May is fast approaching, so talk is naturally turning to the season finales - or in some cases, series finales - of our favourite US shows. Read on to be enlightened...


Adam: "Hi neil, love ur column. I was just wondering if you know when Rome season 2 will start recording and if you know when it will be shown here in the UK?"

Neil: Yes! Production is just beginning on the second season but, because of its epic nature, we probably won't see it for another year or so. The BBC will air it a few months after its US debut.


Samantha Young: "Hi Neil, I have asked this question before but i'm not sure if you scrap questions each week or file them for a date that is closer (and therefore more relevant) to the answers given.. so apologies firstly if you're sick to the back teeth of receiving this, but i was wondering if you had any knowledge of a possible second series of Weeds that was shown on SkyOne... and if there is going to be a second series, do you know when it will be shown?"

Neil: I've already answered this (see here). Remember, the search bar is your friend!


Liz: "So, N-Everwood? Are ITV trying to kill us??? Any glimpse on the horizon? I'm fully prepared to picket for all four seasons!!"

Neil: Still nothing, I'm afraid. They've perhaps missed a trick in the 5pm hour as the hastily-scheduled repeats of Poirot against Paul O'Grady on C4 have bombed.


David Mudd: "Can you tell me how many episodes there are going to be in Prison Break? And what episode are we currently on?"

Neil: I can. We'll get 22 in this season and this week's is number 12 (you can find full recaps of the episodes here). Also this week, the show was renewed for a second season - click here for some pretty major hints on what to expect.


Yvonne McKinney: "What are the viewing figures for CSI: NY on Five?"

Neil: Pretty good - it's getting around 2.5 million. Interesting fact that of all of Five's programming, the CSI franchise alone accounts for almost 10% of its total ratings.


Tim Blaylock: "Hi I was wondering how the OC was doing in the ratings both here and in America and if it is to be renewed for a fourth season?"

Neil: It hasn't done so boffo over in the States recently so although a fourth season is likely purely on its own hype alone, it's not guaranteed just yet. Over here we're talking around 300,000 on E4. Look out for a couple of returning faces towards the end of the season, by the way - one of whom we haven't seen in a very long while - and a finale that creator Josh Shwartz describes as "the craziest thing we've ever done".


Mick: "Hi, thanx for last weeks info on what is going to happen on the last episode of Charmed. Also, I know Will & Grace is down to its last few episodes before the show ends. Any news on the final episode?"

Neil: Select to the left if you want a hint... Apparently we'll be getting a look at life for W&G 20 years down the road - they're still living together but now have a homophobic son. Also, my own personal guess but it wouldn't be surprising to see Grace finally get back with Leo and live happily ever after.


Mick: "Do we have any confirmation yet as to whether or not Supernatural will be moving over the The CW?"

Neil: We don't. But I'm not worried.


David: "Am I the only one that is sick and tired of getting into a show from america, only to find that it has been canceled in america due to poor ratings? Would it not make more sense to include the ratings of the global public, after all, we pay to watch tv, our tv providers pay big bucks for these seemingly dead ducks, are there for their raings, and I feel cheated. *prays for Surface to survive!!!* I am now getting to the point of researching a show when it starts over here to see if it died over there, as it is pointless to get into something that has died before it has begun. Will this ever happen?"

Neil: I'm with you - and that would be lovely - but no. From a production standpoint it makes sense, but it really needs a domestic network attached for it to continue. There are a couple possible exceptions - The Simpsons doesn't actually pull in huge numbers in the US by any stretch of the imagination but does wonders globally, in syndication, merchandising and as a "signature" for the network. The same sort of thing that could keep The O.C. on air despite its flagging ratings, as I discussed earlier.


James G: "Hey Neil! I was wondering, how much viewers did 'the new paul o grady show' on channel 4 recieve, on 27/03/06? ITV are currently showing the old version of the show, is there any 'big names' to go up against Paul O'Grady?"

Neil: He did very well, with a solid 3.3 million viewers through the hour. BBC Two came close with The Weakest Link and Neighbours came very close for BBC One towards the end. ITV1's O'Grady repeat actually finished last for the hour with around 670,000 viewers. Understandably they ditched the repeats fairly quickly after that.


Justine: "Can I check if season 3 of CSI: Miami that is showing as new on Living TV has previously been shown somewhere else? I'm sure I've seen some of these, but if it's new, how?! Also following your comment about American series, I was disappointed to realise almost all the series I watch are American - can you recommend some British series (preferably not comedy!)"

Neil: It's "new" in the sense that it's new to Living TV (it aired on Five last year). The most recent season is the fourth, which you can expect this summer. As for good British series, our daily TV Picks are a good place to start - but ones you cannot afford to miss include Planet Earth (Sundays at 9 on BBC One) and Green Wing (Fridays at 9 on C4). Also, Life On Mars is repeating on BBC Four every night this week at 10 and we get Doctor Who back in a fortnight. If reality is your thing, check out The Apprentice on BBC Two Wednesdays and Shipwrecked on C4 Sundays.


Danny: "Is there going to be a 4th season of Nip/Tuck and do you know when its going to air in the USA and UK? hanks!!"

Neil: There will - expect September in the US and October here.


Steph: "Hi Neil, I have looked around to see if any channels here in Ireland are showing Prison Break as I have heard great things bout the show but I can't find it in any listings. Do you know if it is being shown on any channel or if it has been picked up to be shown soon. You are my last hope..... Thanks"

Neil: Calm down, Steph, for I have the answer you need. New network Channel 6 has picked up this show - it's not in the schedules just yet but expect to see it sooner rather than later.


Lee, Australia: "Love the site by the way and I was wondering do you know if the last couple series of Shipwrecked will be getting out to Australia?"

Neil: Both this series and next year's series will air on Nine.


As you may have seen, earlier this week I had a chat with super Surface star Carter Jenkins. You can read the transcript here but as an extra for Tube Talk, here's a little chat we had about a few US shows - including a MEE-AJOR twist upcoming in a killer episode of 24 on Sky One in a few weeks. Select the text below to reveal, but only if you already know what happens...

So what sort of TV shows are you into right now?
“I really like NBC’s The Office. I really like 24 with Kiefer Sutherland…

Can you believe they killed off Edgar the other week?
“I know, they killed off Edgar! My brothers and I always watch the show and when it happened we were like – ‘Edgar, no!’. They have to do that though, they kill people off, but when they do it’s really important characters.”

How about Lost as well? I read your bio and apparently you had a cameo in Lost..
“I sort of did. I was actually a voice on it – there was a whole time capsule thing and I was a recording. But I’ve seen some episodes of that and it’s a great show, awesome show, very well done but I’m not a regular watcher.”

That's it for this week - more on Saturday!