposition explaining why they arranged this deposition on a holiday, but from what I’ve seen so far, it’s still a mystery.
Blake’s Voice Is Sorely Missed
Question: I have watched The Voice since Season 1, and we all know that Blake Shelton is the winningest coach on the series with a total of nine wins. But this season, the 29th, is being billed as the “Battle of Champions,” and how can they have a championship season without the all-time champion of The Voice? I understand that Blake is on another network right now, but was he even asked to be on this season? Or will he be asked back for next season, which would be Season 30, which I feel is totally appropriate? Don’t get me wrong, I love all the other coaches, but Blake is the GOAT in my opinion! Thank you for letting me vent. — Terri G, Elkton, MD
Matt Roush: I don’t know if The Voice specifically asked him back for this occasion, but Blake Shelton’s involvement as an executive producer and occasional co-star of CBS’s The Road earlier this season would have been a contributing factor and no doubt conflict with him participating in NBC’s singing competition this time around. Looking at this from his perspective, it’s not like he has anything to prove by returning, although he’s obviously a fan favorite. In our reporting on The Road, he admitted he wasn’t all that eager to do another singing show until the idea for The Road came along, which he said felt like a more authentic reflection of the life of a working musician. But would that keep him from returning to celebrate The Voice in its milestone 30th season? Time will tell. I imagine they’d be thrilled to welcome him back.
Those Scrubs Still Fit Well
Question: I’m interested to know what you’re hearing about the Scrubs reboot. Please tell me it’s good things, and the show will immediately get picked up for another season (or five)! —Teri
Matt Roush: The early ratings look promising, from what I can tell, and given the buildup and what the show represents, I’d be surprised if the Scrubs revival — they don’t like the term “reboot” — is one and done. I’d sure like to see ABC expand its comedy footprint in primetime to a second hour at the very least, and this would seem to be another strong anchor.
Author, Take a Bow!
Comment: I love it when a TV show provides an extra little bonus for viewers who are watching carefully. They’re called “Easter Eggs,” and they’re generally hidden in the middle of a program where you least expect them. On the March 1st episode of Tracker, the hero breaks into a trailer hunting for clues about a kidnapped woman. As he searches through the vehicle, he spots a book lying on a bed with a series of pictures stuffed inside it. As he reaches for the tome, viewers can plainly see the name Jeffery Deaver on the cover and the title, Edge. Deaver is not only the author of that novel, published in 2010, but he also wrote The Never Game in 2019, which is the basis of Tracker, the very show we’re watching in which he’s listed in the credits as the drama’s executive producer. A nice subtle nod to the guy who created one of CBS‘s biggest hits. I wonder how many others cracked this “Egg” open? — Aaron F.
Matt Roush: You’re the first to point it out to me, but this sort of homage is fairly common, especially when the author whose books inspired the series is still cranking them out. Case in point: When Prime Video drops Scarpetta this week, a new crime drama based on Patricia Cornwell‘s Kay Scarpetta best-sellers (starring Nicole Kidman), see if you can spot the author in a quick cameo.
And Finally …
Question: I was so sorry to hear that Netflix was not renewing The Abandons. It was an excellent series. Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson did a terrific job playing two very strong women on opposite sides. Yes, it was gritty, but that added to the plot/tension. On another note, we have enjoyed watching Bookish on PBS. Is there any hope for a second season? — Lorna G.
Matt Roush: The critics weren’t as kind to The Abandons as you were, finding the material less inspiring than the powerful lead performances, but it’s another reminder that streamers can be as quick on the trigger as the broadcast networks. Happily, I have better news about the British Bookish. Not only was it renewed for a second season before the first even aired, but they’ve also reportedly finished production already on the next six episodes. Something to look forward to.
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.)
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