Question: I am wondering what happened to Magnum P.I. Instead of Magnum,
we have MacGyver in his place. —Lois
Matt Roush: Now that MacGyver has joined the lineup while Magnum goes on hiatus, it has become a Frequently Asked Question — given the confusion that tends to set in during midseason when established shows are pulled off temporarily to give another show a shot. In this case, the CBS procedurals are sharing time periods, which is becoming increasingly common as the networks try to keep their lineups fresh. Magnum will return to the Friday schedule when MacGyver finishes its midseason run.
Question: With each season of Star Trek: Picard being 10 episodes each, why didn’t CBS just order one full season, divide it in two and just before it premiered announce the second half as a new order just to hype it as a success? —Unsigned
Matt Roush: It was so obvious already that Picard would succeed that they didn’t need to create this sort of stunt. From a more practical perspective, giving the show an early second-season renewal instead of ordering a 20-episode season gives the writers and producers time to think and plan ahead, while not having to grind out episodes on the proverbial assembly line.
To submit questions to TV Critic Matt Roush, go to: tvinsider.com