On TV

Reality, Non-Reality and Everything In-Between

Columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, March 27 at 1 p.m. ET to take your questions about the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes.

This week's poll is about President Obama's recent television blitz, including appearances on "The Tonight Show," delivering Jay Leno 14.6 million viewers, his highest rating in almost 11 years, "60 Minutes," a primetime press conference, an interactive town hall, filling out his NCAA bracket on ESPN, and, Thursday night, Univision's music awards show, "Premio Lo Nuestro a la Musica Latina."

So, what show would like to see President Obama on next?

• "Hannah Montana," as a kindly substitute teacher.
• "Oprah," giving away (American made!) cars.
• "Dancing With the Stars" -- he has shown he has the moves.
• "House," as a rival doctor who teaches House the importance of universal health care.
• "Lost," as the Smoke Monster.
• "Dollhouse," as the long-lost brother of Echo's handler.

Created on Mar 26, 2009

View Results

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poll by twiigs.com

De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.

TV columns | On TV discussion transcripts | de Moraes on TV blog.

washingtonpost.com: We are experiencing technical difficulties. Chat should start around 1:10 p.m. ET.

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Lisa de Moraes: Hi. Normally I jump right into questions but since I have been getting lots of emails from people wondering where I vanished to so abruptly in the middle of "American Idol" season, and since it's been in the news, I thought I'd just mention here, and get it over with, that I left town due to a death in my family and here is the story if you care to find out more.


http://www.gazette.com/articles/hendrickson_50162___article.html/gas_college.html

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WAPO TEAM TV STATUS UPDATE :

RENEWED
• "24" (Fox), for an eighth season
• "Kitchen Nightmares" (Fox), for a second season
• "Jockeys" (Animal Planet), for a second season
• "RuPaul's Drag Race" (LOGO), for a second season
• "Dog Whisperer" (National Geographic), for a sixth season
• "Yo Gabba Gabba" (Nickelodeon), for a third season
• "Chelsea Lately" (E!) through 2012

FINALE RATINGS

• "Big Love," ended Season 3 with 2.7 million viewers (a season high)
• "Battlestar Galactica" ended its run with 2.4 million viewers

OBAMA RATINGS

• "60 Minutes" appearance on Sunday, March 22 had 17 million viewers
• Primetime news conference on Tuesday, March 24 had 40 million viewers

Lisa de Moraes: And here is our catchup TeamTV Status Update....

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Santa Monica, Calif.: Hey Lisa,

Have you seen a new FOX show called Glee? Does it really exist and does it really feature a high-school glee club performing journey power ballads? If so, this is either going to be the greatest or the worst show in television history.

Lisa de Moraes: I have seen some of it. Yes it does really exist -- Fox is going to air a preview immediately after the final performance night on "Idol" on May 19, but not actually roll out the series until the fall. And yes, it does really feature a high school glee club performing journey power ballads which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Fox is the bravest broadcast network in the TV firmament. It's from Ryan Murphy, who created "Nip/Tuck" which means it is well worth checking out..

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Garfield Goose, the real King of the United States: Since the premiere of Kings was not only a truly awful excuse for drama, but also was reported to have gotten lower ratings than Univision, is this garbage dead meat? And is NBC going to stick it out and continue to circle the drain?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes and Yes. For those of you who were spared...er, missed the show so far, it's about a land far far away (thank god) where Ian McShane is king and is much feared because of his scary butterfly flag... Anyway, 6 million people caught its debut and by week No. 2 that number had shrunk to 4.6 million, though I'm sure NBC would argue that the rest of the people simply decided the butterfly, and McShane, were best viewed on as small a screen as possible and are now eagerly awaiting this week's episode on their iPhones....In "King's" defense, NBC put it on Sunday -- Sunday being NBC's Saturday -- not to be confused with Saturday which is also NBC's Saturday -- oh, and Friday, which is NBC's Third Saturday...

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Weehawken, N.J.: I really loved "In the Motherhood" online, but the show I saw last night was terrible. Why did they change the stars? The women on the computer show were easy to take, and their stories felt real-er; the show last night was just another sitcom and it stunk bad, and I didn't want to spend time with these women as much. And now they've stopped making new episodes of the online show! No wonder the networks are tanking, they have no idea what they're doing or why something works. It makes me so MAD! I have to go to work, so I'm putting this in early, but I'd like to hear you "talk" about this.

Lisa de Moraes: Paleeze -- Jenny McCarthy? Really? ABC's version of "In the Motherhood" debuted last night, for those of you who missed it. "In The Motherhood" got done in by President Barack Obama. ABC had cleverly scheduled it to debut at 8 p.m. Thursday -- and asking any new show to open a night on which a network is doing virtually no business in the timeslot is like sending in a pilot on a suicide mission -- but then Obama decided he had to hold that news conference on Tuesday, so "American Idol" got bumped to Wednesday, and Thursday. So unfair. FYI, "In the Motherhood" is exec produced by Stu Bloomberg, the guy who, years ago, ran the progrmaming department at ABC and with whom I conducted the most brilliant interview of my sordid career covering television. It was on the occasion of ABC's 25th anniversary -- the first of many ABC 25th anniversarys it seemed because ABC always seemed to be celebrating its 25th anniversary back in those days. Anyway -- he did not like doing interviews with the press, in fact he did not like the press. So I thought I'd start with some easy, beauty pageant question like "How has ABC changed in the 25 years you've been here (he was a long-timer at ABC). His answer "A lot."

Lisa: "Would you care to elaborate?"

Stu: "Yeah. A really, really lot."

It went downhill from there but, as so often happens when two worthy opponents live through some hideous interview experience, we formed a sort of bond in our mutual loathing of "25th Anniversary Interviews." The End

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Re: Grey's Anatomy: Oh come ON. Izzy gets BRAIN SURGERY but still keeps her flowing blond locks? I would have thought that Shonda would have had her go bald the rest of the season.

On the other hand, Christina and Iraq Guy is totally hot. I am loving this storyline.

But on the other hand, how does Derek shave his beard off and still have a five o'clock shadow five minutes later?

I'm so torn.

Lisa de Moraes: First things first. Every show at every network has been asked to trim its budget by anywhere from 10-20 percent. "Grey's Anatomy" clearly decided not to order a skull cap to be made for Izzie, from which we learn that skull caps apparently cost a bundle. So, you're just going to have to suspend disbelief however you can -- heavy drinking, hitting head against the wall repeatedly,whatevs -- to get past the fact she had brain surgery and gets to keep her flowing blonde hair. Yes, Christina and Iraq Guy are hot except when he cries because he's so messed up -- Not Hot. And in re Derek and his shadow, I'm guessing they also trimmed the budget by eliminating the job of the person who was in charge of "continuity."

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D.C.: My Boys is back! Do you have any idea how many episodes they'll have? Last fall I think it was only 6 or 7... definitely not enough. And why would they move this show to 10:30? The 8-10 slot is syndication of Family Guy -- which I think would maybe even be more appropriate -- but also more desired -- in the later slots...

Lisa de Moraes: They've ordered 9 episodes according to the lede Jordana Spiro who made some crack about how they were filming episode No. 5 out of a "whopping" nine episodes, like she meant it to sting....

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Washington, D.C.: Does it seem like TBS is trying to kill off "My Boys?" First they cut the season down drastically last year, now this year it is at 10:30 pm after reruns of "The Office" and they are not promoting it that much at all, except for showing scenes from last year's episodes. I have not seen one ad for any story lines for this upcoming year. Very strange and sad because it is a fun show to watch... much better than that horrible "House of Payne." Any thoughts from the TV expert?

Lisa de Moraes: In a word: "Yes." Go to the head of the class, pookie, because you have got this figured out...

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Re: Damages: Will "Damages" return for a 3rd season? Also, how is "Life" doing?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes in re third season. Frankly, having been out of the office for nearly two weeks and only returning to work about 1 hour ago, I have not yet looked up how "Life" is doing.. I will get back to you on that...

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The problem with Kings: On the pro side, "Kings" is gorgeous in HD, well-acted (at least by Ian McShane), and rich with great dialogue (again, best for/by McShane). And the concept is bold. But the story is just so ... meh. I just don't care. So I'll watch it for a while because it's pretty and it sounds nice, but without a plot that wants to take us somewhere interesting, it is rightfully doomed.

Lisa de Moraes: Honestly, McShane is all about The Voice....oh, and The Hair. Best Hair on TV....

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Dancingmachi, NE: I would love to see President Obama on DWTS, but he'd have to spend endless hours rehearsing, and I kind of want him to work on important public policy issues. Like the DTV transition. And probably also the economy and the war and stuff.

Lisa de Moraes: You know what, if he showed up on DWTS each week dressed in white tie and tails, like he did for that Made for Disney Inaugural Ball, and stepped all over Julianne Hough's feet every week, I'd still vote for him. I'm a total sucker for white tie and tails and I'm guessing millions of other women feel the same way...So it really would not involve a lot of time...

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Atlanta, GA: Why are the canceling "Life on Mars"? I love the show. Is it because I'm the only one watching?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, Pookie. Very sorry about that, but the numbers were very small. What an incredible cast, squandered on a patched-up job of a story...

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Continuity: There used to be continuity in "Grey's Anatomy"? I thought that's why I stopped watching the show. Nice to know there is now cheese with the whine though.

Lisa de Moraes: lol....

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Kings: Wasn't it supposed to be a mini series, and not a regular show?

Lisa de Moraes: Oh yeah, because if 20 million people were watching NBC would say "no, no, we are going to stay true to our art - no more episodes for you!"

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A really, really lot: Best answer ever. Can you post the interview?

Lisa de Moraes: It was back in the days when I was a carefree TV editor at The Hollywood Reporter. It's actually The Lost Interview because it went sooooo badly, we decided not to run it. We did, however run the interview with Ted Harbert, who was the president of the entertainment division at the time and how is now running E! and other cable networks. I also dimly rememer asking Stu what was the strangest series pitch he'd ever been subjected to. His answer: "Bionic Drapes." Or maybe I just dreamed that part. I used to get that feeling every time I interviewed Stu -- a very bad dream..

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Cupid!: So I am thinking the new Cupid looks pretty good. The new guy is hot and has a bit of that Jeremy Piven-esque attitude and the blond is "eh" but at least she isn't Paula Marshall.

I am somewhat excited.

And you are totally right about Christina and her PTSD dude. Kevin McKidd is hot being broody and morose and having sex. But no dude is hot crying.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes -- more brooding, morose sex -- that's what "Grey's Anatomy" needs. Heck, if they'd put brooding, morose sex on "Life on Mars" it would still be around. They need to add some brooding morose sex to "Kings" too -- and "Life" while they're at it. "Damian Lewis" and "brooding morose sex" -- that's a 20 share or I don't know TV....

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President Obama on DWTS: Would they have his steps drawn on the TelePrompter?

Lisa de Moraes: No, you're thinking of our previous president. Obama showed us in inauguration night he's perfectly capable of stepping on his dance partner's toes without use of a teleprompter. But you're missing the point: White Tie and Tails..

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Alexandria, Va.: Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency on HBO - so far I've seen one good and one bad review. Loved the books - what's your take?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm not allowed to comment because they are my mother's favorite books and she reads this chat -- mostly to make sure I don't make any more cracks about her like I used to. So for the sake of family harmony, I am going to recuse myself from "No.1LDA".....

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How do we make the people watch?: 30 Rock could not have been any funnier last night! Any show that can make a joke about killing a manatee that makes me laugh out loud is totally worth watching. For demographics sake I am a 30-something mother of two.

Lisa de Moraes: I am now very very sorry I have not yet caught up on two weeks worth of "30 Rock." Although I admit most any joke abut killing a manatee would make me laugh. In fairness, just hearing the name "manatee" makes me laugh...

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On Demand commercials stated that Kings was a mini series: I wasn't being snarky - I was under the impression that it was never going to be a series - are you saying it IS? That would be a nightmare!

Lisa de Moraes: No, no, you are perfectly correct. They gave it a short order but all mid-season shows get short orders. Mostly 13 episodes, but some 9-ish, etc... Virtually every midseason show can, technically, be called a "miniseries"

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Herndon, Va.: With Kat Hiegl said to be leaving Grey's Anatomy, my girlfriend assumed she would be killed off. This led to an interesting discussion. Why don't we see as many TV shows replacing actresses, but leaving the characters intact, as we used to? See Aunt Viv in Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Lisa de Moraes: You mean, like they go off for an indefinite visit to Uncle Artie in Buffalo? Where's the sweeps ratings bonanza in that? I say kill Izzie and take the ratings because surely the cast would mutiny of they ever brought back Heigl, with her high and mighty "Shonda Rhimes did not give me the material this season that merited Primetime Emmy consideration" attitude..

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POLL UPDATE: "Hannah Montana," 2%

"Oprah," 17%

"Dancing With the Stars" 30%

"House," 25%

"Lost," 14%

"Dollhouse," 9%

Lisa de Moraes: ...and here is this weeks Poll update, which proves that, like I said, White Tie and Tails is even better than Brooding Morose Sex....a whopping 30 percent of you want to next see Obama on "Dancing with the Stars." but you can keep voting so those of you who want to see him give away American cars on "Oprah" had better get off your couches and vote...

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She Already Called Me Pookie: I see that Bryan Fuller is now back in charge of "Heroes," which I think you'll agree has in fact begun digging itself out of the sucktitude that it has been since the season 1 finale.

My question: how much does the input of one showrunner really affect the quality of a show?

Lisa de Moraes: Absolutely, unless, of course, the network has brought him back only if he promises to take the show in the direction it wants him to go in, if that makes any sense. Anyway, you are preaching to the choir in re digging itself out of the suckitude that it has been since the season 1 finale which was a really, really long time ago. It may be, in fact probably is, too little too late...

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where next Obama?: some show where he has to take off his shirt!

Lisa de Moraes: wow -- I did not think it was possible, but I'm speechless...

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Re: series cancellations: I think I've raised this questions before, but why do networks cancel shows so quickly, when they know that the show they replace it with will likely not be any better? The churn rate of shows should tell them that. Also, TV history points out that some classic shows ("All In The Family" and "Cheers" for example) got off to slow starts in the ratings before becoming hits. Why not hang in there with the current crop and hope they catch on eventually? It would seem more cost-effective, unless they make money by producing all of these different show. What's your take?

Lisa de Moraes: You have just explained why networks sometimes DO stick with shows longer than they might otherwise -- because the odds of the show they replace it with doing better are not high, given the rejection rate of programming. On the other hand, if they never replaced any of the shows, why would the network need all those eager suits, giving notes and developing new series. The industry would crumble, my friend. Chaos would ensue.

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Re: Herndon: No, I think the poster meant, why get rid of the character at all, why not just put a different actor in. Like Darrin in Bewitched, Viv on Fresh Prince, Becky on Roseanne...

Lisa de Moraes: Ah, the old "get me casting! Find me someone who looks just like Heigl!" gag? In this case, I'm thinking viewers would appreciate seeing this character killed off and then she and Denny can have Dead Sex in heaven in the season finale. Another 20 share or I don't know TV...

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60 Minutes: How do I get Andy Rooney's gig when he retires? I missed out on Bob Barker's job, but I think I could come up with 3 to 4 minutes of material each week about my observations. No, I don't have any journalist or reporter background, but I'd at least drop the median age of the personalities on the show!

Lisa de Moraes: Wow, you guys have come up with TWO topics on which I have to recuse myself -- this is a record. You may have forgotten that I'm the one who famously wrote a column about the Super Bowl ads, in which I mentioned that one of the ads featured Mickey Rooney's bare heinie. Only I wrote "Andy Rooney"....because, of course, I was writing on deadline -- and, let us not forget, Mickey Rooney played Andy Hardy. You can see how I got confused...I spent much of the next day apologizing to Mr. Andy Rooney, who, to his credit, was very nice about it.

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Silver Spring, Md.: I get so annoyed at how American Idol (both producers and judges) promote certain singers like Michael Sarver the oil rigger from the beginning, only to say to them later, as Simon did this week, "You have no chance of winning this competition." Well, we all could have told you that back in Hollywood Week, but you insisted on pushing him through because of his unique back story. Same goes for Scott.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, they love the back story until they announce they hate the back story. I'm out of time. Keep voting for President Obama's next Made for TV gig -- I'm told he actually reads the papers....

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