Where there is a Thanksgiving feast, there are leftovers. And where there are leftovers, there is an abundance of turkey(s). Dig in:

KDKA's broken news

On Sept. 26, KDKA ran a breaking news report that a customer at a McKnight Road McDonald's overheard a child say to another woman, "You're not my mother!" and called police.

There are a million possible explanations for this: a family friend, maybe the kid was adopted and using that for argument's sake, etc., and while the police were right to investigate, it was ridiculous for KDKA to go on the air with this half-story.

Noting that police are investigating and it could have been a miscommunication is no excuse.

No surprise, later KDKA had to un-break its news, with Ken Rice informing viewers that "Ross Township police are telling us the kid was with a family friend and no crime was committed."

What happened to getting the facts before blabbing bits and pieces of a story over the air?

For the love of pets

There's nothing inherently wrong with stories on pets, but local stations like to wallow in animals stories, both uplifting ("Man's best friend spared from early death!") and depressing ("Abused animals in house of filth!").

WTAE, in particular, loves its promotable animal stories, airing two in a week earlier this sweeps month, including this news flash: It's wise to give your pet a good diet and exercise, annual checkups and lots of love!

Stop the presses!

Lost or found?

During KDKA's 4 p.m. newscast on Oct. 18, the station reported "breaking news" that a lost West Virginia teenager hiker had been found. But moments later in a preview for the 5 p.m. news, a promo stated he was still lost. Ah, the danger of pre-recording promos.

Changing history

You always wonder why a station or network won't provide a program for review in advance. Is it because they're hiding a dud? With ABC's "Cavemen," that was an easy bet. But when WQED said they couldn't send last month's "Bedford Springs: Opening History's Door" documentary in advance, we scratched our heads. Was it really not ready or something else?

My colleague Marylynne Pitz watched the show when it aired and called it "hopelessly boring and uninspired."

She also found an historical flaw that should have been edited out: "David Rau, a design architect from 3 North in Virginia, was involved in the [Bedford Springs Resort] restoration. Mr. Rau noted that in 1804, the town of Bedford was the frontier and that Pittsburgh had not even been founded.

"This may be news to the folks at WQED, but Pittsburgh will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding in 2008. On Dec. 1, 1758, General John Forbes formally named the camp at Fort Duquesne Pittsburgh, taking the city's name from William Pitt, the English prime minister."

Too much information

After a report on lead found in children's jewelry earlier this month, WTAE anchor Michelle Wright noted, "My daughter loves that jewelry."

Anchor Wendy Bell chimed in, "Would it be wrong for me to say one of my sons does, too?"

"No, not at all," Wright said, seemingly through clenched teeth.

"I won't tell you which one," Bell said.

Forget about the dangers of lead poisoning. What about the embarrassment kids face from their overly chatty news anchor parents?

Cleansed history

In its history of news coverage in a special that premiered Saturday, WPXI omitted a story it has long been remembered for: airing the 1987 suicide of state Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer on the noon news.

It was a bad call 20 years ago and I'm sure the station would prefer everyone forget about it, but mentioning it would have been a transparent opportunity to note that the suicide only aired one time during a low-rated newscast and to acknowledge that, yes, over the course of 50 years, some bad calls are made.

What's up, doc?

After airing a one-sided Brenda Waters report early this month on a "miracle doctor," KDKA had to backpedal when the doc's operating privileges were suspended by his hospital.

In a follow-up story, KDKA anchor Stacy Smith read from a script that referred to "a so-called miracle doctor." Uh, wasn't it KDKA that labeled him that in its earlier report?

Oh, the humanity

After showing a clip of a TV reporter in Cleveland slipping and falling on the ice last winter, WPXI anchor David Johnson, with the faintest hint of an embarrassed sigh, said, "That's our video for the day."

Center of the universe?

Rumors floated around Mt. Lebanon earlier this month that last week's "South Park" episode would be based on the infamous list at Mt. Lebanon High School that crudely ranked female students. Some poor sap even created a Facebook network devoted to "Lebo South Park Episode."

Alas, Mt. Lebo is not the center of the universe and the episode appeared to have nothing to do with any specific incident; it was a generic look at a group of elementary school girls who made a list of the cutest boys in class, something that's gone on since time immemorial.

TV Q&A

The online TV Q&A column is taking the holiday off. It will return next Friday.