You have questions. I have some answers.
Q: I am disappointed that ABC cancelled 鈥淭he Chew.鈥� It was refreshing to watch, as well as informative. In this day and age, when many yearn for goodness on TV, it baffles me as to why it was axed.
A: Quite a few folks have written in about the self-described 鈥渢alk/food hybrid鈥檚鈥� demise. A lot of factors were involved. Certainly the sexual misconduct allegations about co-host Mario Batali did not help, though he was dropped from the show in December. Bigger factors were ABC鈥檚 wanting to expand its successful 鈥淕ood Morning America鈥� franchise much the way NBC has spread out 鈥淭oday,鈥� with one ABC executive saying the move into an afternoon hour 鈥渋s a great opportunity for viewers and advertisers.鈥� And yes, it鈥檚 been noted that this 鈥渕orning鈥� show鈥檚 latest hour won鈥檛 be in the morning.)
At the same time, ratings for 鈥淭he Chew鈥� are not as big as they have been earlier in its seven-year run. Entertainment news site The Wrap noted that 鈥淐hew鈥� ratings among women ages 18 to 49 (a key audience for advertisers) dropped 13 per cent in just a year. 鈥淭hat number was bad enough to rank 鈥橳he Chew鈥� 13th out of 13 network daytime shows 鈥� yeah, dead last,鈥� The Wrap reported. It dropped even more among women ages 18 to 34, and The Wrap 鈥� ending a string of chew-y puns 鈥� said 鈥渢hose figures are hard to swallow for any executive.鈥�
Q: Did any actors from the TV 鈥淏atman鈥� show or any of the 鈥淪tar Trek鈥� series ever get a nomination for an Emmy Award?
A: While various 鈥淪tar Trek鈥� series have won technical Emmys, acting nods for it and for the 1966-68 鈥淏atman鈥� have been rare. Frank Gorshin was nominated as best supporting actor in a comedy in 1966 for playing the Riddler on 鈥淏atman,鈥� though he lost to Don Knotts of 鈥淭he Andy Griffith Show.鈥� Leonard Nimoy is the lone 鈥淪tar Trek鈥� actor to be nominated 鈥� three times, as best supporting actor in a drama in 1967 and 1968 and supporting actor in any TV series in 1969. Again, he never won 鈥� losing to Eli Wallach for 鈥淭he Poppy Is Also a Flower,鈥� Milburn Stone for 鈥淕unsmoke鈥� and, in that weird 1969 category, Werner Klemperer for 鈥淗ogan鈥檚 Heroes.鈥�
Now, some of you may be saying, 鈥淗ey, isn鈥檛 William Shatner an Emmy winner?鈥� And he is 鈥� but for work on 鈥淏oston Legal,鈥� not 鈥淪tar Trek.鈥�
Q: I am wondering what happened to one of my favourite shows, 鈥淏etter Call Saul.鈥� I haven鈥檛 seen it listed. Did I miss it?
A: Not yet. It begins its fourth season on AMC Aug. 6. Here鈥檚 what the network has to say about what鈥檚 coming: 鈥淐huck鈥檚 death catalyzes Jimmy McGill鈥檚 (Odenkirk) transformation into Saul Goodman. In the wake of his loss, Jimmy takes steps into the criminal world that will put his future as a lawyer 鈥� and his relationship with Kim (Rhea Seehorn) 鈥� in jeopardy. Chuck鈥檚 (Michael McKean) death deeply affects former colleagues Howard (Patrick Fabian) and Kim as well, putting the two of them once again on opposite sides of a battle sparked by the brothers McGill. Meanwhile, Mike Ehrmantraut takes a more active role as Madrigal Electromotive鈥檚 newest (and most thorough) security consultant. It鈥檚 a volatile time to be in Gus Fring鈥檚 employ, as Hector鈥檚 collapse sends shock waves throughout the Albuquerque underworld and throws the cartel into chaos 鈥� tearing apart both Gus and Nacho鈥檚 well-laid plans. While Gus changes course, Nacho finds himself in the crosshairs of deadly forces.鈥� Plenty to anticipate, don鈥檛 you think?
Q: Am I the only one who misses 鈥淧itch鈥�?
A: No. I miss it, too. The baseball drama starring Kylie Bunbury was far too good to end after just 10 episodes in 2016.
