Ask Matt: A Canadian ‘Law & Order,’ ‘Swarm’s Future, TV Post-Strike & 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 here unless it’s already common knowledge. Please send your questions and comments to [email protected] and follow me on Twitter (@TVGMMattRoush). Look for Ask Matt columns on most Tuesdays and very occasional Fridays.

Will the U.S. Get Toronto’s Criminal Intent?

Question: I saw on social media about a new Law & Order series from Toronto being released. Is it going to be on U.S. channels? I love all the Law & Order projects. —Jim C.

Matt Roush: For now, a Canadian-produced Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent is only set to air on Canada’s Citytv network sometime in spring 2024, but the producers are looking for international buyers, according to the industry trades. Rectify’s Aden Young leads the cast in what is said to be the first international version of a Law & Order series with all new characters and stories. It’s going to be very Toronto-centric by all accounts, and whether, when or where it may be available to viewers in this country remains to be seen. Given the shaky state of the current TV season, I wouldn’t be shocked to see something like this get snapped up, but if it’s not available before spring, at which time we might actually get NBC’s regular Law & Order shows back on the air, the need might not be as great.

Will the Networks Go Back to Normal After the Strike?

Question: Once all is back to normal, any idea if/how the Fall TV schedule will change? —Charles S. 

Matt Roush: Impossible to say at this point. While there is “cautious optimism” (as of Thursday) that SAG-AFTRA and the studios are moving closer to settling the strike, it may still take a while for the dust to settle and for the various series that have been on hold for so many months to get back to filming. This is somewhat uncharted territory, being the first major strike action of the streaming era, when it often feels like the broadcast network schedules are something of an afterthought to their companies. How the strike will impact the shows in the pipeline, especially new series that weren’t able to produce episodes beyond the pilot, remains to be seen. I’d expect some schedule shuffling, just can’t predict how much.

Fishing for Clues About The Swarm

Question: My friends and I are totally enthralled by The Swarm on The CW. What is the back story on this incredible international series? It has a large, fantastic cast, stunning locales and special effects! When does Season 2 commence? —Mark in Whitewater, WI

Matt Roush: The Swarm (which airs its season finale on Halloween night) is part of The CW’s new strategy under new ownership to populate the schedule largely with overseas imports, most from Canada but a few from Europe, including this German-produced eco-thriller that is said to be the most expensive German TV series produced in English ever. The series aired on German TV earlier this year and has been made available for screening and streaming on networks and streaming platforms globally, including the distribution deal to The CW. Currently there’s no word about a second season, so if it returns, it likely won’t be until next season at earliest.

How Live Is “Live?”

Question: Why do they still call Live with Kelly and Mark live? Every other day it says “previously recorded,” which means it is not live!? —Susan N.

Matt Roush: Even when it doesn’t air live (which it never does in West Coast time periods), shows like these are still considered “live” because they’re filmed live before an audience. Same with Jimmy Kimmel Live in late night, which is recorded earlier in the evening but is still considered a live show.

Why Do Shows Run Out of Steam?

Question: My question is regarding shows on Showtime. It seems that all the shows start out great, but after two or three seasons the shows go downhill. Take for example Weeds, Homeland, Dexter, and the soon-to-end Billions. All started out great, but always around the second or third season, the show goes downhill. There’s lazy writing, plots, and storylines. Why does this always happen? It doesn’t make sense. All of these shows had great potential with great actors, but ruined it. Why? – Marques

Matt Roush: I’m not sure long-running Showtime series are somehow unique in occasionally running out of steam or otherwise becoming increasingly uneven as the seasons wear on, especially in the case of high-concept series that feel the need to reinvent themselves along the way. Homeland is an especially good example, never being quite as riveting as in the first seasons after Damian Lewis as Brody exited the scene. (Ironically, Billions also took a hit when Damian Lewis left for personal reasons and the show went on, creating a new antagonist in Mike Prince, though eventually bringing Axe back for the final season.) Dexter also ran hot and cold, depending on the season’s big story, but I would argue this show hit its peak in Season 4 with John Lithgow’s “Trinity Killer.” Very few shows can sustain the element of surprise and invention, which tends to distinguish early seasons, and unless you choose to just stay in the groove with characters and premises you like, you will probably be disappointed

And Finally …

Comment: I am 70 years old and retired, hence I usually end up in the wee hours watching TV while in bed. After Wagon Train is over on INSP, I would usually switch over to Hallmark Channel (when not in 24/7 Christmas mode) for two hours of the original Frasier. The reason I liked Frasier was because of the other cast members, not Frasier Crain. I thought that he was a pompous butthead and could not stand him. But without the original cast, the show is a piece of crap from what I have seen so far.

What should have happened: Frasier dies and wills his condo to Niles. Niles and Daphne move in. Immediately they get Martin’s body exhumed from his grave and place his skeletal remains in his favorite chair. They then take Eddie the Dog, who by now is surely dead himself, over to the Bates Motel and have Norman Bates work his taxidermy and they place Eddie next to the chair. Roz and Mad Dog get married. They have a bunch of loud-mouthed neurotic kids and move into the condo next to Niles and Daphne. Now that would be a show worthy of watching: The Addams Family Meet The Cranes. Oh, and also Lilith marries Cliff from Cheers and they also move into the same building. Hope you enjoy my little scenario. —Kurt C.

Matt Roush: Thanks for this elaborate and somewhat bizarre dose of fan fiction — or, I suppose considering your antipathy for the Frasier Crane character, anti-fan fiction.  As noted in my review among others, the new Frasier can’t help but suffer by comparison with the original (or its predecessor, Cheers) because that was an ensemble that couldn’t be beat. But to be fair to Kelsey Grammer and the role he helped create, Frasier isn’t meant to be an inherently lovable character. His pretentious pomposity is part of the comedy, because in most episodes, he is taken down a peg or two (or three), and there’s something admirable in his desire to reconnect with family and friends (although in the new iteration, only Nicholas Lyndhurst as his college professor buddy is matching him laugh for laugh). Grammer’s grasp on the character is as expert as ever, and while I haven’t yet seen the episodes yet that bring Bebe Neuwirth (Lilith) and Peri Gilpin (Roz) back for guest appearances, maybe that will restore a little more of the magic that’s so far in short supply.

That’s all for now. 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 Twitter @TVGMMattRoush. (Please include a first name with your question.)