Welcome to the Q&A with TV critic Matt Roush, also known to some TV fans as their “TV therapist.” Matt will try to address whatever you love, loathe, are confused or frustrated or thrilled by in today’s vast TV landscape. (We know background music can be too loud, but there’s always closed-captioning.)
One caution: This is a spoiler-free zone, so we won’t be addressing upcoming storylines or developments here unless it’s already common knowledge. Please send your questions and comments to askmatt@tvinsider.com. Look for Ask Matt columns on most Tuesdays.
Is The CW Even a Network Anymore?
Question: Now that The CW has canceled Walker, one of its top shows, along with Superman & Lois (after next season) and all the others, I have to ask: Is it just me, or is The CW getting out of the network business and getting into the Canadian TV syndication business? — Alan
Matt Roush: It’s obviously not just you. As soon as the network changed ownership, it was clear the previous model of being a pipeline for shows from the studios of its former parent companies (CBS Studios and Warner Brothers, home of the DC Comics franchises) was no longer sustainable—if it ever actually was. No question it’s a jarringly dramatic sea change, and with very few exceptions (All American being the most notable), The CW schedule will be much less reliant on expensive scripted shows, and most of those will be either imports or co-productions from Canada to reduce costs. (Next season’s Joan is a co-production from the U.K.) You’ll also see a lot more sports programming in the lineup, as well as a mix of reality and game shows. This is an extreme version of what’s happening on the larger broadcast networks and especially on basic cable, where original production has greatly diminished. It’s a sign of tough economic times for all of these companies, but for an independent network like The CW, this is a survival strategy.
What About Those Homecoming Characters?
Question: With All American being picked up while All American: Homecoming was canceled, will any of the Homecoming characters move over to the parent show? — Scott S.
Matt Roush: It’s too early to say because Homecoming hasn’t even aired its final season yet. (That begins July 8.) Given that All American’s seventh season will be a shortened one—again, economics—it’s unclear if they’d have room to invite many more characters into their world. But since the Homecoming characters share the same fictional universe, it makes sense that some of those characters might turn up on the mothership, the way we expect characters from the now-shuttered Station 19 to appear as guests on Grey’s Anatomy. How prominent they’d be and how often you’d see them is anyone’s guess at this point.
New Home for This E.T.
Question: I’m doing a very BIG happy dance now that Resident Alien is coming back for Season 4, but should I expect some creative changes now that it is living on the USA Network? — Kelly, Arbuckle, CA
Matt Roush: Let’s hope not. According to an update on USA’s website, the main core and supporting players will stay with the show, and showrunner Chris Sheridan isn’t going anywhere. So even while it made sense for this sci-fi comedy to air on Syfy, the show may be perceived as more mainstream now that its exposure grew after earlier seasons dropped on Netflix. And why mess with success? If this becomes part of a renaissance of scripted programming at USA, that works for me.
Not Network Love at the Emmys
Question: Why do shows with great ensembles such as Ghosts and 9-1-1 never get nominated for Emmy Awards? There are so many great actors in each of those shows, but none ever seem to make it on the ballot. Seems like every year you can pretty much guess who will be nominated over and over. With hundreds of great actors and shows, it is hard to believe that the Top 5 can be pretty much the same year after year. — Steve O.
