In his TV Guide "Ask Matt" column today, our pal Matt Roush answers a question about why television networks often seem to treat the shows the fans adore so badly..... changing the schedule, airing lame shows instead, etc. For example, the hiatus Moonlight fans are about to endure as CBS airs Price is Right primetime specials on Friday nights. BOO! While answering, Matt mentions our beloved Moonlight. :) He addresses our chief complaint and question ~ why hasn't CBS announced that Moonlight has been picked up for a second season?!? The yellow highlight is my emphasis.
Question :
We are getting a little upset with ABC, which keeps scheduling and then canceling Men in Trees. There are many programs on this network that are more inane than Trees (a show that is somewhat similar to Northern Exposure, which was quite successful a while back). There are very few good adult comedies (if that's the correct characterization) left that we can enjoy. When will the network get its act together with a consistent schedule?— R. Bressler, Austin
Matt Roush :
It's been a while since I've aired this complaint, which still generates a lot of mail and seems timely again in the wake of ABC leaving duds like Cashmere Mafia and October Road on the air week after week to diminishing returns. All the while ABC is sitting on a cache of 11 Men in Trees episodes, which aren't scheduled to begin airing until Feb. 27. I understand that ABC is trying to preserve some fresh product to get us through the last months of what's left of this ragtag season, but how much worse could Men in Trees do than these losers? (And why, when it returns, put it on Wednesdays, when it could air on Mondays with an eventual Dancing with the Stars lead-in?) I guarantee this wouldn't be happening if Men in Trees were an ABC Studios (as opposed to Warner Bros.) production. Same reason probably applies as to why CBS has been so mum about the future of Moonlight, which is also from Warner Bros. and not an in-house (in that case, CBS/Paramount) production.
While we are at it..... Matt also answered another viewer inquiry that is relevant to Moonlight. The second most asked question after "will Moonlight be renewed?" is "when will Mick and Beth finally get together?" Do you agree with his opinion?
Question :
Can you please explain to me why viewers feel the need for interesting characters to immediately get together? Sometimes we know that they will come together eventually (like Gilmore Girls' Luke and Lorelai), but it's all about the journey. As soon as a new cast member appears, people immediately scream for him/her to hook up with a favorite regular. Why don't we just enjoy interesting characters by themselves? And if we must force them into couplehood, can we at least wait two or three episodes before screaming for instant satisfaction?— Laura, San Diego
Matt Roush :
What a well-timed question under the circumstances. When it comes to plotting out relationship arcs, it really does feel at times like you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Bring characters together too quickly and you may have robbed the viewer of investing enough stakes in the relationship. Sustain the tension too long and you risk boring and frustrating them, especially in the current viral climate of overzealous fan sites and message boards. I'm with Laura. Make the journey enjoyable and dramatic enough, I can be patient.
askmatt@tvguide.com
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