TV Q&A
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This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "Jericho," "The Amazing Race" and 10 p.m. newscasts.
As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.
-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor
Q: It's not so much a question as a plea. Please keep our fight for "Jericho" going (jericholives.com). Let the public know that there are thousands of us out there trying to get the ONE good show that CBS had back on the air. We don't want anymore "reality" shows, or crime dramas, we want "Jericho"!
-- Michele, Pittsburgh
Rob: Good luck. Save-a-show campaigns rarely have an impact after a show has been canceled. They're usually more effective before a cancellation decision has been made.
I tried to get "Jericho" executive producer and Pittsburgh native Stephen Chbosky to spill what would have happened in season two, but now that CBS is trying to find a way to get that information out online, he declined for the time being.
Q: My question is why can't the networks at least have a final ending to a series they are going to cancel. First there was "Threshold," then "Night Stalker" followed by "Surface." After that was "Invasion" and now finally "Jericho." Not very fair to the millions who have tuned in for months, only to have the show end with no conclusion.
-- John, Horgan
Rob: Don't just blame the networks. The producers deserve blame, too. At the time season finales are being written, show runners have a good idea what their chances of renewal are and too often opt for a cliffhanger even though they know they may not get the chance to resolve it.
Why not just make a wrap-up episode after cancellation? Because the networks and studios usually have no interest in producing a single episode. It's cost prohibitive to the budgetary structure they have established.
TV shows have been canceled without resolution since the beginning of the medium. It's just more noticeable now because there are so many TV shows with a large mystery or question at their core.
Q: Rob, I was saddened to read that "The Amazing Race" won't be on in the fall, but will return "mid-season." Is CBS getting tired of the show? It seems like reality shows take a dive after doing all-star versions.
-- Mel, E. Pittsburgh
Rob: The ratings are down, so I think CBS no longer sees "Amazing Race" as an asset that will be hugely profitable going forward.
Q: I read that "Friday Night Lights" will air next season on Friday nights at 10 p.m. Why would NBC air a show about high school football on Friday nights, when the most people that probably watch the show will be at a high school football game?
-- Joe, N. Huntingdon
Rob: Because most of the people who watch the show do not go out to Friday night football games. NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly said they thought there might be some crossover between the show's viewers and game goers, which is why it didn't air on Friday last year. But through research NBC execs determined that was largely not the case.
Q: Jayne Atkinson plays Karen Hayes on the TV show "24." My question: Is she the same woman who wanted to get FBOI agent Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) fired on the season finale of "Criminal Minds"? I can't find the answer anywhere.
-- Garry, Tiffin, Ohio
Rob: Yes, Atkinson played both roles.
Q: I enjoy the "Jaywalking" segments on "The Tonight Show." Does the show set these up and supply the answers to the questions or are the people Jay Leno talks with really as stupid as their answers would indicate? I could understand an idiotic answer slipping in once in a while, but the people he interviews all seem pretty dumb.
-- Diane, Pittsburgh
Rob: According to the show's publicist, the people featured in those segments are selected randomly and are not given the question or answer in advance. She said very little editing is done to cut out people who know the correct answers.
Q: A few weeks ago, Beverly from Pittsburgh brought up a question that has had me wondering for a long time too. Why do they investigate crime scenes (not only "CSI," but others too) with little flashlights? Why not turn on the light switch (with gloved hands of course) so they could see better and so could we? They could always look for blood spatters after they look for the obvious clues.
-- Pat, Pittsburgh
Speaking of dim lighting on "CSI," has anyone noticed that every time the team enters a crime scene, house etc., they always peer around with their flashlights? Are there restrictions against turning on the lights?
-- Jerry, Vandergrift
Rob: Excellent observations! Real CSIs use flashlights to illuminate darkened areas. As to why the CSIs on TV don't turn on the lights first, well, it's probably done just to add to the atmosphere.
Q: Are you and Rick Schroder, formerly of "NYPD Blue," the same person?
-- Harvey, Pittsburgh
Rob: I wish! Better looks and a bigger bank account, I'd take that. Alas, we are different people, though I did get compared to him a lot as a kid back in the "Silver Spoons" era.
What is the purpose of having a 10 p.m. newscast that tells you part of a story and then says to tune at 11 p.m. for the full story? KDKA/UPN does this consistently. If I could stay up to watch the 11 p.m., I would. I can't, which I why I tune in at 10 (although maybe not anymore).
-- Jeff, Pittsburgh
Rob: I think local stations that produce a 10 p.m. newscast for another station in town have realized it's eating into their 11 p.m. ratings numbers. Ratings for 10 p.m. newscasts continue to rise, while 11 p.m. ratings are generally falling.
Teasing the rest of a story in the 11 p.m. newscast is one way to try to keep viewers watching. It's lousy journalism, of course, but it suits the station's goals.
Q: Why does Wendy Bell have to be the center of attention in every story she does? In a story that was on this week about coupons, she jumped into the middle of the camera, in front of the woman who was being interviewed, and threw her hands in the air sounding excited.
Later in the story Wendy tells the woman being interviewed that Wendy really loves her and she entwines her arm into the woman's arm and "poses" for a shot. It's almost as if Wendy thought the woman who was being interviewed was receiving too much attention.
She can be very annoying to watch, especially with all of the "yeahs," and "check this out" comments she makes. Is it just me, or does she exude too much personality for television news? Do others find her just as annoying?
-- Karen, Pittsburgh
Rob: You are not alone in finding her excessive mugging a challenge to watch, but some viewers do enjoy watching her. She's a polarizing anchor, one who generates many positive reactions and many negative reactions but few in-the-middle reactions.
Fans and non-fans alike may enjoy this hilarious mashup featuring Bell and Sally Wiggin posted on the local blog Tunesmith and Anthony. (tunesmith-anthony.com)
PROGRAM NOTE
TV Q&A will be on a post-sweeps vacation next week but will return on June 8.
First Published May 24, 2007 3:28 pm
