Ask Matt: Hopes for Fall TV, Agatha Christie’s Cutest Couple & 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.

Early Hopes and Disappointments of Fall TV

Question: My first question: Which new series are you looking forward to the most in this fall season? My picks are Eternally Yours and Cupertino on CBS. Also: What did you think of the pilot for Line of Fire? I was excited as a Peter Krause fan, but I was massively disappointed by it. The family dynamics were anxiety-inducing, the subplots felt scattered and the characters were difficult to root for. Micah, in particular, is extremely scummy. I almost burst into laughter when it cut to the Hollingsworth siblings drinking on the swings. I thought, “What are we, 17?” On a separate note, I have to give a shout out to the recent premiere of Best Medicine. In my opinion, it succeeds in building off from the first season and it was incredibly written. One of my favorite shows that’s currently airing, for sure. Thanks for the column. — Kyle

Matt Roush: And we’re back! The network-TV drought is mostly over — especially with CBS coming back to life with their scripted hits starting this weekend into next week. And without giving anything away, I’ll say that Cupertino (from the expert team of Robert and Michelle King) is top of my list. Too early to tell from the pilot alone of Eternally Yours, but I’m always up for a supernatural comedy, though Ghosts is a tough act to follow.

As for Line of Fire: Still too soon for me to decide if this one’s a keeper. The twist at the end of the pilot episode made up for some of the overall blandness of the execution, and I was discouraged when the first two episodes hit so many of the same beats: the mother-daughter turf war between U.S. Marshal Jane (Hope Davis) and FBI agent Clare (Kat Cunning), and dad cramping his smarmy Secret Service agent son’s questionable style. So far, the younger Hollingsworths are much less memorable than their parents (Krause and Davis seem a bit overqualified), but I’m OK with the fact that they don’t all get along. Keeps it from seeming too much of a federal clone of Blue Bloods. I’m still bummed that NBC didn’t renew Brilliant Minds, which previously held that time period, so that could also be tempering my enthusiasm. And you’re not the only one jazzed about the new season of Best Medicine.

Bring Judith Back!

Question: Is there any chance that Andrea Martin will be a recurring character on Best Medicine? — Ronald S.

Matt Roush: I’m not aware of any plans to bring back the great Andrea Martin as the hapless cigarette junkie Judith, but there’s also no indication that her return wouldn’t be welcomed if she’s available and they’ve got a new story for her. She would surely be a great addition to this quirky ensemble — her tussle with Annie Potts‘ Aunt Sarah was particularly fun — and by all accounts, her time on the set was enjoyable and she’s a fan of the series, set in her native state of Maine. For now, though, she’s not listed as a recurring regular or anything more than a truly special guest star.

A New Dynamic Duo?

Question: As a diehard Agatha Christie fan, I’m loving the new Tommy & Tuppence series on BritBox, even though T&T is the one Christie iteration I’ve never been able to sit through. The new series’ leads have the right amount of angst and messy chemistry to ground this reboot. Previous versions were just too ditzy for my cynical soul. It samples classic Christie tales in a fresh way, and it’s even got me excited for the new young Poirot (Hercule) series, even though I’m not a prequel/postquel fan. Josh Dylan gives Tommy the right amount of edge even when he’s whinging to his Aunt Ada, and I loved seeing Antonia Thomas race through tower blocks chasing baddies again, Misfits-style. Her mercurial Tuppence is the real cypher Tommy needs to solve. I especially love Imelda Staunton as Aunt Ada, and the family, friends and murderers are well cast, from the stellar thespians who’ve murdered their way through many a mystery series down to Tuppence’s adorably wise twin nieces. How are you finding this new version, and did they finally solve the mystery of how to get a Tommy & Tuppence Season 2? And do you think the new Poirot is in good hands? — Sara

Matt Roush: I wasn’t sure that Tommy and Tuppence (whose stories are generally not among my favorites of the Christie canon) would adapt well to a contemporary setting, but I find this new version to be pleasantly diverting. I agree that the two stars bring ample charm and just enough edge to the characters to keep me rooting for them. Bringing in Imelda Staunton as a Christie-like sounding board is also a smart touch. Whether any of this is enough to guarantee a second season is anyone’s guess, but Christie adaptations are an important part of the BritBox brand, so I wouldn’t be surprised. And I’m keeping an open mind about the Hercule series, which sounds promising as it follows the Belgian sleuth on his first cases in post-WW1 England.

Monday Night at the Emmys

Question: I was quite surprised to see the Emmys on a Monday night this year instead of a Sunday night. I was wondering why that decision was made; apologies if I missed the story! I was wondering how the ratings were for it compared to a Sunday night and what you think about it being on a Monday instead. P.S: The Michael J. Fox tribute was must-see TV. — Teri

Matt Roush: This dislocation isn’t all that rare. It happens whenever NBC carries the Emmys, because of a conflict with its Sunday Night Football franchise. More recently, Fox aired the strike-delayed ceremony on the Monday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2024, figuring a holiday was as good as a Sunday for airing the show. According to the industry trades, ratings were down an estimated 17 percent from last year, but up significantly (41 percent) from Fox’s Monday telecast. My own preference would be for something like the Emmy Awards to be a weekend affair, because Sundays are the most conducive to this sort of “event” TV. But this could all be a moot point in the future, because the Emmys’ long-term deal with the traditional broadcast networks has expired and there’s a good chance the Emmys may move to a streamer as soon as next year. Considering how marginalized the networks have been in the Emmy nominations in recent years, that isn’t such a shock. Regarding this year’s show: I agree that the Michael J. Fox tribute was a memorable moment, and I was grateful for the Dolly Parton remembrance as well.

Will Streamers Do More Self-Contained Series?

Question: We see streaming services not ordering second seasons for more and more series. Do you think they will ever move to a one-and-done model? I watch a LOT of Asian series and most of them are one and done. They tell the story and that’s that. The seasons are often longer; I’ve seen between 20-50 episodes, with mid 20s to 30s being the most common. Doing this ensures that actors will be available, the entire story gets told and fans don’t come out disappointed that a series they love has been canceled. I do know that Asian dramas are pretty popular, if not in the U.S., then around the world. They are popular enough that Disney has sent me a notice about a new K-drama that will air this fall. That means there is some interest in stories that don’t have open-ended conclusions.

Any indication that streaming services will at least try to move to the one-and-done model? It seems that it would solve a lot of the complaints from fans about having beloved series canceled. — Linda

Matt Roush: Limited series are part of many streamers’ programming menus—and most are also investing in Asian imports, by the way — but the general tendency of U.S.-based programmers is to go for more, not less. Which is why if they invest in a new project that isn’t by its nature a self-contained story, you’re more likely to see series aim for open-ended runs, even at the risk of leaving viewers frustrated if it doesn’t go forward. It could also be the case that if a show billed as one-and-done is really successful, the platform would likely be tempted to bring it back at whatever cost. That’s the way the industry works. While it’s possible that we’ll see more short-flight series in the future, I’d be surprised if that becomes the norm.

And Finally …

Question: When will Season 2 of Kim Kardashian‘s show All’s Fair be back? Thanks for any info! —  Vee

Matt Roush: Hulu hasn’t confirmed the dates, but production has reportedly wrapped on the second season, and this guiltiest of guilty pleasures is expected to return in November, roughly around the same time as the first season aired.

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.)