Pop culture Q&A

June 19, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

By Rich Heldenfels

McClatchy Newspapers

Q. Why is ABC axing our favorite soaps, “All My Children” and “One Life to Live,” and the nighttime show “Brothers & Sisters?” Most of my friends are in the 60-to-75 age group, and they certainly watch more TV than the younger set. Who on earth watches those horrible reality shows such as “The Bachelor/Bachelorette,” “Wipeout,” etc.? I’m sure they are a lot cheaper to produce, but they are for the 10-year-old mentality. Please: No more reality shows! Also, I understand CBS is considering whether to renew “The Good Wife” and “Mike & Molly,” also favorites. I guess we’ll start going to movies.

A. You have asked many questions. But since some of them have also come up with other readers, I am going to offer a long answer. Buckle up.

For starters, these are tough times for daytime soaps, and they don’t end with the two ABC shows you mentioned. CBS and NBC also have dropped soaps in recent years, and the future of “General Hospital” has looked tricky since ABC announced that it will be turning the 3 p.m. weekday slot back to affiliates in September 2012, and its owned stations will put Katie Couric’s new talk show in that slot. The network says it “continues to support ‘General Hospital,’” but it is not clear what that means in terms of its lineup after Sept. 12.

The size of the soap audience has decreased. It has also aged. In TV, it’s not about how much you watch but how much you spend — especially on advertised products. Though you and your friends watch a lot of TV, conventional ad wisdom says that you aren’t as likely to change your favorite brands as younger people — so ads won’t affect you as much. Lifestyle shows such as those replacing the two soaps are seen as a better way to reach younger adult women.

On your other point, to demand the end of reality shows because you don’t like some of them is like demanding an end to comedies because you don’t like “Rules of Engagement.” There are good reality shows (“The Amazing Race,” for example), and I’m not ashamed to say I watch some. While I’m not immune to the charge of thinking like a 10-year-old, I know other adults who are intelligent and mature and still watch shows such as “The Bachelorette.” They simply find it entertaining.

Finally, CBS has renewed both “The Good Wife” and “Mike & Molly” for the fall, so you can save on some movie tickets. “Brothers & Sisters,” meanwhile, just wasn’t delivering for ABC.

Q. Could you tell me the title or where the music came from for the commercial for the Subaru Outback where the two people are out in the desert and cannot find their Outback. The words are: “I love you, I do.” I love the music but could not find it on YouTube so I could hear the whole song, if there is one.

A. The song, called “I Love You, I Do,” is by a singer named Miss Erika Davies. I have not seen it on a CD but have seen it for sale as a download on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Q. We love “The Mentalist” but missed the two-hour season finale. Do you have any idea when it will be rerun or where I could get a copy of the show on DVD?

A. I have not yet seen an air date for a rerun, although I would expect it to air before the fourth season begins in the fall. The recently concluded third season is due on DVD on Sept. 20. And you may not want to read the next question.

Q. I loved the season ending of “The Mentalist.” Will it be back? They left the hero in such a fix; it’s fun thinking of ways to save him.

A. The series will begin a new season on CBS in the fall, still on Thursday nights at 10 p.m.

2011, Akron Beacon Journal