This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "Monk" DVDs, Hallmark Channel movies and live shots in the dark.
As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.
-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor
Q:I have heard rumors and saw a short photo clip (on some satellite channel entertainment report; which one I don't know) about an upcoming Stephen King series called "Nightmares & Dreamscapes," based on the book of the same name.
Any insight on this program, or if or when it's going to air? Or what channel?
After losing the great "Kingdom Hospital" series to "the powers that be" and really feeling the pain of the loss of an amazing series by King, what are the chances of this new one making it to the air and STAYING there this time?
-- Marge, Weirton
Rob: Not much since "Nightmares" is a TNT miniseries, not a series. It airs in July.
Q:I have been searching for new "Monk" episodes on DVD without Sharona. Have they been issued to the public?
-- Arthur, Stanton Heights
Rob: According to www.tvshowsondvd.com, season four of "Monk," which I believe was the first one sans Sharona, will be out on DVD June 27.
Q: Could you find out why Comcast Cable doesn't show Cleveland Indians games on ESPN? They are always blacked out in my area when they are scheduled. ESPNEWS airs for the duration of the game.
-- Christian, Hopewell
Rob: According to Comcast, "Major League Baseball defines the blackout territories and the TV partners work in accordance to those guidelines."
I'm sure it has something to do with rights issues and geography.
Q: What's the status of Hallmark's Mystery Movie series ("Jane Doe," "Mystery Woman" and "McBride" rotating trilogy). They have random individual reruns scheduled on their Web site, but nothing definitive about the series. Thanks!
-- James, Scott
Rob: According to a Hallmark Channel publicist, "We are days away from the start of production on all four Hallmark Channel Mystery Movies ("Jane Doe," "Mystery Woman," "McBride" and "Murder 101"), which will be back on the programming premiere schedule all of the month of August and beyond."
Q: Have you seen/heard anything on the CBS pilot, "Jericho"? I'm a fan of Gerald McRaney and Skeet Ulrich and have high hopes that it will get picked up. Do you have any scoop?
-- Martha, Crafton
Rob: Alas, I have no scoop, but when CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler described the show at January press tour -- something about residents of a Kansas town who see a mushroom cloud over Denver (so much for my ski trips!) -- I was intrigued, too. We'll know in a week-and-a-half which CBS pilots make the fall schedule.
Q: I had a thought last night while watching the 11 p.m. news. Why would TV stations bother to file a "live" report from a scene when whatever has transpired at that location is long since over? If I remember correctly, the report in question had something to do with the protest march Downtown which happened earlier in the day. But someone was still live on the scene at 11 p.m. when clearly the event was over. What's the point?
-- Eric, Pittsburgh
Rob: As far as I can tell, there is no point beyond giving them an excuse to "go live to the scene." I asked news directors at KDKA, WPXI and WTAE to offer their explanations. None responded, which I think speaks volumes.
Q: I'm not a big fan of the E! network, however, the one show I did watch was "E! Behind the Scenes." It has not been on for quite a while and I couldn't find any information on their Web site. Was that show canceled?
-- Frank, Pittsburgh
Rob: It appears it was. The show only airs on E! International Networks, not on the E! we see in America.
Q: In your April 14, 2006 TV Q&A, you said that "the Post-Gazette does pay my cable bill." Will it pay for every channel package, or will it only pay for packages with channels that air programming you have to and/or can review?
-- Corwin, Grand Forks AFB, N.D.
Rob: I'm not sure why anyone would care, but the reality is I treat any spending I do for the Post-Gazette as if I'm using my own money. And the reality is, I'm cheap.
There was a time when I did get more premium channels, but as my cable bill has gone up, I've cut back to keep it from getting too out of control. Currently I only subscribe to HBO and Showtime.
Q: I have one pet peeve with TV programmers (both network and cable). I like to read the credits at the end of a program, particularly an older show which is now in syndication. Unfortunately the network or cable station "squeezes" the credits to one side of the screen in order to promote an upcoming show. More often than not you can't read the credits because they are simply too small. Too often I want to find out the name of a particular actor, particularly if he or she has appeared in other shows that I have seen. Is there anyone to complain to regarding this? It really is an annoyance.
-- Michael, Venetia
Rob: You can complain to anyone and everyone, but it will have no effect. The networks only care about having another way to keep viewers from switching the channel by promoting an upcoming show. I suppose you could tape shows and freeze the tape to try to see the squeezed credits, but even that may require use of a magnifying glass.
First Published: May 5, 2006, 4:00 a.m.
