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: How far in advance is "The Voice" taped? They obviously can't at the moment do the live shows, so I was also wondering if you had heard of any alternate plan.
—George, posted on Tuned In blog
Rob: Star John Legend said “The Voice” already completed episodes that will air through April before COVID-19 forced Hollywood to shut down. A NBC publicist said a decision about how to conduct the live shows, scheduled to begin May 4, has not been made. But I anticipate “The Voice” will do something similar to “American Idol,” which earlier this month announced plans to move forward with live episodes featuring contestants, judges and host Ryan Seacrest conferencing in from their homes.
Q: I read that “Jeopardy!” would be broadcast with no audience in these troubled days, but there is still a full audience in evidence. Which prompts the second item: How far in advance do they tape? Alex always has correct and pertinent comments about the particular day/date a show is actually airing as though the show is completely live. Curious.
—C.H., Swissvale
Rob: Game shows have weeks of episodes banked. “Jeopardy!” usually tapes six-to-eight weeks ahead of their air date. The College Championship that aired earlier this month taped Feb. 3 and 4. A Teachers Tournament, taped before the COVID-19 crises exploded, airs in late May/early June.
My guess is a mix of reruns and originals will air between now and then. I asked if viewers will be able to tell when the episodes without a studio audience air but the show’s publicist did not respond to that query.
Q: I watch “Homeland” weekly and have since the premiere. I've noticed that on the Sunday it is broadcast at 9 p.m., you can watch that episode at any time during the day via on demand. Why is that and do any other networks/pay TV channels offer this?
—Sheila, New Castle
Rob: I know on occasion HBO has offered early on-demand viewing when an original episode premiere is going to air at the same time as a big TV event such as the Oscars. And some networks have premiered episodes of new series ahead of their first linear airing.
As to why Showtime does it with their original series, my understanding is it’s an effort to reach viewers when they are available and at their convenience. That’s something a premium network that is not advertiser-supported can do. Yes, they care about ratings, but cumulative ratings are more important than time slot ratings. To Showtime it’s more about a Sunday premiere than it is a Sunday-at-9-p.m. premiere.
One exception: Season and series finales, including the April 26th “Homeland” series finale, generally are not available before their linear air time.
Q: Question about KDKA’s newly launched CBSN Pittsburgh. The launch seems pretty premature to me. In other markets, the CBSN format has its own studio or set, and has frequently updated content produced just for it. But KDKA seems to be just cutting and fitting in existing KDKA newscasts to work on CBSN. I guess my point is, why launch with just KDKA newscasts when you could already watch KDKA newscasts on their website?
—Tyler, Penn Hills
Rob: I agree that it’s odd that other than breaking news, like COVID-19 county news conferences and occasional interview segments, KDKA is not producing original programming for CBSN Pittsburgh as far as I can tell and based on what was announced at launch.
KDKA-TV news director Kathy Hostetter did not respond to an email on the subject.
Tyler is correct that in some other markets, local stations are producing content specifically for their local iteration of CBSN. The New York version launched in December 2018 with three hours of original, just-for-CBSN programming. I don’t know if the approach to CBSN has changed since then based on early experience but it seems possible: Recently-launched CBSN Denver and CBSN Philadelphia had no original programming mentioned in their launch announcements, which looked pretty identical to CBSN Pittsburgh’s launch announcement.
Ask TV questions by e-mailing rowen@post-gazette.com, including your first name and location.
First Published: April 22, 2020, 12:00 p.m.
