#Ask Matt: ‘Bachelor’ and ‘Buffy’ Scandals, ‘American Housewife,’ ‘Good Doctor’ & More

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] (or use the form at the end of the column) and follow me on Twitter (@TVGMMattRoush). Look for Ask Matt columns on many Tuesdays and Fridays.

How Will The Bachelor Proceed Without Its Host?

Question: I am extremely upset about this backlash against The Bachelor‘s Chris Harrison. I’m not going to comment why, as I’m sure my reasons will be misunderstood. All I will say is that I don’t agree with the majority of fans. I still love Chris Harrison and don’t agree with his stepping down. Do you know what ABC’s plans are for continuing to air the remainder of the season? I will be really mad if they don’t. And I realize it may be too soon to know, but will Chris Harrison be replaced for future shows or will they just give it some time before casting for The Bachelorette? — Melinda

Matt Roush: Agree or disagree, there’s no question this controversy couldn’t have arrived at a more awkward time for a franchise that has for a long time struggled with racial and diversity issues and had hoped to at least address the situation in a positive manner with the casting of Matt James as the first Black Bachelor. I’m the last person to know what this guilty pleasure will do in the long run — I have always found the show to be in the worst of taste beyond its cultural blind spots — but I’d expect the current season to air what’s already in the can as is, with the exception of Chris Harrison not participating in the After the Final Rose special, as recently announced. Whether his contrition, which seems sincere, will be seen as enough to keep him on board as host going forward is the great unknown, and I wouldn’t presume to speculate. It’s almost certainly too soon to make that call just yet.

Has Buffy Been Tarnished?

Question: With the recent allegations against Joss Whedon by the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, how do you think will this affect the legacy of the series itself? — Charlie

Matt Roush: An important but troubling question, which raises the issue once again of whether we can separate a work of art from what we may learn later about the artist (or in this case the show’s creator). I was reminded again of this while watching HBO’s excellent docuseries Allen v. Farrow (premiering Sunday), because I personally have not been able to watch any of Woody Allen’s films, especially those in which he appears, since the Soon-Yi and Dylan Farrow incidents. But unlike Woody’s movies, which often star its auteur and makes it nearly impossible to separate him from his work, Buffy as a series is a more collaborative accomplishment, conveying so many positive statements and images about female empowerment and diversity (including sexuality) that however all of this plays out, I believe its current and future fans will continue to appreciate the show, which as others have pointed out is bigger than one person.

This is a tough subject for me to address, because I wrote so much about the show, which I so admired, during its run, and even moderated panels years ago in which Joss Whedon and his stars, including Charisma Carpenter and the many who have stood by her, appeared. I am saddened and shocked by the allegations of harassment and cruel behavior, and support anyone coming forward with their truth. Will this color how I look at Buffy and Angel going forward? Probably, but it won’t diminish my respect for what the series and its unforgettable characters stand for.

The Housewife‘s New Neighbors

Question: With the high-profile departure of Carly Hughes from American Housewife at the beginning of this season, and Ali Wong seemingly appearing on fewer and fewer episodes, can we expect a complete turnover of Katie Otto’s (Katy Mixon) besties when the show returns for Season 6 next fall? Already, Holly Robinson Peete has taken on the major recurring role of Katie’s sassy “pre-Westport” friend, Tami. And more recent episodes have introduced Jake Choi (Single Parents) as J.D., Katie’s openly gay new pal and adoptive father-to-be. This just got me thinking: Is it any coincidence that these two new characters happen to be of the same racial combination as the two characters whom American Housewife seems poised to phase out (with one of them being an LGBT character potentially replacing the LGBT character who has already left)? — Rhonda H

Matt Roush: You’re assuming there will be a Season 6 of American Housewife, which may not be as done a deal as it once might have seemed, given the behind-the-scenes shakeup and damage control from when Carly Hughes left the show assailing what she called a “toxic environment.” It seems pretty obvious that adding Holly Robinson Peete to the cast in a major co-starring role was an attempt to correct the balance, ditto the arrival of J.D. That’s an awful lot of change already for one series in one year, so if it continues, I’d be surprised if it doesn’t at least try to maintain the status quo as it currently stands. But adding to the chorus is this from Chris C: “What has happened to American Housewife?? With the cast shake-ups and changes, PC plot lines and dialogue, and all their biting wit and sarcasm removed, how can this once beloved TV show stay afloat!? Every week it gets worse and worse and I’m afraid it’s jumped the shark.”

TMI on The Good Doctor

Question: Why do they keep making Dr. Murphy (Freddie Highmore) on The Good Doctor a sexual being? Embarrassing. I don’t want to know that about anybody, autistic or not. — Unsigned

Matt Roush: Aren’t we all sexual beings? Look, even I cringe when Shaun starts talking about his sex life, but that’s part of the point of the show — to make people uncomfortable in his presence and to learn to tolerate his unfiltered outbursts, because in so many ways he expresses out loud the sorts of doubts, fears, joys and curiosity that most of us keep buttoned up. Sometimes for good reason.

Question: My husband and I watch The GoodDoctor. The first episodes were very good. The last show had a transgender woman transitioning to man choosing to have the gay partner’s baby. We feel this show has gone too far with this type of controversial subject. Is this a trend for TV? We hope not! ‑ Donna