Submit your question to Rob Owen.

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "The Cleaner," network promos and tee shirts on "How I Met Your Mother." As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

--Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: I was wondering if you knew anything about the show "The Cleaner," which was on A&E and starred Benjamin Bratt. It was based on the true life a drug addict. I watched it and I thought it was wonderful and was hoping it would be back again.

--Janet, 55, Crafton

Rob: We reported last week (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08304/923736-42.stm) that "The Cleaner" has been renewed. I imagine you'll see new episodes sometime in 2009.

Q: I have noticed an increased volume of network show promos and trailers being run during early evening TV shows. While annoying, it is more alarming to me that most of these are for shows that contain graphic violence and these are repeatedly shown during TV time, such as NFL football, which in my house is a family show.

How can I put some pressure on the network to eliminate these violent trailers being played during an obvious time when families may be viewing TV?

I'd appreciate any help you can give.

--Judy, 46, Irwin

Rob: All you can do is write letters to the networks (addresses here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03001/272287-209.stm), but I'm afraid those letters will be ignored.

This isn't a new trend. Ever since CBS jumped on the procedural crime drama bandwagon, the shows that need promotion have been more violent because they are about crimes. Networks will promote such shows during football in an effort to woo male viewers, the most elusive prime-time audience.

Q: Now that we are having to switch to a digital connection in February, what could we do if we have no electricity due to a storm or transformer knocked out and can't use a portable TV with batteries or antennas? Will this no longer be a choice. I guess we just have to keep a lot of batteries on hand for the standard radio without using the TV channels.

--Debbie, Shaler

Rob: A few folks have expressed this concern. We did note in September (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08249/909457-238.stm) that at least one manufacturer is making a battery pack for its digital-to-analog converter box, but that won't give you power for a TV.

Manufacturers have been slow to make battery-powered digital TVs but I expect that will change as we go forward. They may not be widely available currently, but I was able to find one at Radio Shack that's priced at $199. (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2855063&tab=summary)

Q: I noticed that Jason Segel from "How I Met your Mother" has worn Pitt Panther T-shirts the past couple of episodes. Did he go to Pitt or is it just part of the wardrobe that he has to wear?

Just curious.

--Margie, 48, Cecil

Rob: Sometimes a T-shirt is just a T-shirt.

The show's publicist contacted the production to ask the question and the response was: There's no affiliation.

"Our wardrobe [department] does a lot of T-shirt business with a company called Tailgate, which happens to have a lot of college tees," the "Mother" insider said. "They just thought that one looked good on him. I wish there was a cooler story to go along with that shirt, but no."

Q: What have they done with my favorite morning show "Mike & Juliet"? I turn on Fox 53 at 10 a.m. and what do I get but "Sex in the City." However, the Post-Gazette lists "Mike & Juliet at that time. Please bring them back.

--Dottie, Sewickley

Rob: According to the folks at WPGH/WPMY, "Mike & Juliet" has moved over to WPMY, Channel 22, at 10 a.m. weekdays. The listings will catch up with the change in Sunday's TV Week.

Q: Verizon has been marketing the FIOS TV service in our area with various special "introductory" offers. I called them to find out what it will cost after the introductory offer expires in a year, and the customer service rep said he did not have that information.

Frankly, I'm hesitant to sign up for a service and not know what it's going to cost me after the special rate is ended. Do they really not know what they are going to charge?

--Jim, 51, Shaler

Rob: It's common for companies to introduce a new service at a lower rate and then jack the price up after a set period of time. I think you simply have to accept that's likely to happen.

"No one can see into the future to determine what the cost of products or services will be. No one can say how much things like gasoline, milk, eggs or natural gas will cost in a year, so no company can tell a customer what its future charges for services will be," said Verizon spokesman Lee Gierczynski. "Today, FiOS TV customers can sign up for individual services on a month-to-month basis or can sign up for individual services or bundles of services for a one-year term for additional savings. Many customers actually prefer to lock into a rate for a set period of time because it helps them plan their budgets each month without being concerned about changing rates.

"I wouldn't describe any of the FiOS TV rates as introductory because customers are getting a non-promotional rate for the full term of their agreement. Verizon does offer promotional incentives (e.g. free Cinemax or HBO for 30 days, etc.) that are separate from the costs of the service tiers.

"When customers' terms expire, they can choose to renew their services at whatever the rates are at that time. Verizon can't speculate about what future prices will be for the services we provide, but we offer customers several competitively priced tiers of service to meet their needs.

"Many cable companies will offer 'introductory rates' for the first three or six months and then charge the non-promotional rates after that. That is not the case with FiOS TV subscribers."

Q: Your column was the very first item I would look for each day when I received my morning e-mail headlines. What has the PG done? They cut you out of the morning headlines. Could you get the "higher ups" to put your articles and weekly Q&A back into the morning headline e-mails?

With all the doom and gloom these days, your articles are refreshing and enlightening (especially when you list the "voice mail of the week" -- lol). Keep up the good work.

--Bryan, 43, Bethel Park

Rob: Thanks, Bryan. I expressed the same concerns to the "higher ups" when I first noticed it's no longer possible to get headlines just for TV stories. At the time I was told readers affected can sign up for RSS feeds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_%28file_format%29) for both TV articles (http://www.post-gazette.com/rss/list.asp) and blog posts (http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/tunedin/rss.aspx). Personally, I preferred getting the TV headlines via e-mail, too.

Not really a question, but for crying out loud, what is with WPXI and KDKA airing those stupid promos for "see our winter weather predictions"? The WPXI promo is particularly annoying with Julie Bologna saying that she has studied models and crunched the info and can tell us what the snow will be like and then gives us this inside information: "You'll need a shovel."

REALLY? A snow shovel here in Pittsburgh in the winter? WOW, she's either a genius or a psychic, right? Give me a break!

Sorry, just needed to rant for a second! Thanks for doing this column each week!

-- Lin, 41, Sheraden