TV Q&A with Rob Owen

Friday, August 17, 2007

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "Entourage," TCM and "The Kill Point." As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: When will BBC America air the second season of "Life On Mars"?

-- Bob, Pittsburgh

Rob: The folks at BBC America are saying "early 2008."

Q: "Entourage" is finally funny and only a few new episodes remain for this season. When will the new season begin in '08?

-- Elaine, Mt. Lebanon

Rob: Has it gotten funny? I feel like the stories are repetitious and there's not much drama.

Q: "Entourage" has not yet been officially renewed, but I expect it will be. June 2008 seems likely for the start of the next season.

Can you please explain to me how the Nielsen TV ratings system works? I've read the procedure before, but I'm still confused. How can a network have the most viewers and NOT win the night? I don't get it.

-- Matt, Pittsburgh

Rob: It sounds like you're asking about household ratings versus demographic ratings.

If the scale you're looking at says it's not how many viewers are watching but how many young viewers are watching, which is what broadcast networks are most interested in, then it's possible for, say, CBS to win the night in the number of total viewers, but if ABC has more viewers in the demographically desirable age 18-49 demo, then ABC can claim victory, too.

Q: Has there been an announcement as to when "High School Musical 2" will be available on DVD?

-- Melissa, Pittsburgh

Rob: It doesn't appear a release date has been announced. There's nothing about it on Amazon.com or TVShowsOnDVD.com, the two best sources.

A Disney spokeswoman said it will likely be in stores by December, which makes sense. Christmas is the prime retail season for DVDs, and it's long enough after tonight's "HSM2" premiere so Disney Channel can rerun the movie a dozen times before then.

Q: About a year or so ago the History Channel had a special on "10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America." I know one was Einstein's letter to FDR and I think one was a Civil War battle. My question is, what was the one that was most significant? I believe the History Channel was asking people to vote for the one they thought was most important but I never heard what the results were. Do you know?

-- Diane, Pittsburgh

Rob: History Channel partnered with USA Weekend to ask viewers, "Which day do you think had the most impact on the nation?" The winner, with 21 percent of the vote, was the California Gold Rush and the date was Jan. 24, 1848.

Q: I'm not losing any sleep over this or anything, but I'm curious and, by the way, think it's great: How do TCM and FMC get by without commercials? Are they doing it out of the goodness of their heart?

-- Ron, Lynchburg

Rob: Media conglomerates rarely do anything out of the goodness of their hearts, if they even have hearts.

In the case of TCM, and I'd guess it's a similar situation for FMC, the company owns a huge library, about 5,000 titles for TCM. The network also buys movies to play from other sources, particularly when they slate festivals. But they're able to pay for that by getting their revenue mostly through the cable subscription rate.

And, be assured, a TCM spokeswoman tells me there are no plans to add commercials.

Q: I've been watching "The Kill Point" series, partly because of the Pittsburgh setting and partly because I did a little time as a "background artist," and I've had one question that pops up every time I tune in: Where on earth did the name "Horst Cali" come from for Donnie Wahlberg's character?

As far as I'm concerned, that might just be the most implausible element of the show! (I think it's actually pretty compelling, but I wonder how they'll manage to drag out the hostage drama for three more episodes.)

-- Lisa, Point Breeze

Rob: "Kill Point" supervising producer Todd Harthan offers up this explanation: "[Series creator James] Demonaco and I were big fans of the character of Chico from the '60s show "The Magnificant Seven." The actor who played Chico was Horst Buchholz. "Cali" is the maiden name of Demonaco's new wife, Selena Cali."

Q: Any chance that "Masters of Science Fiction" will repeat episodes? I forgot to watch Saturday and it seems that it is not repeated any time during the week. Tried the place on the computer that screens TV programs and they seem to do that only when it's a regular series program. No big deal, but I enjoyed the first one last week.

-- Betty, Cranberry Twp

Rob: I doubt ABC will rerun given that network executives clearly have no interest in the show, burning it off on an August Saturday night as they are. But seeing as the "Masters of Horror" episodes were released on DVD, I suspect "Masters of Science Fiction" will be available on DVD before long.

Q: Are you still enjoying "Mad Men?" I know you reviewed it in July and thought it would be a good summer series. I certainly am enjoying it -- can't wait until Thursday nights to watch it. I love the story lines, as well as the bourbon-drinking, cigarette-smoking, politically incorrect themes. I am in my early 50s but I recall back to my childhood with a lot of the "Man Men" art direction and set props. It's just so authentic. Do you agree?

-- Sharon, Pittsburgh

Rob: I can't comment on the authenticity from personal life experience, but I certainly am enjoying the show and appreciating both its look, the drama and the sly, dark humor.

"Mad Men" fans take note: We'll have a story about the series in Sunday's Post-Gazette with additional character descriptions online Sunday in Tuned In Journal.

Q: I read over the Internet that two new game shows, "Temptation" (a revival of the '80s classic "Sale of the Century") and "Merv Griffin's Let's Play Crosswords," are premiering in syndication this fall.

Being new to the Pittsburgh area, I haven't been able to find out if/when they're running here (but was able to back in Ohio). Do you have any information on that?

-- Benjamin, Plum

Rob: Before the start of every fall TV season, we run a roundup of new syndicated programs. I'm already at work on it and expect it to run as a Friday Tuned In column within the next couple of weeks. You'll find time slots/channels for "Temptation," "Crosswords" and other new syndicated shows there.

Q: I suddenly noticed last week that WQED was also being broadcast on Channel 97 on Comcast in the city as well as Channel 9. What's up with that? It is the same programming, why two channels? We also discovered that WQED-HD at 201 on the digital side was running several of the Pittsburgh History series back to back all weekend long. I don't quite understand why we don't receive all the HD programs in that tier but this was a pleasant surprise. Is there an explanation?

-- Pat, Pittsburgh

Rob: Channel 201 is WQED's Neighborhood Channel, an additional digital channel over the air as Channel 13.3. (It airs on Channel 701 in Comcast's former Adelphia systems.)

Channel 9 is WQED's analog feed which can also be found in some homes on Channel 97. How come? It turns out that for years PBS has carried a data stream for the TV Guide Onscreen channel, a program listings service that requires a special box. Those who have the box only see WQED in a small corner of the screen with listings taking up the rest of the screen. Viewers without the box see WQED on the full screen, but that will change this fall.

WQED executive director of engineering Paul Byers said this fall the data streaming service will shift from PBS to CBS, so it's likely that a second KDKA feed will appear on Channel 97 at that time.

Finally, Comcast Channel 200 is the PBS digital feed, which is not a simulcast of WQED's analog channel. Instead, it airs PBS programs with the occasional insertion of WQED's HD shows. Byers said PBS will align the analog and digital feeds by fall 2008 so you'll see the same things on WQED's digital and analog channels.

Q: I am not sure why our local news stations feel the need to interrupt programming for weather alerts on a regular basis. I don't watch a lot of TV, but I do enjoy my morning shows. However, to my dismay, anytime there is a thunder strike or severe flooding, even in a county 50 miles away, the news comes on and talks to the grave about it. They show their graphics, say the same thing 100 times, and show pictures of people in trouble. I understand that they feel an obligation to report these things to the public, but why can't they just run the alerts at the bottom of the screen?

Comcast already does a wonderful job of alerting people when there is severe weather activity in our counties. Why do the weather stations have to do this as well and ruin viewer's mornings by interrupting their normally scheduled programs?

-- Ginny, South Fayette

Rob: Local stations serve more than a dozen counties and not all places have the same weather at the same time.

That said, sometimes the ongoing coverage seems to be more about showboating, especially when it relates only to a relatively small geographic area. It's one thing to warn about severe weather that might be on the way, but it's another thing to wallow in the aftermath.

Q: I notice the last couple of mornings that KDKA had only one reporter on in the mornings, and Alison Morris, the regular morning reporter, was reporting in the afternoon. All I would like to know is if KDKA will have only one morning reporter from now on, and if Alison Morris will be returning to the morning shift.

-- Joe, N. Huntingdon

Rob: News director John Verrilli said Morris is simply helping in the afternoon due to staff vacations. She'll be back on the morning show next week.

Q: What do you see as Ashley DiParlo's future role at WTAE? Will they work her into reporting and anchoring like KDKA did with Sonni Abatta a couple years ago?

-- Mike, Beaver

Rob: Guys are really interested in the attractive, young local news personalities this week, aren't they?

Alas, I don't have much of a crystal ball for prognosticating the future of local reporters. It seems like DiParlo has been getting more air time for her reports on what's on ThePittsburghChannel.com, but it seems like the station could make better use of her. Why not have her do more technology reports for the air that don't rely on sending viewers to the Web site?

As for an anchor role, I don't see that happening simply because Channel 4 is full up with long-time female anchors. One possibility: If the station doesn't renew one of their contracts or if a weekend anchor were to move on to greener pastures, that might offer an opening for DiParlo.

FEEDBACK
Not a question, a comment. The subject of humidity on weathercasts. Years ago I was a commentator on a radio station in Dallas. My efforts usually included weather reports and I rarely gave the humidity readings. Then I was contacted by a woman who told me that most females listened for the reading because they could then plan on what to do with their hair prior to heading to work! I would imagine that would include adding an extra spritz of conditioner or liquid plastic.
-- Bob, Economy

Rob: That's a great story, Bob! Thanks for sharing.

PHONE CALL OF THE WEEK
"Can you do a story on William Petersen from 'CSI'? I like him. I've gotten seven pictures of him across my love seat. My neighbors printed them off the computer for me. They won't make no more pictures. They say I have enough of them. I love the man. I watch three or four hours every night. I like the guy who plays Stokes, too. I like ' em all except the one I call Roger Rabbit, Sara with the buck teeth. 37 years I've been getting the Post-Gazette. Thanks for being there to take my call!"
-- Elderly female caller

First published at PG NOW on August 16, 2007 at 1:06 pm