Ask Matt: ‘Curb’s Theme Song, ‘Young Sheldon’s Exit, ‘Chicago P.D.,’ ‘Grey’s & 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 or developments here unless it’s already common knowledge. Please send your questions and comments to [email protected]. Look for Ask Matt columns on most Tuesdays.
Curb Theme Recalls a Classic Sitcom
Question: Do you think that the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme song might be a personal homage to The Dick Van Dyke Show? I can actually hear in Curb’s theme just exactly where Mr. Van Dyke would (almost) trip over the ottoman. — Rhonda F., Warrington, PA
Matt Roush: If there’s not a meme of Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) tripping over the ottoman with the Curb theme playing, there ought to be. And it will probably be a while before I hear Curb’s jaunty theme (soon to accompany the series finale this Sunday) without picturing the Dick Van Dyke Show opening credits. And while there is a similarity in these themes, any homage is probably inadvertent.
The Curb theme, titled “Frolic,” was written for a 1974 Italian film, La Belissima Estate, by composer Luciano Michelini, which Larry David heard being used in a bank commercial (this according to an interview on James Andrew Miller’s “Origins” podcast). David said of the tune, “There was something circusy about it. … It tells the audience: Don’t take this seriously, it’s just funny.” And the “whoopsie” theme has since become a go-to accompaniment for a number of embarrassing viral videos. I’d bet Larry David would be pleased to think the theme conjures memories of another classic TV comedy.
How to Handle Tragedy in Young Sheldon’s Final Season
Comment: I’ve been reading a lot about how Young Sheldon has to include his father George’s death and still keep the tone of the show. There are so many suggestions and theories, but I wonder if anyone remembers the finale of the original The Wonder Years. I suspect Young Sheldon will do exactly what The Wonder Years did. Have a happy ending on screen with a voiceover from old Sheldon explaining how his dad died from a heart attack soon after the end we’re seeing. It just makes sense to do it that way, then have old Sheldon go on by saying that he often remembered his dad harshly, that he perhaps depicted him unfairly, and that his dad was a good man, despite the stories Sheldon sometimes told. (To the powers that be, I need no credit for the idea.) Thanks for listening to my crazy idea. — Mark
Matt Roush: Doesn’t sound crazy to me. And while I try to keep my spoiler blinders on at all times, I have also read reports that the series will address the death of Sheldon’s dad (played by Lance Barber) before the curtain falls on Young Sheldon on May 16. Whether that means it will occur within the series’ time frame or in retrospect remains a mystery — though we do know Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik are reprising their roles as the adult Sheldon and Amy in the hourlong finale — is at this point a secret, but I like your idea just fine. It’s also unclear who and how many of the Cooper family will be participating in next season’s spinoff for new parents Georgia (Montana Jordan) and Mandy (Emily Osment), so that might affect matters as well.
Love Among the Chicago P.D.
Question: While I love that Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati) and Adam Ruzek (Patrick John Flueger) got engaged this season on Chicago P.D., why have we not seen anything else for them this year (outside of a mention of their engagement in the following episode without either of them present)? Are they still together, are they still engaged? I know the answer is yes, but I’m sure a lot of casual viewers have forgotten. I love the heightened focus on the characters’ personal lives but not at the expense of forgetting about the non-focused characters in the same episode. I really hope we see more of their relationship growing before a wedding happens on-screen. — Alex
Matt Roush: I have no doubt you’ll get your wish, but you’ll probably need to exercise even more patience. One of the challenges with these large-ensemble procedurals and their sudsier storylines is how to serve all of these characters and their personal stories while still solving cases of the week. The payoff of Ruzek proposing to Burgess for the third time was long-awaited, and now that it’s happened, the writers will most likely play this out for as long as they can, in the meantime giving episodic spotlights to other characters until it’s their turn again. Plus it’s a shortened season and some things have to give. That’s how these shows work, and it doesn’t mean they’re not as invested in the “Burzek” relationship as the fans clearly are.
Meredith Grey as a Medical Miracle Worker
Question: Where do you think Grey’s Anatomy is going with this storyline about Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s? Not as a spoiler request, but I just don’t get the point. Admittedly, most of the medical jargon in Grey’s goes over my head, but I think the show has an obligation to operate within the scope of actual medicine. While it would be great if somebody actually found a cure in the world one day, it won’t be Meredith Grey, because Meredith isn’t a real person. It seems to me that bringing in an Alzheimer’s cure in the Grey’s universe would be tipping the show a bit too far toward sci-fi and not close enough to actual science. So, if we accept that Meredith can’t find a cure that doesn’t exist in real life, what exactly is this storyline supposed to accomplish? — Jake
Matt Roush: Like you, I don’t know enough about medicine to know how much of this research is based on actual science, but from a purely televisionary point-of-view, I have a few thoughts. First and most practically, the research storyline gives Meredith (and Ellen Pompeo) the requisite hook that takes her out of Seattle and presumably back to Boston, reducing her time on the show. But more metaphorically, Meredith’s research into Alzheimer’s relates directly to her family history with her brilliant mother Ellis (Kate Burton), who died of the disease. So however this plays out, it’s personal to Meredith and to the larger Grey’s story. And even should she come up with a fictional Alzheimer’s breakthrough, I look at that as more aspirational than sci-fi.
The CW’s Canadian Connection
Question: I’m really enjoying Family Law and Son of a Critch on The CW. How many episodes have aired in Canada, and are the shows still in production? I noticed originally in the TIVO viewing program schedule that Family Law seasons had more episodes than the 8 or 10 that air in the USA. Hopefully, we can continue to enjoy these shows for several years, and for more than 8-10 episodes per season. — Carol
Matt Roush: I could be mistaken, because I don’t typically cover Canadian TV until or unless the shows arrive on a U.S. network, but it looks by my records that Family Law produces 10 episodes a season, and all of Season 3 aired on The CW this year. Son of a Critch’s finale airs this Thursday, and while Family Law has been renewed for what is reportedly a fourth season of 10 episodes, no news yet on Critch getting a fourth year. But we can hope.
And Finally …
Comment: I really enjoy watching Tracker with Justin Hartley, but I think he should have a dog as a companion. – Karen
Matt Roush: Why not? It works for Will Trent, although I imagine Colter Shaw would require a companion a bit more robust than a chihuahua (no shade on Betty, she’s wonderful). For now, however, they’re establishing him as something of a lone wolf, so that may not mesh with bringing a canine into the mix. It’s still early days.
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.)
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services