Submit your question to Rob Owen

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about reruns, the youth obsession of advertisers and a faceless traffic reporter. As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: The fall season is still pretty new, so why are a lot of the shows reruns already?

-- Judy, 52, Pittsburgh

Rob: This is not unusual. Every year, just before the start of November sweeps, around the time of the baseball playoffs, some shows will air reruns for a week or two. Sweeps began yesterday so, other than possibly around Thanksgiving, there should be original episodes for the next four weeks. Then the December rerun onslaught will hit in earnest.

Q: This has probably been asked before but I am still puzzled as to why shows that in your words "skew old" are not considered viable for advertisers. Even in today's economy, we seniors spend money and often the 18-39 demographic helps us spend it. I use a cell phone and a computer, FaceBook, MySpace and Twitter and I write and publish an Internet magazine. I use all the things that advertisers have to offer. I just wish I could understand that point of view. What am I missing?

-- Dorothy, 82, California, Pa.

Rob: Congrats, Dorothy, on being so tech savvy and defying characterization! I love to see examples that defy our expectations.

I also don't get the advertiser mindset. I was certain that once baby boomers aged out of the 18-49 demo that advertisers would continue to follow them. But that did not happen.

The thinking I have always heard is that advertisers prefer to target younger consumers because they are less set in their ways, less likely to be brand loyal and more likely to try new things.

Q: I was watching the first episode of "Accidentally on Purpose" (horrible show). When they walked into the kitchen of Jenna Elfman's character there was a quick shot of a poster on the wall "J. B. Lytle Co. Beaver Falls, PA"

Is this a real company in Beaver Falls?

Any connection with somebody who works on that show to Beaver Falls?

-- Melanie, 36, Pittsburgh

Rob: I noticed that, too. And I agree with Melanie's sentiment about "Accidentally on Purpose," which I have officially given up on. But folks, when you send in a question that you need an answer to from someone who works on the show, in this case the set decorator, it's probably best not to diss the show. I forwarded the query and have not heard back.

A quick Google search indicates the company did exist at one time. I even found a box that had been up for bid on eBay.

Q: What happened to Jay Leno's announcer? I haven't noticed him on the new show.

-- Sharon, 67, Greenfield

Rob: The show has no studio announcer, but John Melendez continues on staff as a writer and has appeared in sketches.

Q: What do you think of the suddenly growing subject of the paranormal investigation/ghost stories on TV? Is it a sign of the current politically and economically uncertain times? History has shown a growth in spiritualism during past hard times (e.g. Houdini vs. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).

-- John, 50, Green Tree

Rob: TV history shows that when one show is a hit, there are a million imitators. I'm more likely to attribute the uptick to that.

Q: When will TNT start airing Season 7 of Without a Trace?

-- Diane, 56, Arlington, VA

Rob: Those episodes will air beginning Dec. 10 at 5 a.m. and will continue airing 4-6 a.m. weekdays until Dec. 30.

Q: I've noticed with WTAE-TV's morning news coverage something weird:

When Scott Stiller does the morning traffic reports and is live in the studio, they show his face and such and have him report the traffic just like a reporter doing a story.

But, when Sam Hall is live in the studio (not in the helicopter flying around), they have his voice give the traffic reports and yet not show his face or cut to a camera shot of him like they do Stiller.

Does Sam look like the elephant man or something and the producers don't want him on TV?

-- Rob, 34, Jefferson Hills

Rob: No, you make a faulty assumption that Hall is in the studio. He is not, which is why he's not shown on camera.

Q: On Tuesday Oct. 27, I watched MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Channel 31 only to return home later in the day and noticed Golf had taken over that channel spot. I (as I am sure many others) was surprised to see Comcast had moved MSNBC up the channel listing from 31 to 183 (South Hills area). Why MSNBC and not HLN? Sounds like a political conspiracy to me to make the Liberals search for Rachel Maddow and Keith Olberman.

-- Todd

Q: On Oct. 27 I was flipping through channels and see that the greedy Comcast has moved stations AGAIN!

When/why did they now take Channel 18 and 22 and I think Channel 14 is gone. I am flipping through and find more stations blank -- what the heck am I paying for?

I have BASIC cable because I don't like paying to watch TV and don't watch a lot of TV, but I would at least like to have some selection of channels.

Do you know what is going on?

-- Mary, Dormont

Rob: As Yogi Berra said, "It's deja vu all over again," as viewers conjure conspiracy theories we debunked more than a year ago when Comcast moved MSNBC to digital in the city.

In addition, these latest Comcast changes were announced last month and by the end of next year all of the channels between 23 and 72 will migrate to digital on all Southwestern Pennsylvania Comcast systems.

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