On-screen info overload during news
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: I’ve been meaning to ask if the local and national news shows realize that all of the information they tack on to the bottom of the screen eventually shields a lot of the footage they are actually trying to show. With the station logo, weather, crawlers and then captions about the news story stacked up, you often can’t see the images’ detail on which they are reporting.
You would assume that the directors and producers would see what we see and edit the broadcasts.
— JOHN, PLUM Rob: This is a recurring problem that we’ve had complaints about before. I agree that it seems like something that should be entirely avoidable, and yet local stations seemingly make little effort to avoid it.
Q: This goes back a little while. What happened to the original older sister, Kristin, on the “Last Man Standing”? Did she get fired or sick? Was Tim Allen getting too conservative for the series forcing them not to renew? — ROBERT VIA
EMAIL Rob: I’m pretty sure Mr. Allen was as conservative politically when the show began as he is now. The entertainment business is all about money. “Last Man Standing” was always a bubble show — it was a year ago, too — so it’s notsurprising it would be canceled, especially after ABC jettisoned its Friday night comedy block. There was nowhere for “Last Man” or “Dr. Ken” to go so they got canceled along with the liberal-themed “The Real O’Neals.”
As for the recasting of the oldest daughter, supposedly it was for “creative reasons,” which doesn’t exactly ring true, so there was probably more to it behind the scenes.
Q: Is there a new “Jesse Stone” TV movie being made?
— LARRY, MCCANDLESS Rob: Yes, Hallmark has a deal for one more, but it depends on Tom Selleck’s schedule. Seems more likely for2018 than 2017.
Q: I just read your article about network renewals. Unless I missed it, I didn’t see anything in there about “The Exorcist.” Any news?
— BILL VIA EMAIL Rob: Happily, Fox did renew “The Exorcist” despite its lackluster ratings. It returns for a second season — and a new setting in Seattle — on Sept. 29.
Q: Will “The Middle” return for another season? — FLORENCE VIA
EMAIL Rob: It will be back for one lastseason beginning Oct. 3.