Ask Matt: Awards Season, Missing ‘Magnum’ & 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, but there’s always closed-captioning.)
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.
The Globes Not Exactly Golden as TV
Question: Do you agree that this year’s awards season got off to a crashing thud with the Golden Globes? If they couldn’t find a host before the 11th hour — Poor Jo Koy! Poor audience! — maybe they shouldn’t have bothered. There were a few fun bits with some of the presenters, but most of it was cringe. There was almost no suspense about who would win, which probably isn’t the Globes’ fault. But I’m already experiencing awards fatigue, and it’s just getting started. — Grant
Matt Roush: I’m sure you’re not alone, and this month’s lineup is unusually cluttered, with the six-months-delayed Emmys arriving as something of an afterthought next week. I never expect much from the Globes, and as usual, it looked like they were having more fun schmoozing in that crowded Beverly Hilton ballroom than we were at home. But even so, with new management and a new network, this was an opportunity to recharge the ceremony, and that didn’t happen. I was getting flop sweat watching Jo Koy, and he did no favors blaming his bombing on the writers. Watching Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig do their crazy dance, and Jon Baptiste riff with Andra Day, it’s clear there was energy in the room, just too rarely on screen. And without an In Memoriam segment, and absent those career achievement highlights with the Cecil B. De Mille and Carol Burnett awards presented to living legends, this year’s Globes felt like a non-event. Maybe you had to be there.
Playing Games at the Emmys
Question: I was wondering what happened to the Game Show and Game Show Host categories on the Daytime Emmys? They were not part of the prime-time broadcast of the Daytime Emmys last month. — Stanley T.
Matt Roush: These categories have now been moved to the Primetime Emmys, though not deemed worthy of the live show airing next Monday on Fox. They were presented over the weekend during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, with Outstanding Game Show going to Jeopardy! and, in something of a surprise, Outstanding Game Show Host going to Password’s Keke Palmer, thereby avoiding the awkward situation of choosing between the two Jeopardy! hosts, Ken Jennings and the now-departed Mayim Bialik.
Why are the Emmys Still Airing on Broadcast TV?
Question: What’s in the broadcast networks’ interest to keep paying a license fee to air the Emmys? The ratings aren’t even good anymore and all it does is highlight the shows on other platforms. And while one could make the argument that there are some shows from the network’s own streaming platforms, the biggest recipient of nominations (as has been the case for the last 20 years) is HBO, whose parent company doesn’t own a broadcast network. (Supporting drama actors are all from two HBO shows.) It’s really been the HBO awards for quite some time. Let them air it. — Marc
Matt Roush: It will be especially strange to see The White Lotus (whose almost entire cast was nominated) reap trophies for a season that aired more than a year ago. (Anything that aired since June 2023 is not eligible, meaning that The Bear is up for its first season and Only Murders in the Building its second, which is why you won’t see Meryl Streep at the Emmys.)
To your point, the networks still consider awards shows like the Emmys “event TV,” and the contract to rotate the ceremony among themselves continues through 2026. I’ll be surprised if the TV Academy lets it go willingly to streaming (and/or premium cable) when it’s time for renewal, because even though the broadcast networks’ shows are mostly invisible (save for Saturday Night Live and an occasional breakout comedy), some events like the Emmys — and Oscars, which also has lost a lot of its ratings oomph — are likely to be deemed still worthy of exposure on the broadest platform possible. I’m sure this discussion will renew calls (in my mailbag anyway) for the Academy to set up a separate awards structure for broadcast shows, which face restrictions (content and budgetary) that don’t apply to behemoths like HBO and Netflix, but I don’t see that happening, either. Shows like Abbott Elementary and This Is Us should be allowed to compete against the giants.
Aloha Can Be the Saddest Word
Question: Is there absolutely no chance of a renewal for Magnum P.I.? It’s like Dr. Quinn all over again! — Christine V.
Matt Roush: As of now, it’s over. But maybe, like what happened with Dr. Quinn back in the day, the producers and stars will get to give the franchise a bit more closure with a TV movie or two. No one seems very pleased that the Magnum reboot was cut short during this split final season, with a decidedly anti-climactic ending. Fans have been furious (and I have the mail to prove it) since the cancellation was announced during the summer of the strikes, and I was initially hopeful on behalf of the fans that the network and studio (part of the same company) might have second thoughts. Apparently not, though I’ve learned never to say never.
Will John Walsh Do Double Duty?
Question: Given that John Walsh will be hosting America’s Most Wanted on Fox yet again, I am curious as to the status of In Pursuit with John Walsh, the recent Investigation Discovery series that he did with his son Callahan. Has In Pursuit been canceled, or are there current plans for more episodes? I am aware that Callahan will be cohosting AMW with his father this time around. — Chris
Matt Roush: Apparently, one gig does not cancel out the other. I checked with Investigation Discovery, and while there’s no news or announcement regarding a future season of In Pursuit, it has not been canceled. Till then, you can see the Walshes on the revival of America’s Most Wanted on Fox, starting January 22.
And Finally …
Question: Why is Agent Michelle Mackey so nasty on NCIS: Sydney? Is this even part of the regular NCIS franchise, because the characters don’t look comfortable in their roles. The agents on the other NCIS franchise are instantly likeable. Right now, on this one, I only like Blue, and Mackey picks on her. I liked the actress (Olivia Swann) in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, but in this role, she seldom smiles and her mouth doesn’t open when she talks. Only her lips move. I don’t feel anything for her, and she could be killed off tomorrow and I probably wouldn’t care.
On another note, I’m thrilled that episodes of Only Murders in the Building are being shown on ABC. Yay! Martin Short is my guy! And I only stream with Prime Video. — Yvonne
Matt Roush: My read on Mackey’s sour attitude is that this extension of the NCIS world positions the traditional NCIS agents as outsiders, with friction built into their relationship with the Australian Federal Police locals — all of whom have more distinctive and appealing personalities, including forensic whiz Blue (Mavournee Hazel), who is very much in the NCIS tradition of appealingly quirky lab techs. I’d expect Mackey to lighten up as the show progresses, but it’s not like Gibbs was always a ray of sunshine, either.
And I agree that it’s terrific for Disney to be doing some reverse synergy with its Hulu streamer, giving the first season of Only Murders some exposure on network TV, even if it’s probably only happening because ABC’s regular shows aren’t yet ready to return from the long strike shutdown. I hope the other networks will also take advantage from time to time of shows from their streaming partners — thinking of Peacock’s Poker Face being perfect (if a little salty) for NBC — to give them this sort of boost. It’s a gift to those viewers who don’t stream, or who have to be pickier about which platforms they subscribe to, as well as a good return on investment if lots of people watch. (And it might even get some of the more reluctant viewers to take the leap and subscribe.)
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] or shoot me a line on X (formerly) Twitter) @TVGMMattRoush. Please include a first name with your question or comment.
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