Television Q&A

By Rich Heldenfels

Q. I tried “Broadchurch” on Net-flix one night and couldn’t stop watching the series. I thought it did a great job on how a crime like this could affect the lives of all the people involved. The casting, dialogue, music and suspense kept me watching. Where might one be able to find it besides Netflix? I heard there may be an American version, but it can’t be as good.

A. Your note raises an ongoing point about how people watch TV shows. More and more viewers are thinking of programs as Netflix shows, even if they were originally made for broadcast or cable channels, because Netflix is where they go for entertainment.

To be sure, some shows (“Orange Is the New Black” on Netflix, for example, or “Transparent” on Amazon) are made specifically for streaming services. But far more shows come from other sources, and that is the case with “Broadchurch,” the British series first seen over here on BBC America. That is also where you will find a second season beginning March 4. David Tennant returns as Alec Hardy, along with Olivia Colman as Ellie Miller.

Tennant also starred in the Americanized version, called “Gracepoint,” which aired on Fox for a single season.

The next question calls for a spoiler alert if you watch “Mom” but are not up to date in your viewing.

Q. Why did they kill off the father/grandfather in “Mom”? My husband and I were very disappointed.

A. The CBS comedy did indeed dispatch Alvin (Kevin Pollak), the father of Christy (Anna Faris) and the back-again ex of Bonnie (Allison Janney) in a January episode. You are not the only unhappy viewer. But, as TVLine.com noted, the series also has dealt with cancer, alcoholism and other serious fare — and Janney said that series mastermind Chuck Lorre “was afraid that these characters were getting too comfortable.”

Janney also told the website: “The root of the show is these two women surviving everything life throws at you, and they are definitely not exempt from losing someone they love. I think that, ultimately, there was more to be gained from having something like this happen, to watch how they deal with it. It might be helpful or relatable to someone out there, as with every issue we deal with on the show.”

Q. On the Jan. 28 episode of “Criminal Minds,” titled “Nelson’s Sparrow,” there was a song featured near the end of the episode. Some of the lyrics were: “On the edge of the dark, I will wait for the sun to rise.” Please help with the title and artist, if possible.

A. That was a song called, appropriately, “Edge of the Dark,” by Armon Jay. It comes from Jay’s 2014 album “Everything’s Different, Nothing’s Changed.” The album is on CD. The song and the album are available as downloads via iTunes and Amazon.com. You can learn more about Jay at armonjay.com.

Q. I have never seen the HBO show “Oz” in a complete series set. Is it available?

A. The closest I have seen is Amazon.com’s sale of a bundle of all six individual-season sets of the HBO prison drama. The series also is available for streaming and download; iTunes has it, and Amazon.com makes it available for streaming free to Amazon Prime members. Be aware that it is a grim and graphic show. But if you think J.K. Simmons was scary in his award-winning performance in “Whiplash,” you should see how much more terrifying he was on Oz.

Do you have a question or comment for the mailbag? Write to the Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44309 or email rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com. Please mark the email or envelope with “mailbag.” Letters may be edited for publication. Please do not phone in questions. Individual replies cannot be guaranteed.

2015 Akron Beacon Journal

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