You have questions. I have some answers.
Q: Is the actor who plays Dr. Shaun Murphy on 鈥淭he Good Doctor鈥� autistic? Or is he just pretending?
A: Freddie Highmore, who plays Shaun in 鈥淭he Good Doctor,鈥� is not autistic; he is a very good actor. In the New York Post, he said he knows someone with autism but he also 鈥渄id research and watched documentaries (on autism) and we have a full-time consultant on board,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou learn as much as you can, and I try to see what鈥檚 right for Shaun.鈥�
Highmore鈥檚 convincing performance is just the latest in challenging roles for the actor. His previous work includes 鈥淏ates Motel,鈥� where he played a pre-鈥漃sycho鈥� Norman Bates. And you may be surprised to know he鈥檚 not American-born, either; he hails from England.
Q: What happened to Tim Allen鈥檚 show, 鈥淟ast Man Standing鈥�? It was such a good show with a great cast of young actors.
A: You are not the only one missing that comedy, which ABC cancelled at the end of last season. Another reader said, 鈥淚t was my favourite show, and my husband and I looked forward to it every Friday night. I am so annoyed. Why was it dropped? I am so tired of the murder and mayhem that dominates network television.鈥�
I mentioned after the cancellation was announced last spring that ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey has given several reasons, including ABC deciding not to program comedies on Friday night (where the network also dropped 鈥淒r. Ken鈥�), as well as the ownership of 鈥淟ast Man Standing.鈥� The Washington Post noted, 鈥溾�橪ast Man Standing鈥� is also produced by outside studio 20th Century Fox TV, and not ABC Studios, which means there鈥檚 less potential financial reward for ABC鈥檚 parent company, Disney.鈥�
As your note suggests, ABC was widely criticized about the cancellation. Some believed Allen鈥檚 outspoken conservatism was the real reason for the show鈥檚 demise. (Allen once compared liberal Hollywood to 1930s Germany because 鈥測ou get beat up if you don鈥檛 believe what everybody else believes.鈥� On the other hand, Allen鈥檚 politics are well known and 鈥淟ast Man Standing鈥� still ran for more than 100 episodes over six seasons.
Reruns continue to be available, including through syndication to individual stations (check your local lineups), and on Freeform, CMT and streaming service Hulu.
Besides, you鈥檙e not the only one missing a show (and complaining about other programs鈥� content) ...
Q: How sad to learn that one interesting, pleasant show has been removed from the CBS line-up. 鈥淢e, Myself & I鈥� was both entertaining and interesting 鈥� items from the past and ideas for the future were both presented. And we watched a story unfold and didn鈥檛 have to deal with murder and blatant sex.
A: As I mentioned in a previous column, 鈥淢e, Myself & I鈥� was pulled from CBS鈥檚 lineup in favor of 鈥淢an With a Plan,鈥� with the claim that 鈥淢e鈥� will return at an unspecified later date. But I think one of the problems with your show is that it was 鈥� to use your word 鈥� 鈥減leasant,鈥� but not much more. Rotten Tomatoes found more positive reviews than negative 鈥� 18 out of 23 overall. But the show still lacked something. As TV critic Ed Bark put it, 鈥淭he opening episode is pleasant enough to watch, although not really very amusing.鈥� Even one positive review, by Sonia Saraiya of Variety, termed this 鈥渁 warm, if not particularly funny, family sitcom.鈥� With all the viewing options available (including many without much murder), I want my shows to be more than just pleasant.
