Roger Catlin | TV Eye

'Weeds,' 'Big Love' and Elder Care

Carrie Houghton wonders:

When can we expect to see Weeds 3 released on DVD?

Is there going to be a 3rd season for Big Love?

The third season of "Weeds" comes out on DVD June 3. The fourth season of "Weeds" starts on Showtime June 16.

The next season "Big Love" has been pushed to the fall -- by the writers' strike, not because of the raid on the polygamist compound in Texas.

Karen Droegemueller of Brooklyn Park, MN, was one of a few readers to write about the public television special "Caring for Your Parents":

After viewing the PBS special last Wednesday I am interested in purchasing a copy of the CD.  It was very well done.  Please send the 1-800 number for me to call to order a copy.  I missed getting that down.  My brother and sister and I are doing many of the things mentioned but the program is filled with great ideas.

Here's the web page selling the video: http://shop.wgbh.org/product/show/34132

Voodoo, Wrong 'Star' and 'HSM' Particulars

It's not just viewers who write in; sometimes it's filmmakers too. Deborah Scranton, director of the compelling "Bad Voodoo's War" showing tonight on "Frontline" dropped a line:

Thanks so much for the shoutout! I think Matt of Blackfive said it perfectly– "I'd follow Toby (SFC Nunn) into hell carrying a gasoline can…" (as would I).

Nothing would make us happier than millions of Americas listening to what the guys of BAD VOODOO have to say…thanks again.

Carol Mims writes of an April Fool's Day mistake in today's newspaper column:

The caption of the photo you ran today of the "Dancing with the Stars" couple is not Shannon Elizabeth (she's a blond). This is a photo of Priscilla Presley

You're right (I don't put the pictures and captions in the paper myself but there will be a correction).

I wouldn't say Shannon is a blonde (but she acts like one).

But it's pretty remarkable when a 62 year old woman can be mistaken for a woman 28 years her junior!

Liz Frillici writes:

Just read your article on High School Musical : Summer Session.

You mention...now you can try out. Wondered, where do kids apply to try out ?

Also, a Variety piece from early March reports that a production company had not yet been announced. Any idea who is taking the reins to produce this?

It’s being produced by Jay Bluenfeld and Tony Marsh (of "Here Come the Newlyweds").

Casting information when it is available will be posted here at abc.com/casting. But there are other people to be found first: the host and judges.

Any More 'Treatment'?

Faith Blitman asks about 'In Treatment' winding up Friday night:

Are you certain this is the end of the series?  I have read that no definite decisions have been made regarding "In Treatment."

Well, that's true. But I can't imagine a series that began with an average of 316,000 viewers the first week and fell to 196,000 by the fourth week would ever be back for a second season. Even on HBO. QVC must have higher ratings.

Bob Sullivan of Warwick, R.I. writes:

I can't believe the must see (for me) shows Jericho and The 4400 have been axed in a span of a few months. Here's hoping Jericho becomes the next JAG.

Not sure what you mean by that. "Jag," of course is by now off the air as well.

Objections to 'Dance' Judge, Tony Orlando & More

Rodney Kirkham writes with some strong opinions on Ben Vereen, one of the judges on "Your Mama Don’t Dance."

I have followed this new series "Your mama don't dance," because my mother taught ballet and dance for many years.  She has won numerous competitions and developed many award winning dance shows and competitions. 

That being said I am no stranger to the "dance competition world and I have to tell you the guy you have judging makes the show look like a joke.  Last week he gave Eric and Carol a perfect 100 because he was touched by "their story." and this week (March 22nd) they were 10 fold IMPROVED and he gave them an "80."  What a joke!  They truly deserved a "100" this week!  They were light years above the other dancers, who ironically he scored higher than Eric and Carol, even the female dancers who were watching in the audience this week, when asked for their opinions remarked how Eric and Carol had delivered strong week after week.

I am sorry but this man is an idiot!  He truly does not know what he is doing and it is painfully obvious he goes on how HE is feeling week by week.......get rid of him he is going to cost you your show and that's too bad.  Many of my friends and I all felt we should at least let you know the appearance this guy is giving your good attempt at a fairly decent dance competition.  He is making it into a joke, he obviously is not judging them on their routines. 

Whence 'Breaking Bad' and Other Concerns

Stephen Mains writes:

Your first line in today's article on The Riches reminded me of that other notorious RV on TV these days: The one from Breaking Bad...

I was very disappointed that the season of Breaking Bad seems to have ended as I don't recall there being notice of "season finale" that we usually get.  Then in today's article you point to the writer's strike and noted that The Riches will only be 7 episodes long too...   Was this the case with Breaking Bad too?  I've been unable to locate any info on Breaking Bad in this regard.

I was needling a guy at FX for dropping "Breaking Bad" (it was originally developed for them). He said they already had one dark drama in an RV.

Yeah, there were just six episodes of "Breaking Bad" because of the strike (one they apparently didn't see coming since there was no closure or particular cliffhanger). There was less publicity about the end than for most shows, but I did mention it in my column...

AMC has made no official announcement yet, but it seems like the series will return for more episodes... I hope it does.

A friend writes:

All CBS comedies going at least back to and including 'Everybody Loves Raymond' have had inflated laugh tracks but I still like 'Big Bang Theory' better than you do. Interesting to see that only The Blonde's hair and makeup were revamped over the strike. Nerds don't need to be au courant.

'Wire' Finale and Other Topics

A friend writes:

Enjoyed your recap of 'Wire' finale... but please tell me anyway how you spotted that job titles at The Sun had shifted. Are there nameplates on the cubicles? Insider knowledge on positions of the desks? I only got that Gus was still working there -- didn't spot 'Mike Fletcher' at all. And are Pulitzers lucite? I thought they were medallions.

Alma had mentioned to Gus that he had gone to the copy desk, and indeed his new desk was with the copy editors. In the center of the room, the new City editor was Fletcher, who had turned out the page one story on Bubbles, calling out for the Carcetti election story. The Pulitzer shape may not have been right, but the location was -- Columbia University.

Another friend writes:

Man, what a grand finale for The Wire ... like Comic Book Guy would say: "Best ... show ... ever." Punkass Templeton and his smarmy editors winning the Pulitzer while honorable Clark Johnson gets busted to the copy desk and honest Alma gets shipped off to the Carroll County Bureau was just perfect. I thought Simon let McNulty off the hook a bit ... realistically, he would have completely crashed and burned ... but he's such a great character that I don't really mind.

What I Really Think of MTV

An eighth grader from California writes about her homework assignment.

We are assigned a big project called the I-search. For this project we are to research any topic of our choice. I've decided to research MTV. I know that you are a television critic for the Hartford Courant, and i just wanted to ask you some basic questions about your views on MTV. I would really appreciate if you could answer some or all of the following:

1. What are you views/opinions on MTV?
2. How would you describe the audience that should be watching MTV?
3. Do you watch MTV? If so, what do you like about it? If not, why not?
4. Have you written a review on MTV? Or on a certain show on MTV? If so, was it a negative or a positive review?

Where do I begin?

Where the Girls Are

Peg Hurley writes a letter that eventually will be about a missing listing for UConn women’s basketball in today’s TV column, I promise. Eventually it also also toys with calling me "one of the Hartford Courant's chauvinistic staff members."

This e-mail is NOT going to make your day, but I just feel I need to vent somewhere, and your  column just happens to be the one I picked up on today.  First of all, I read as little of the Hartford Courant as possible because I consider it one of the worst newspapers printed.

Unfortunately, it's the only one available in our area.  It was a sad day when the area lost the Hartford times and New Britain Herald.  Now you have an idea of my age and how long I have been reading newspapers.  Long enough to figure a few things out, so to speak.

Quarter- and Half-Life Crises

Sean of Windsor writes:

quarterlife is a nice idea for a show...too bad I had it first. In August of 2006 I posted a short movie entitled Quarter Life on YouTube that was used for a Comedy Central contest. It was also shown in a small film fest in Toronto in April of 2007.

Believe me, I'm kicking myself for not getting the copyright, otherwise it'd be a slam dunk case.

There was also a separate play called Quarterlife, apparently, that zwich and herskovick first saw Bitsie Tulloch, 

Seems like it's an idea that reached critical mass...

Except on network TV, where it did terribly, ranking dead last for the time period. After just one airing, it's been yanked, lest it sully a network making its name with "American Gladiators" and "My Dad's Better Than Your Dad."

"quarterlife" will be finding its next life on Bravo..

Puffy's 'Raisin'

PK writes:

I read your review yesterday of "A Raisin in the Sun". It was shortly before I started to watch it on ABC.

I feel that Sean Combs did a excellent job in his part.   His character was very complex  and I think everyone could pick that up.  I also believe Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad were excellent.  But I don't think that you saw how well Combs complemented them in his role.

I think Sean Combs is showing  a very good example at this time to all young people. "That if  you have ambition you should go and do your best to accomplish it.

I think it was a great TV Movie for the whole family which you do not see much of on TV
anymore.  It was a great story that omitted sex (or Sexual Referals), violence and foul
language.  There is too much of this on television these days at the early part of the evening when children and teenagers will be watching.

I do not want to give away my age.  But this movie reminded me of the excellent drama's
that we used to see on television like Masterpiece Theater. 

ABC and all the other networks should learn from this.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It certainly did well in the overnight Nielsens, becoming the top rated show for the night for ABC.

Both the Broadway show and the TV movie seemed to me cases of him starring in the role because he put up the money for it, and his abilities were not up to par with those in his excellent cast. But I'll agree it was a good opportunity to give the fine play a worthy showcase for a new generation, who might be tuning in to see Puff Daddy. A DVD version of the production will be out May 6.