Post-Gazette TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions online every Friday in Tuned In Journal blog at post-gazette.com/tv. Here’s a selection of recent queries.
Q: What has happened to former Channel 2 meteorologist Jeff Verszyla? After he was released he disappeared. I’m aware some TV people have a clause in their contract they can’t appear on a local station for about a year. Is he honoring that clause? — JON VIA EMAIL
Rob: Mr. Verszyla hasn’t disappeared; he’s still doing forecasts — his “whiteboard weather” — via social media posts on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JeffVerszylaWeather/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/Pghweathernow)
The noncompete clause in his old KDKA-TV contract is still in effect and expires in January.
Ray Petelin appears to be Mr. Verszyla’s replacement at KDKA — at least for now. Although the station has not given Mr. Petelin the chief meteorologist title, he's now full time at the station working weekday evenings, traditionally the spot for a chief meteorologist.
Q: How does the “freelance” title work among the local news stations? For example, can a person be a freelance reporter/meteorologist/sports anchor if they are working a full time schedule with a news station or must they be classified as full time if they are working so many hours a week for that particular news station? — ROB VIA EMAIL
Rob: A freelancer is someone who is not bound to serve one station exclusively although they often do, as viewers see with some regularity on KDKA-TV.
Under current contracts between SAG-AFTRA and local TV stations, there is no limit on the amount of time a freelancer can put in weekly at local stations.
Q: Can you or someone explain to me why the drug companies have to spend thousands of dollars making commercials showing people going thru their daily routines while a voice-over tells us of all the possible horrible side effects of their drug? Seems to be huge waste of money and probably causes the increase in drug prices. — HARRY, ROSS
Rob: Drug manufacturers are required to list possible side effects in their TV ads per U.S. government regulations.
Q: Unlike the late-night talk shows on the other major networks that air on the weeknights, why does Conan O’Brien’s program on TBS not air on Friday nights? — CHAD, NEW ALEXANDRIA
Rob: Because Friday nights the number of homes using television is comparatively low, so why go to the effort of creating a show if too few viewers are available to watch it?
“Conan” is not alone. “The Daily Show” airs new episodes Monday through Thursday. Last summer, “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” experimented with a hybrid original/rerun on Friday nights.
Q: I would like to know what Tracey Needham from “The Division” is doing since that show ended. — PAT VIA EMAIL
Rob: Following the 2001-04 run of “The Division,” Needham did some guest roles on series, including “Veronica Mars” in 2007, but her last credit is from the 2010 movie “The Last Harbor.”
Q: Will there be a sixth season of “Line of Duty” on Acorn.tv? — S.G., MT. LEBANON
Rob: Yes, the show has been renewed for a sixth season, but there’s no news on timing because season five just premiered in mid-May.
Ask TV questions by emailing rowen@post-gazette.com, including your first name and location.
First Published: August 1, 2019, 11:00 a.m.
