Submit your question to Rob Owen

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "The Middle," "Flash Forward" and "Boston Legal." As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: How has "The Middle" been doing? Any prediction as to how the new lead-in will help/hurt?

-- Justin, 30, Pittsburgh

Rob: ABC has not yet announced a regularly-scheduled program for the 8 p.m. Wednesday time slot since the cancellation (re: mercy killing) of "Hank."

Last week, "The Middle," airing at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, started to show some signs of ratings life. With "Hank" out of the way, ABC put a "Modern Family" rerun on at 8 and it helped boost "The Middle," giving the show its biggest overall audience since its debut, according to an ABC ratings release. Demo ratings also rose.

Although I don't love "The Middle" as much as "Modern Family," I do genuinely enjoy the show, especially its kid characters. Yes, it's a little "Malcolm in the Middle"-like and Brick is a dead ringer for Dewey on "Malcolm" but it's just so nice to have funny kids back in prime time. They've been missing in the years of the family comedy drought.

Q: I'm a "FlashForward" fan who only recently saw the name of Courtney B. Vance's character written down. He plays Agent Stanford Wedeck. I often misheard it as Stanton Wettick, as in the Allegheny County judge. Since conspiracy theories and speculation drive the show, is there any connection you're aware of between the creators of the character and the judge?

-- Amy, 37, Squirrel Hill

Rob: Nice try, but it's just a coincidence.

"No connection to Pittsburgh whatsoever," wrote executive producer David Goyer. "I liked the name Stanford and I picked the last name from the author of a book on the shelves in my office."

Q: My wife and I are still hooked on "Boston Legal" (1 p.m. Sunday on WGN). We still think it was/is the best TV show ever and Spader was/is the greatest. What is he doing now? Will it be re-run again and again like "Seinfeld"?

-- Don, 77, Richland

Rob: Spader's IMDB.com credits are pretty sparse post-"Boston Legal," but I'm sure we'll see him again on TV.

As for the show, it was so topical that conventional TV wisdom says it will not perform well in reruns. Add to that the older-skewing audience when it was on ABC (not the audience many advertisers want) and I would guess it will not re-run for long. The good news is the show is available on DVD.

Regarding "Boston Legal" creator David E. Kelley, who also created "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal," he developed a pilot for NBC this season that was not picked up. He has an overall deal with Warner Bros. television and is developing new projects but nothing concrete has been announced.

In regard to the "Shark Tank" question in this morning's TV Q&A, if Josh wants a fix, "Dragon's Den" on BBC America is the British version -- proving Americans are not the only bananas in the bunch!

-- Mary Catherine, Upper St. Clair

"Ah, yes, I'm calling in regards to your comments about Don Cannon and featuring that in the newspaper the way you did. When a guy's down you really give him a kick in the teeth. I know it sells your newspapers for you but if it was a black guy or Jewish guy or Muslim guy it would never have been there or if it was one of those TV gals with low-cut gowns on they never get touched. But to do it to a guy like that, you guys ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Bye."

-- Male caller, upset with coverage of Don Cannon's latest troubles

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