This week's TV Q&A answers questions about weather forecasts on KDKA-TV, "CSI" theme songs and "The X-Files."
As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.
Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor
Q:Lately I have noticed that Jeff Verszyla has been referring to the weather as "his" forecast. "I predict that we will see rain later in the evening," "As we look ahead in my five day forecast you can expect to see...." I must admit that I do not watch many other news broadcasts and do not know if this is a common trend. Also, I have been watching KDKA for years and this is something that I just noticed so either I have been oblivious in the past or it is something new. Could you please fill me in?
- Mike Dillon, Pittsburgh
Mike, you're very observant! You have not been oblivious at all, although I was in not picking up on this sooner. Although AccuWeather is still the brand name for KDKA's weather coverage and some weathercasters still use its forecasts, chief meteorologist Jeff Verszyla has been creating his own forecasts for about a year and more recently has begun accepting responsibility for the forecasts, as you described, on the air.
Q:I'm watching season six of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and was wondering if it's true that when Anthony Stewart Head (AKA Giles) left "Buffy" (in Season 6), he went back to Great Britain to do a show on BBC called "Watchers?" If there is such a show what is it about? Is it in any way remotely close to "Buffy" (in terms of content)? And if any of it is true, how do "Buffy" and "Angel" fans in the states get their hands on it? Thanks!
- Gregg, Millvale
The proposed spin-off starring Head remains just that: proposed. "Buffy" creator Joss Whedon has talked about doing that series for British television - I'm sure a cable network stateside would pick it up - but so far it's just been talk.
Q:What in the world is our entertainment coming to? I hate reality shows and will not watch them!!!!! AND the one good show on TV that I and many, many more watched was canceled ("The Guardian"). I am 64 years old and wonder if the TV world thinks the only ones around are the young set. We spend money too and would like some good things on TV. I guess when you are old you are supposed to watch the Weather Channel or the news. I want more in my life, maybe some of us aren't old yet!!!
- Hauna McChristian, Denham Springs, La.
When I was a boy, we walked 20 miles through the snow in our bare feet to get to school and we liked it!
I kid.
Sorry, but I can't get on board with this righteous indignation, especially not in a television season that's given us "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives," two shows that make me excited for prime time to commence. Yes, there's a lot of junk on TV and good shows do get canceled, but eventually they're replaced by more good shows. You just have to be judicious and media literate about what you watch.
Q:Are TV variety shows coming back? With "Drew Carey's Green Screen Show" and that "Blue Collar TV" show, it looks like a trend, at least for the WB. It seems these shows would have the same advantages that reality TV shows have for network:
1. They are not serial in nature. Viewers who miss an episode aren't turned off.
2. Cheap to make. One set, cheaper casts. Or maybe I'm wrong here.
3. They grab surfers with stunts. You are stopping to see the plate spinner. You just gotta.
Also, will another old TV genre, the western, ever come back?
- Jim, Saratoga Springs, NY
First of all, it's nice to hear from someone in my old stomping grounds (I used to write for the Times Union in Albany, 1996-1998), and especially Saratoga Springs, which is a great town.
As to your questions about variety shows, I guess I'd argue that the series you cite are more sketch shows than true variety shows. I think The WB's "Steve Harvey's Big Time" is more of a variety show than these two. What helped get all three on the air was the low production cost, as you suggest.
As for Westerns, I think HBO would argue it's already revived that genre with "Deadwood."
Q:I love "CSI" and "CSI: NY." I think they are great. I'm not into reality TV too much. I would love to know the names of the song in the opening of each show and who the artists are that are singing them. Could you please help me? I have heard the song on "CSI NY" before on the show "Dawson's Creek." Please tell me what they are.
- Darlene Stanford, Delray Beach, Florida
All three "CSI" series use a theme song by The Who. The original uses "Who Are You?" "CSI: Miami" uses "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "CSI: NY" uses "Baba O'Riley."
Q:I've been hearing rumors that Fox has plans to bring back "The X-Files" in some way. Either as a miniseries or TV movie. Considering that the series' last two years were really awful (due in no small part to David Duchovney's over inflated ego), do you know if there's any truth to the rumors? Thanks.
- George F. Kovacs, Taneytown, MD
There has been talk of an "X-Files" movie sequel in development, meaning there's interest in making it, but production has not begun. I thought I'd read about it in Daily Variety, but a search of their Website proved fruitless.
This fan site is probably your best place to look for updates, with the understanding that much of what's posted there is rumor: www.entertainment-rewired.com/xfwatch/index.shtml
Q:My question concerns the TV show "JAG." What happened to the actor who played the Judge Advociate, Adm. A.J. Chegwidden (John M. Jackson)??? Did he leave for any specific reason, or was he just axed. He made the show as far as I'm concerned.
- PJ Shannon, South Park
It was actor John M. Jackson's decision to leave the show to pursue other things. His character, Adm. Chegwidden, was given a retirement bash in the show's May season finale.
Q:What's the name of the actress that plays Christine (Shore's ex) on "Boston Legal"?
- T.K., Oak Park
She's Elizabeth Mitchell, who previously had a recurring role on "ER" and was a series regular on the short-lived NBC drama "The Lyon's Den."
Q:Do you know the time and date for the broadcast "Stolen Honor" on the local Fox channel??
- Stephanie Parrish, Mars
Sinclair's program, originally titled "Stolen Honor: The Point Special Edition," was scheduled to first air tonight on Pittsburgh's WCWB.
Just this week the program's content was revised and the show was retitled "A POW Story: Politics, Pressure and the Media." It will now have only one broadcast at 8 p.m. Friday on WPGH.
First Published: October 21, 2004, 4:00 a.m.
