Submit your question to Rob Owen: www.post-gazette.com/tv/questions/qaform.asp

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "V," "Damages" and a fantastically funny/gross catch in a KDKA promo. As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: When will "Damages" start its new season?

-- Rita, Brookline

Rob: In January.

Q: This "creative retooling" you speak of in relation to the new "V" set for release soon. It wouldn't be because ABC is reacting to the Internet abuzz about how "V" seems to be an allegory for the Obama Administration, especially with the scenes of the Visitors' reactions to potential bad press (i.e. "this interview is canceled"), the promise of universal health care, the deceptive and hidden agenda of the Visitors, the buzz words of "trust," "change, and "hope" being used by the invaders?

-- Michael, 44, California

Rob: Absolutely not. Everything you refer to is in the pilot ABC bought. They didn't change the pilot, which networks often do if they're unsatisfied. The network only started retooling after several more episodes were produced. The retooling has everything to do with storytelling and trying to get a new show on its feet and nothing to do with politics or what viewers read into the show.

Q: What has happened to "Gavin and Stacey," which used to be on BBC America? My wife and I really enjoyed it.

-- David, 70, Ohio Township

Rob: A new season is in production but BBC America has not yet committed to airing it, but I imagine the network will.

Q: I'm a huge fan of "Top Gear" but I sure do have a hard time trying to figure out what season is the "current" season. BBC America airs reruns but my Armstrong Cable DVR sometimes lists them as "new" which only adds to the confusion. Luckily the reruns are just as entertaining the second time around.

-- Chris, 33, Pine

Rob: Here's what a BBC America publicist had to say: "'Top Gear' is one of the most popular shows on the channel with a dedicated audience who want to see all things 'Top Gear.' By alternating new [seasons] with older ones that have never been seen in the U.S., we're able to keep it fresh and on the channel year round."

Q: Could you please ask someone at KDKA why they did not lead with election coverage on Tuesday? I understand that if there is a legitimate breaking news story you would want to lead with that, but a story about a PAT Bus and a manhole cover is not major news. There are only two election days a year and you would think covering who was elected mayor of the city you are supposed to report news from is pretty important. Also, I watched the first 5-10 minutes and they did not have the election crawl at the bottom of the screen. I got fed up and switched between the other two stations, both of which had the crawl and election coverage.

-- Mike, Pittsburgh

Rob: Wow, this really is an example of bizarre news judgment. KDKA didn't get to the election story, except in a tease saying Luke Ravenstahl won the Pittsburgh mayoral race, until 11:04 p.m. (per my Comcast DVR), making it the sixth story in the broadcast. WTAE and WPXI led with the election.

A car accident involving an open manhole is the lead story on election day? Seriously?

Weirder still, political reporter Jon Delano was nowhere to be found in the election coverage when it eventually aired. (Paul Martino fronted the story.)

I sent Mike's query to KDKA-TV news director Coleen Marren and received this response: "We started our newscast announcing, 'Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl wins his first full term in office.' We went to complete election coverage at 11:03 with Paul Martino live at the Mayor's celebration, after other news."

Q: I'm not sure if you can do anything about this. KDKA is running their TV promo for the turkey drive. Watch closely: It shows the KDKA reporter in a classroom. Watch the little boy in the background. First, with all this H1N1 going around, the little boy not only picks his nose, he does what little boys do at that age: He then eats it! Honest it's there!

-- Joyce, 58, Butler

Rob: In the promo, Yvonne Zanos chats with PNC Bank president Sy Holzer in the midst of a classroom. Watch for the little boy in the lower right corner. He definitely picks his nose and then the girl next to him gets her head in the way, blocking the view, but the next thing viewers see, his fingers are in his mouth!

Fantastic catch, Joyce.

"I finished reading your column today in the PG and when the lottery drawings were moved to Channel 4, it was a bad move. At least Channel 2 had everything very clear, very precise. When that guy was repeating the numbers you understood everything. Here it cuts right into a program or the program cuts into it and you have a bunch of screaming people screaming out the numbers and sometimes you can't understand them. That's all I have to say. I will call the station and complain to them, too. It's very bad, especially on Wednesday and Saturday. It's not clear, it's not good, it's just a bunch of screamers."

-- Female caller upset about how WTAE handles lottery drawing cut-ins

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