August 25, 2026, 9:00 am
Welcome to the Q&A with longtime 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, it’s the most frequent complaint, but there’s always closed-captioning. Check outthis storyfor more tips.)
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]. Look for Ask Matt columns on every other Tuesday.
Seeing Double on the Links
Question: I like golf, and shows about golf, within reason. And Caddyshack and Happy Gilmore are among my favorite sports comedies. But reading the recent announcement about Apple TV‘s upcoming second season of Stick, in which Owen Wilson‘s character attempts a comeback “in hopes of becoming the oldest golfer to win a major,” I’m struck by the similarities between this and Netflix‘s recent comedy The Hawk, about another washed-up golfer attempting a comeback and trying to complete his career Grand Slam. Why would two major streamers make such copycat projects? And what’s wrong with bowling? — Mike D.
Matt Roush:Kingpin 2, anybody? Seriously, or maybe not so seriously, this just appears to be one of those head-scratching coincidences. And to be fair, while the overall and not-exactly-novel premise of each show (the washed-up athlete seeking redemption) is the same, the tone and approach are quite different. Stick leans much more into sentiment, with the main character (Wilson’s Pryce Cahill) taking on a young protégé after losing his own son and then being inspired to take another swing at greatness. The Hawk is much wackier, and the characters played much more broadly, setting up a rivalry between Farrell’s Hawk and his estranged son (Jimmy Tatro), a rising pro. There’s probably room for both, and we don’t even know yet if Netflix will order a second round of The Hawk.
‘Stick’ First Look: Rhea Seehorn Joins Season 2 as Apple Sets Premiere
The Waiting Game
Question: I was wondering when CBS will announce if Hollywood Squaresand America’s Culinary Cup will be renewed or not, as they announced their fall schedule months ago and there’s still no news about these shows. I’m not sure what they are waiting for
Matt Roush: With networks programming year-round anymore, there’s really no fixed timetable for when they make decisions like these, especially for unscripted shows that may not return until the midseason or later. A game show like Hollywood Squares can be put back into production fairly quickly, while organizing a second season of something like Culinary Cup would be more complicated. I’d be surprised if CBS doesn’t bring back Squares as a filler at some point, as they’ve done before. Not so sure about Padma Lakshmi‘s cooking competition and how or whether it fits into the network’s future reality-show strategy.
Question: My husband and I just finished the last episode of The Capture‘s third season on Peacock. OMG!!! What a terrific series. Please tell me there will be a Season 4. I loved Holliday Grainger in C.B. Strike, and she was just as good in this. The writing is exceptional and each season was better than the last. Was this series based on a book? Of course, it sure gets you thinking about our future and AI!
Matt Roush: We may have to wait a while to find out if a fourth season is forthcoming-there was a four-year break between seasons 2 and 3 — but given the state of the world and our relationship with AI and deepfakes, there are obviously more stories to be told in this thriller context, and I’d be on board. Looking at some of the coverage in the British press, both the creator Ben Chanin and the star have been quoted as saying they’re satisfied with this being a trilogy. But anything could happen. And in the age of AI, who knows what’s coming next?
Is ‘Hollywood Squares’ Returning for Season 3?
Taking One’s Medicine
Comment: I’m several months behind everyone else in watching Best Medicine, but I wanted to share a couple of impressions. It’s actually not bad in terms of capturing the spirit of Doc Martin, though it brings up a recurring complaint: The original is so good, why do we need a watered-down version when in the streaming age anyone could go watch the original? After finishing the season, I decided it’s very good, though not as good as the original. Such an excellent group, and a large one at that, of supporting characters! The group of local teens are fun, and I think the Elaine character (played by Cree) works perfectly, even though she’s quite different from the assistant in the original. And in the 10th episode, Blair Ross as Agnes Cloofe for half an episode really blew me away. I wanted to see much more of her before Agnes flew off a cliff!
But my main thought is about Josh Charles. Unlike most people, I have NEVER liked him. To me, in his serious dramatic roles, he always exudes an intolerable arrogant smugness that turns me off the moment I see him. To me, he was tolerable in The Good Wife only because he wasn’t really in it that much. However, I actually like him in this one. There’s something about him playing an intentionally arrogant ******* that is fun to watch, and he is actually funny in this
Matt Roush: It’s never too late to play catch-up, and I imagine the show will experience a boost in visibility now that Netflix has licensed the entire first season starting earlier this month. I agree with your take: a good show and a strong vehicle for Josh Charles to play against type, though not as good as Doc Martin, which got 10 seasons to tell its story, so let’s see where this goes when it returns to Fox‘s schedule a month from now (Sept. 22).
The Best (So Far) of 2026
Comment: What a pleasant surprise seeing The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkinsand Scrubsin TV Guide Magazine and TV Insider’s top-10 list of “must-watch shows” of 2026 so far! I enjoyed both sitcoms very much this past season. I also love Abbott Elementary, but that comedy has been celebrated for many seasons, and it’s nice to see something new get some love. Other comedy favorites this past season: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Shifting Gears and (RIP) DMV. Hope you’re enjoying the summer! I am, but I can’t wait for the new TV season to begin this fall. — Fred
‘Best Medicine’ Season 2: Cast, Premiere Date, More Details
Matt Roush: For those of us not locked into broadcast TV schedules, it’s like the season never really ends, but it will be good to have many of these shows back—and so much more quickly than most shows on streaming platforms. I was most delighted to see on the short list some of my own top picks of the calendar year: the delightful The Other Bennet Sister on BritBox and Apple TV’s horror-comedy hybrid Widow’s Bay. I might have included Margo’s Got Money Troubles (also from Apple TV) and Hulu‘s emotionally riveting thriller Furious (which drops its season finale on Monday), but that’s why lists exist: to inspire you to make up your own.
And Finally …
Question: Have you heard anything lately about Scott Rosenbaum’s Snatchback project for Universal TV? Is it still in pre-production or sadly gone defunct? In an old TV Guide Magazine issue, someone once said that the #Wentnic chemistry (between Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller) was screen gold. I so agreed. When working together in three shows (Prison Break, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow), that dynamic duo’s performances had a habit of not just defining but often rising above the material. Seeing them do so again, especially in a show inspired by real-life covert agents, would be a joy. So, any news? — Lucki W., Chicago
Matt Roush: Not that I’m aware. News about this project pretty much stopped with the announcement made in the industry trades more than two years ago. When this much time passes without updates about a production start or other details, including additional casting, you have to figure it’s among the countless projects that stalled in what they call “development hell.” This doesn’t mean Snatchback will never see the light of day, especially considering the track record of these actors, but with no network or streamer attached and radio silence on all fronts, I wouldn’t get your hopes up.
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]. (Please include a first name with your question.)
America’s Culinary CupBest MedicineHollywood Squares (2025)Scrubs (2026)SnatchbackStickThe CaptureThe Fall & Rise of Reggie Dinkins
