Angel

Roush Room ASK MATT

Monday, Novemer 3, 2003

Question: I have read your column religiously for a few months, and I keep seeing a lot of questions and responses about Skin and pairing it on a night with The O.C. so that it has a stronger lead-in with more similarities in content, unlike its current lead-in, The Next Joe Millionaire. Some have also pointed out that Karen Sisco would be better paired with Alias on Sundays. But here’s my question: Do you think this would really work? I understand the ideas behind pairing similar shows, but I also feel like some TV viewers would not watch both shows because it’s almost like putting the same show back-to-back. People may get bored with watching the same type of storylines for two hours. I do feel this strategy has worked with Angel and Smallville, but these shows are much different in content even if they are in the same genre. I am a huge fan of Alias, Karen Sisco, The O.C. and Skin, but I don’t know if I could watch them back-to-back. If this were the case, why wouldn’t NBC put all three Law & Order shows on the same night? - Nate H.

Matt: Interesting argument. The old strategies of audience flow and pairing compatible programming are probably somewhat obsolete in this age of TiVo-ing, time-shifting and, bit by digital bit, ordering video on demand. You may be right that pairing two very similar shows might be too much of a good thing, but I would think a night of juicy soap opera would work for Fox. The O.C. and Skin have very different narrative styles, much like you’d never confuse Smallville with Angel. I don’t think we have to worry about Karen Sisco being paired with Alias, given the resurgence in The Practice’s ratings. But the flop of Joe Millionaire is killing Skin, and something needs to be done quickly or Skin will be shed from the schedule much too soon.

Question: As a big fan of Buffy, I am currently trying to fill the void left by its exit by attempting to catch up on what’s happening on Angel. I was wondering, though, if you’ve heard anything about whether or not they’re going to make Angel jibe with the huge world change that occurred in the Buffy finale. It seems that if the power of the Slayer was unleashed and all potentials became slayers, there should be a new - and possibly confused - slayer or two popping up in Los Angeles. Seems it would make for an interesting storyline to have Angel interacting with a new fledgling slayer, especially since there is kind of a lack of a strong female lead since Cordy is gone. Have you heard anything on this? What are your thoughts? - Julie C. Matt: I hadn’t thought of this, but it makes sense to me. (And as regular readers are no doubt aware, I’m not into spoilers unless they’re unavoidable.) Given Angel’s and Spike’s past dealings with the world’s most famous Slayer, and Wesley being a former Watcher, having them all deal with a newbie could be great fun. I know I’d watch.