Ask Matt: ‘Blue Bloods’ ending, ‘Doctor Who’ streaming and more

Ask Matt: ‘Blue Bloods’ ending, ‘Doctor Who’ streaming and more

Welcome to a Q&A with TV critic – also known to some TV fans as their “TV therapist” – Matt Roush, who will try to solve whatever you have. love, loathe, confuse, disappoint or thrill in today’s vast television landscape. (We know the background music is too loud, but there are always closed captions.)

One note: This is a spoiler-free zone, so we won’t mention upcoming storylines here unless it’s common knowledge. Please send your questions and comments to [email protected] and follow me on Twitter (@TVGMMattRoush). Look for the Ask Matt columns most Tuesdays and occasionally on Fridays.

Question: I can’t believe the sad news that Blue Bloods is being cancelled. It’s an incredible show with a great main cast, great supporting characters, and great guest characters. What makes the cancellation even worse is that the final season will be an abbreviated season. How can they do this to our loyal fans? If they knew Season 14 would be the last, I wish they would have had Erin run for District Attorney and have Eddie take the detective’s test, or maybe she and Jamie had planned to have a baby during the series Finale story. There is mention of a two-part season in the article, but no explanation is given. Does that mean the season could finally resume next September or perhaps in the summer? Friday nights wouldn’t be the same without this great series. —Rob R.

Matt Roush: I’m sure CBS shares your view. No one likes to see the end of a successful series that has become a habit for millions, on Friday nights no less. But here’s where I split my hair a bit. When a movie announces its final season, I don’t see it as a cancellation but as a natural ending. And knowing that these will be the final 18 episodes – 10 begin in February, the remaining eight are said to air next fall – the writers and producers can build to the end of the series. the story might even intersect with Rob’s wish list, it’s too early to tell right now. Much worse is that the show will air without any fanfare, and that won’t be the case with Blue Bloods.

The upcoming 14th season — and 15th, if we count the abbreviated fall season alone — has been a difficult negotiation, with budget cuts said to have left the cast and producers leading companies had to cut salaries significantly, up to 25%, to keep the lights on. continue for another year. At some point, this becomes unsustainable, especially in the wake of the pandemic and disruptions as networks and parent companies are trying to contain costs. The bottom line is the bottom line and no show lasts forever – although who knows about The Simpsons. There’s still plenty of story to tell in Blue Bloods, though there’s no doubt that Reagan’s final meal around the dinner table will be an emotional one for everyone.

Doctor in the universe streaming

Question: Nothing makes me understand that we are in a brave new world on TV like the fact that after 60 years I have to go through the paywall to watch Doctor Who. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to take action. Just tell me that Disney had nothing to do with the production of these episodes and only paid the BBC for the distribution rights. The fourth season of Torchwood (produced by STARZ, not the BBC) still makes my stomach turn when I think about it. — Rick C.

Matt Roush: Doctor Who is still a BBC production, and while I’m not sure how brave this new world is, it seems inevitable that many of the shows that once were on broadcast or basic cable and the Other accessible platforms will eventually move to streaming (though most have a free trial period if you want to wait and binge). I can only add my advice that it is wonderful to have David Tennant back as the Doctor, even for a limited time, reuniting with Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble. I’m looking forward to the next two 60th anniversary specials before the Fifteenth Doctor’s inevitable regeneration takes place.

Not ready to end these lessons

Question: Do you think Chemistry Lessons will be renewed for Part 2? – Alicia L.

Matt Roush: I doubt it. Lessons, based on the bestselling novel by Bonnie Garmus, has been announced as a limited series by Apple TV+, and if you watched the final season that premiered last week (good time for Thanksgiving), then that seems like a realistic and satisfying conclusion to the story of Elizabeth Zott (the wonderful Brie Larson). I also wanted to spend more time in her world, but sometimes it’s best to aspire for more.

Blind spots when streaming

Question: Now that NCIS: Los Angeles is over, I was hoping to watch it from the first episodes like I was doing with NCIS: New Orleans. But L.A. It’s not even on the list of shows on Paramount+, it seems to have disappeared. My feeling is that the reruns will hit television first, so I’ll have to be patient. Exactly? — Lynda

Matt Roush: Yeah, it sounds like your best bet right now is to learn the repeats on USA Network and ION, although it might be hard to get the hang of it in the beginning. This is where I reveal my own blind spot, in that I don’t keep up with where most shows are streaming or syndicated after they end. I simply don’t have the bandwidth for that nor can I keep up with what’s currently airing on all the platforms today. I’ve read that the distribution contract for NCIS: Los Angeles currently prohibits streaming of previous seasons anywhere, which if true may explain why it is no longer available on its parent network and streamer. studio broadcast too.

Question: I enjoyed reading the biography Being Henry by Henry Winkler and now want to watch Happy Days. I searched for a season-specific streamer but couldn’t find one. (Part 1 seems to be missing.) Do you know why no service seems to offer it and where I can find it? Would love to see it from the beginning rather than starting at Part 2. – Pablo

Matt Roush: Similar to the last question, I’m at a loss to explain why Happy Days streaming outlets might not have the licensing rights to the first season (which appears to be available at a relatively affordable price on DVD, if that is an option). You can try a free streaming player like Pluto, which has a dedicated Happy Days channel, to see if Season 1 episodes appear, but if not, you may have to buy and/or rent it to get it. can watch episodes from when Chuck, Richie’s brother, was still there from the beginning (and I guess for Season 2).