Ask Matt: Pat Sajak Still Spinning, Acorn Mysteries & 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.
Pat Sajak Hasn’t Left the Wheel Entirely
Question: I saw that the Celebrity Wheel of Fortune episodes airing on ABC in October will feature Pat Sajak as host. Far be it for me to complain — I’d be happy to watch him do that for the rest of his life if he didn’t want to take his well-earned retirement — but isn’t it going to be strange to have Pat in primetime at the same time as the new season with Ryan Seacrest is being launched into syndication? It’s already going to be hard enough to accept anyone else behind the wheel. If Pat is doing basically the same format in primetime, that’s going to make the transition harder. I know the syndicated show and the prime-time version at ABC aren’t technically the same thing, but it feels like they are, and Pat already had his big sendoff this summer. I had assumed that Seacrest would also take over the celebrity edition at the same time as the regular show. Also, when exactly were these new celebrity episodes taped? Was it before Pat retired, or did he come back to tape more celebrity shows after the pomp and circumstance of his syndicated exit? — Jake
Matt Roush: According to reports, Pat Sajak will be back behind the Wheel next month, coming out of recent retirement to tape the episodes that begin airing on ABC in October. The longtime host was apparently contracted to do one more season of the Celebrity version even after putting the daily grind behind him. I don’t see this as too much of a disconnect, as Ryan Seacrest will still be in such early days as the new daily host that adding this to his plate might have been a lot, even for such a tireless TV personality. Going forward, Seacrest is expected to take over the Celebrity primetime show, but for now, this might ease the pain for die-hard Sajak fans to be able to see them both in action for at least a short time.
Nuts About Acorn TV
Question: I am a huge fan of Acorn TV and wondered if you could find out about a few of my favorite shows on the channel. First of all, I just finished Season 2 of the fabulous Signora Volpe and wondered if there will be a Season 3? When will Season 3 of the also fabulous Whitstable Pearl premiere? Will there be future seasons of Harry Wild or My Life Is Murder? I’d also take any information you could provide on Agatha Raisin, Madame Blanc Mysteries, or either of the Miss and Ms. Fisher mystery shows. I have a feeling I won’t be getting any more of Phryne or Peregrine Fisher, but a gal can always hope! — Stephanie from Kansas
Matt Roush: I’m happy to report that Harry Wild (with Jane Seymour) got an early pickup for a fourth season, but for the rest, I’m afraid it’s a wait and see, not uncommon for this sort of streaming series. Also, no date announced yet for Whitstable Pearl (though if you’re this big a fan of Acorn TV, you’ll probably be aware as soon as it happens), and your instinct is probably right that Miss Fisher and its spinoff are most likely history since they haven’t produced new seasons in quite some time. Same may be true for the delightful Agatha Raisin, which hasn’t been heard from since late 2022, and while I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually returns, given the high profile of the series, its star Ashley Jensen recently took over the lead role of Shetland (streaming on BritBox), which has been renewed for multiple seasons, so it might be a while before she’s available to play Agatha again. [If we hear any updates soon, though such info can be hard to come by in late summer, we’ll update this item.]
Where Do Orphaned Shows Go?
Question: With Paramount Television Studios shutting down, how will that affect Reacher and other programs from that studio? — Scott S
Matt Roush: Reportedly, all of the current shows from PTVS will move to CBS Studios, which is also under the Paramount Global umbrella, so I wouldn’t expect any disruptions. Among the: Prime Video’s Cross (starring Aldis Hodge as James Patterson’s Alex Cross, coming in November) and on Apple TV+, the current Time Bandits and upcoming projects including Before with Billy Crystal (October) and Murderbot with Alexander Skarsgård (2025).
Gimme More Sugar!
Question: Love your Q&A every week! I am wondering if there will be a Season 2 of Sugar on the Apple TV+ streamer. I am addicted to it, and it seemed like the ending of Season 1 could be a prelude to a new season. Any news? — Jackee
Matt Roush: By all accounts, the producers and title star Colin Farrell would love to get a greenlight for a second season. Given the mysteries surrounding the origin of this most peculiar film noir hero, it would be merited. But for now, we’re still in limbo. Again, not unheard of in today’s unstable streaming universe.
When TV Was Free
Comment: Seeing CBS ending shows that shouldn’t, and NBC bouncing back and forth with Peacock, I feel that the idea of free TV which I’ve used for 70 years is sadly and silently disappearing. With both networks shifting programs (such as Tulsa King and SEAL Team, to name a few) in and out of network to streaming and back, they seem to be setting us up for streaming what we have always had on networks for free, slowly forcing viewers to start paying streaming fees for top shows. We’re being played by Hollywood greed to alter the status quo and as far as I’m concerned, I will not fall for their scam and refuse to pay for Peacock or Paramount+, and for NBC and CBS if it comes to be fee-based. — Bob W.
Matt Roush: As I’ve said many times before when presented with variations on this kind of rant against changing times, I imagine these same arguments were made when cable TV transformed what was once a purely broadcast, “free TV” industry. (We paid by having to sit through commercials in a pre-VHS and DVR era.) Digital and streaming technology is a genie that can’t and won’t be put back in the bottle, and the revolution that began a little more than a decade ago — I view the turning point as Netflix’s premiere of House of Cards in 2013 — is still working itself out, with streaming bundles that approximate cable TV and portals that have prompted many to cut the cable cord.
The migration of some network shows (SEAL Team, Evil, Law & Order: Organized Crime) to the streamers, and the occasional reverse flow of shows like Tulsa King (to CBS) and Only Murders in the Building (to ABC) to fill programming holes on the networks, may cause some confusion. But to declare the traditional broadcast networks as dead is premature, though the pendulum has clearly swung to the streamers when it comes to provocative original programming. It may still be a while before we know which and how many streamers will be able to survive on their own, how they expect consumers to be able to pay for it all, and where this leaves traditional cable systems and broadcast networks when the dust settles (if it ever does). We live in disruptive times, and it’s no surprise that some are stubbornly resisting the transition.
And Finally …
Comment: In response to the recent discussion here of Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+, I found Jake Gyllenhaal‘s portrayal so distasteful that I hoped he was guilty. One of my favorite actors, Peter Sarsgaard, was in it, so that was good. I saw the original movie back in the day but didn’t remember it well so watched it again. It was so different, like night and day, and Harrison Ford acted like he was really sorry he had an affair. I guess that’s the problem with stretching out a two-hour movie into eight parts. – Linda W
Matt Roush: I tend to agree that Jake Gyllenhaal’s portrayal of this reckless hothead was less than sympathetic, often appearing to be his own worst enemy, which isn’t necessarily a wrong take but over a long eight-episode haul grew tiresome. Which was my primary gripe in my own review, that stretching the story out became this summer’s most regrettable exercise in streaming bloat. Which doesn’t mean that when they bring the series back with an entirely new case, I won’t be watching. I’m actually curious to see what they do with the format going forward, with a less familiar storyline.
That’s all for now—and because of end-of-summer and Labor Day plans, there won’t be a new Ask Matt column until early September. But remember, 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