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This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about Penguins coverage in local newscasts, digital TV signals and an abundance of commercials. As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.
-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor
Q: When is "Boondocks" returning to TV? I'm an avid fan, disappointed when it left the newspaper comic strip section, who became addicted to the TV version. What's up?
-- Brenda, 48, Verona
Rob: A Cartoon Network spokeswoman said no decision has been made on whether or not there will be a third season of "Boondocks," although creator Aaron McGruder indicated a new season will be made in an appearance at Ohio State University last month.
But don't expect "Boondocks" to return as a daily comic strip judging by creator McGruder's comments last fall.
Q: There's been some interest lately in why TV viewership is down. A&E's recent "Andromeda Strain" is one answer in my opinion. We made the mistake of watching the first night but skipped the second as the outrageous number of commercials killed our interest.
Supposedly a couple of new shows are going to try cutting back on ads. Do you feel this would help? Assuming the programs are worth watching, of course.
-- Betty, 72, Morningside
Rob: The bigger complaint I heard about "Andromeda Strain" -- and I should note, I didn't watch it -- was that there wasn't enough story to fill two nights, a frequent problem with long-form TV these days where program length is dictated by economics rather than story.
As for cutting commercials, I suppose that might be helpful to viewers who are watching programming live. But as more and more people watch TV on DVRs and fast-forward or skip through commercials, the notion of curbing commercial time will benefit fewer and fewer viewers.
Q: With the new over-the-air digital TV, do you see OTA TV being a viable alternative to a basic cable/sat package? I am thinking that since each channel can have multiple sub-channels, there will be a big opportunity for these stations to lease the sub-channels to the smaller cable channels (maybe Food Network, as an example). This would mean a reasonable variety of channels to choose from (for free), especially with cable prices so high and the economy being difficult.
-- Bob, 35, New Eagle
Rob: I haven't heard any suggestion floating about that cable networks intend to put their content on digital sub-channels. So far, we've mostly seen stations use these for weather/traffic (WTAE, WPXI) and old reruns (WPXI). KDKA awaits marching orders from its CBS owners. Sadly, I don't expect we'll see anything particularly creative (WPXI's RTN may be as good as it gets). With big conglomerates owning both station groups and cable channels, they're unlikely to cannibalize their cable content by putting it on digital sub-channels for free.
Q: Any idea why the three main actors in "MI-5" were replaced during season three? I know the British handle television shows differently then we do, but it doesn't make sense me to replace all the main characters in relatively short-order once they are established.
-- John, 40, N. Huntingdon
Rob: I don't know specifics, but I do know that British actors, in particular, like to move around and aren't as accustomed to locking themselves into series the way American actors do. My guess is that in the case of "MI-5," most of the cast change decisions were at the behest of actors who wanted out and maybe in some instances the cast changes were decisions made by producers.
Q: I am a member and reader of several online technology/audio video forums. Throughout the past three or four months I have been reading of other Comcast markets in areas such as Baltimore, Chicago, New Jersey, Boston and Southeastern Pennsylvania beginning to receive several new HD channels such as Animal Planet, TLC, Disney, ABC Family and AMC.
It has been my experience that we (except Ross area) usually receive these new channels around the same time. Obviously Comcast has a contract to carry these stations, so they just need to be rolled out to the markets.
Whenever I call Comcast and speak with someone and pose the question, I get the typical scripted "We hope to add more in the near future."
Can you shed any light on what's going on with adding any new HD channels? Is my market out of bandwidth to add these channels?
I appreciate any information.
-- Andy, 26, South Side
Rob: Me, too, but this is all I could get: "We anticipate an announcement in the near future on additional HD choices, a topic which continues to be a major focus for our customers, who now enjoy more than 500 HD choices available at any given time," said a Comcast spokesman.
Q: What is WTAE'S new radar and graphics system?
-- Jordan, 15, Imperial
Rob: According to news director Bob Longo, it is a system from WeatherCentral, based in Madison, Wis.
Q: I am not one of these "nebby" people who always wants to know which newscasters are pregnant or have been fired, but I am curious if you know if Dee Thompson from Channel 11 is still on the air.
-- Jen, 35, Pittsburgh
Rob: WPXI news director Corrie Harding said Thompson took some vacation time but is now back on TV.
Q: I'm a die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan, including the Pens, but all this Pens coverage makes me want to gag. I prefer watching Chanel 11 for news but with this "11 on the Ice" stuff taking up the last 15 minutes or so (sometimes more) of EACH NEWSCAST, it makes me want to switch to a different station until either after the Pens win the Stanley Cup (fingers crossed), or the Pens are out. Seriously, couldn't they just extend the normal length of the sports segment by 2 or 3 minutes?
I'll say one thing, though ?? I have enjoyed 11's pregame shows, which air 30 minutes prior to each game. That doesn't ruin everything I just said, does it?
-- Tyler, Penn Hills
Rob: As I noted a few weeks ago, the Pens are the new Steelers: A story local stations can milk to death because viewers will tune in to watch these reports.
As a Penguins fan, I find the Channel 4 promo for Pens coverage insulting. Not only is it just plain bad and just outright fake (and I am looking deeper than Sally Wiggin and Mike Clark playing hockey in an expensive studio), Channel 4 seems to have the worst coverage of the Pens. Anyone who has been watching Channel 4 for Pens coverage in comparison to Channel 11 and KDKA, especially, can see that. I (and others assuredly) certainly have a feeling that if a Steelers player stubs his toe during a workout and garners medical attention over the next week, WTAE will drop the Pens coverage in a heartbeat. When you seem fake, your ratings should slide. Congrats, Channel 4, I think you've accomplished that.
-- Mark, 20, Johnstown, writing before the publication of last week's Tuned In column
I just have a comment. Your comment about Andrew Stockey and Kelly Frey dancing: Don't be such a stick in the mud. That is such a cute ad. It makes you smile, it's upbeat. You're casting aspersions in the wrong place. I don't even like WTAE, I just happen to like that ad.
-- Older female caller responding to last week's Tuned In column
First Published: May 30, 2008, 4:00 a.m.
