TV Q&A with Rob Owen

Friday, April 04, 2008

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "Top Gear," "24," and WPCW in HD. As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: What do you think of the possibility of Americanizing the BBC America program "Top Gear," which is superior (in my family's opinion) just the way it is? Do you think it might go the way of the late "Iron Chef USA" from UPN or possibly what was done to the American version of "Red Dwarf?" Neither show ended up well, and were pretty well panned by viewers and critics alike. We'd hate to see that happen to "Top Gear." Opinion?

-- Marge, Weirton, W.Va.

Rob: You're not alone in your concerns. Evidently, NBC offered the hosting gig to noted car/motorcycle enthusiast Jay Leno, and he turned the network down for fear that they'd botch it.

But let's remember, not all remakes are created equal. Some are atrocious (see: "Coupling") and others turn out well (see: "The Office"). We'll just have to wait and see which way "Top Gear" goes.

Q: Why do they bother with running credits after a program like "Entertainment Tonight" and others when there is not one discernible word that you could possibly read? What is the point?

-- Chris, Butler

Rob: There may be contractual obligations with some unions that require credits to run even if they can't be read.

Q: In regards to an unauthorized television biography, how is it the producers aren't sued for slander? How are they able to get away with showing situations that there is no possible way of confirming it happened? I understand artistic license, but aren't the producers responsible for telling the truth and how do they get away with it? For instance any movie about the British royal family. The movie "The Queen" paints an unflattering picture of the Queen. How is it not slander?

-- Mike , Philadelphia

Rob: Truth is the best defense. Often these films may not paint a pretty picture, but if they're based on fact, then they're protected by the notion of "fair comment" that allows for commentary on public figures. Sometimes the films will also include a disclaimer along the lines of, "Based on real events, though some scenes have been dramatized."

Q: I was wondering how television ratings are calculated. How long does a program have to be tuned to before that program gets the 'credit'? Is there a certain time during the hour or half hour where viewership is instantly calculated (say, at 10 minutes past the hour, do the ratings folks hit a button to see what people are watching at that very moment)? What happens if I'm watching a program on a major network, but flip over to the game during commercials -- which program gets my 'credit' then? Just curious how all that works.

-- Mike, Pittsburgh

Rob: Those are very specific and precise questions, so let's turn to a ratings expert, Anne Elliot, vice president of communications for The Nielsen Co.

"The answer varies slightly depending upon whether you are talking about local ratings or national ratings," she explained. "Nielsen's meters collect information every 2.7 seconds. The information tells what channel is being tuned. Using a number of references, Nielsen can then identify what program has been tuned. Here is where there is some difference between the way local ratings and national ratings are calculated. National ratings are based on tuning to the average minute, so whatever channel gets the majority of a minute's tuning gets credit for that minute. Local ratings are based on the average quarter hour. When a household tunes for at least 5 minutes within a quarter hour, that tuning is credited to the program. So, technically, more than one program can receive credit for a local quarter hour.

"This is something of an over-simplification, since there are also a series of editing rules and weighting calculations that go into the entire process, but basically it's important to know that Nielsen's meters operate 24/7 and identify when the TV set is on and what channel is being viewed. In the national sample and 13 local markets, there is a second part of the process that tracks who is watching. That is the "People Meter." People Meters enable Nielsen to provide demographic information about who is in the audience. It might be of interest to your readers (and you!) that Nielsen plans to bring this same People Meter technology to Pittsburgh next year. When People Meters are implemented, you will have demographics every day rather than waiting for the "sweeps" and that could begin to change the way that local TV stations plan their news and other programs. Just as the networks now have national audience demographics every day, so will your local stations."

Q: Is commercial time dirt cheap on cable? How else could companies run ads all day long on numerous channels? Di Tech, Edgar Snyder, Head On (and how does that hideous ad survive?), etc.

-- Betty, Pittsburgh

Rob: I don't know that ad time on cable is "dirt cheap," but it is certainly less expensive than on broadcast channels.

Q: I have taken a liking to the show "Lipstick Jungle." Was this just a fill-in show or will it return?

-- Lori, Pittsburgh

Rob: The ratings for "Jungle" have not been spectacular, but it has been renewed for a second season.

Q: When is "ER" returning and is this the last season?

-- Debbie, Shaler

Rob: "ER" returns with new episodes next week and it will be back for its 15th and final season in 2008-09.

Q: Do you have any idea when "House" will be on again?

-- Mary, Allison Park

Rob: A rerun aired Monday. New episodes return April 28.

Q: Any truth to the rumor that "24" will be showing a "prequel" of season seven sometime in the fall? I've also heard a rumor that there is a possible movie coming out in the fall that would somewhat bridge the goings on between seasons 6 and 7 (maybe it's the same thing.). I know it is wishful thinking, but I feel like someone is pulling my leg ...

Also, do you know anything about the possibility of "Prison Break" returning for a 4th season?

-- Andy, Bridgeville

Rob: "Prison Break" has been renewed for a fourth season.

As for "24," Fox has not announced anything officially, but a "24" TV movie prequel is in development for fall.

Q: What happened to "Boston Legal"? They ran a couple of new shows a few weeks ago, then nothing since then. Also, why do they keep moving shows around to different time slots, then back again. Thanks

-- Diane, McKeesport

Rob: Shows move around for many, many reasons, but all in an effort to boost ratings. Seems counter-intuitive, I know, because no one can find the shows if they're always moving.

"Boston Legal" returns Tuesday for the first of six new episodes and moves to 10 p.m. Wednesday on April 30.

Q: Since CBS decided to cancel "Jericho," do you think another channel like USA or the Sci Fi Channel may possibly pick it up for next season since there are millions that do watch it faithfully?

-- Gloria, Penn Hills

Rob: No. It's probably too expensive for a basic cable network to produce. Plus, since it's been given two shots already, I imagine it is viewed within the industry as damaged goods.

Q: I seem to recall the last season of "The Shield" was filmed and would begin in the spring of this year. No information about this season is available on the FX Web site. What's up?

-- Heather, Forest Hills

Rob: As we reported in early February, FX plans to bring "The Shield" back later this year, most likely in early fall after the Olympics. No premiere date has been announced.

Q: I notice that the theme song for "Law and Order, Criminal Intent" has been jazzed up a bit for this season (same basic "Law and Order" melody but with a faster tempo). Unless my memory's faulty (very possible), this new version sounds an awful lot like the theme used for the ill-fated "Law and Order, Trial by Jury" series a few years back. Did NBC recycle, or is it that all of Dick Wolf's show themes sound so much alike that they're all blurring together?

-- Kevin, Wilkinsburg

Rob: Good ear. According to a show publicist, the new "CI" theme does use the "Trial By Jury" template, altered slightly to work with the "CI" timing and pictures.

Q: Is TV One available in the Pittsburgh area? If so, were is it?

-- Dave, Venetia

Rob: It's on Comcast systems as Channel 173.

Q: I've had FiOS TV for a few months and had a few questions about the programming: Do you know when they will add PCN (Pennsylvania Cable Network)?

Any word on when they will offer Howard Stern on demand?

-- Jeff, Pittsburgh

Rob: According to a Verizon FiOS TV spokesman, PCN has been added to FiOS in Philadelphia and they're working to add it in Pittsburgh but no launch date is available.

As for Howard Stern, wait and see.

"For competitive reasons, we typically only announce content additions, like Howard Stern, when it is available to FiOS TV customers," explained Verizon's Lee Gierczynski. "So all I can say to FiOS TV customers who may be interested in Howard Stern on-demand is to stay tuned."

Q: On WPXI (Channel 11), they always say that they have the true news and no fluff. What does that mean? They seem to be messing up all the time with blank looks, wrong photo in the back ground. This is especially obvious on the 10 P.M. news on WPGH. What gives? Do you think it might be that the new building has something to do with it? Did they hire new people to run the cameras, main board, etc.? I think it's false advertising when they say "no fluff."

-- Bill, Rostraver

Rob: As we reported extensively last fall -- see here and here and here -- WPXI implemented a new automated production system that relies more on computers and less on humans. Unfortunately, the computers seem to be cousins of HAL, the marauding artificial intelligence from "2001: A Space Odyssey." While production blunders have diminished, they have not completely abated.

As for the "no fluff" slogan, that refers to the fact that Channel 11 has a minimal amount of happy chat between anchors and few human interest feature stories.

Q: After reading about the job cuts at WBBM-TV in Chicago, I wanted to make sure that Don Schwenneker wasn't axed. His salary probably wouldn't be one that CBS would have a problem with, but since he is low on the seniority list, one never knows. Can you confirm that Don's still employed?

-- Mike, White Oak

Rob: Yes, Schwenneker remains employed at the CBS owned and operated station in Chicago. In fact, it looks like he got a promotion from weekends to the 5 p.m. news.

Q: Any update on receiving WPCW digital over-the-air? I saw that you had a question about this approx 7 months ago ...

As far as I can tell, it is still not broadcasting.

-- Bob, New Eagle

Q: When is the CW in HD coming to Pittsburgh? I remember you mentioned it months ago in the Q&A, yet still nothing from Comcast?

-- Mike, Pittsburgh

Rob: As far as over-the-air goes, as we noted in September, that probably won't happen until February 2009.

Comcast announced in December (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07347/841207-42.stm) that WPCW-HD would air as a cable channel, but it turns out that announcement was premature and the HD version of WPCW on Comcast won't launch until later this year.

Q: Who decided to change the crossword puzzle on the back of the TV Week magazine? I think the old one was much better.

-- George, North Huntingdon

Q: Why was the format changed of the crossword puzzle in the weekly TV guide? My husband and I don't like the new format: #1) With the celebrity face in the middle of the puzzle, it makes it harder to solve because all of the answers are 3-5 letters long. #2) The solution is printed on the same page as the puzzle. It is one thing to have changed the puzzle, but at least put the answers on a different page.

-- Kelly, Monroeville

Rob: The company that supplies the Post-Gazette with the crossword puzzle to TV Week is phasing out the old puzzle, which is why we were forced to change. Starting April 13, we plan to try a different puzzle than the one currently running.

As for the solution being upside down on the same page, do people who do crossword puzzles have so little self-control that they can't ignore the answer key or put their coffee mug on top of it?

VOICE MAILS OF THE WEEK

No. 1: Ego maga priesta. Mah ha ha ha ha ha.
-- Message from what sounds like a little boy

No. 2: Hello, I'm Zac Efron and Corbin Bleu is my brother, so those sounds you heard were from me. I hope you like the songs. You're not stupid, you're the best TV editor in the world and I love your [unintelligible] about the verdicts, but I think you should do one about "Ben 10." This is Zac Efron and my brother Corbin Bleu and we're calling. ... Please call again soon. Goodbye.
-- Same little boy claiming to be a Disney Channel star, evincing shades of "The Night Listener."

First published on April 4, 2008 at 12:00 am