Why so many changes in local 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: There seems to be an exceptionally large number of changes at the Pittsburgh news desks lately — especially at Channel 2 and Channel 4 — is there any explanation for these comings and goings at this time?
— TOM, VIA EMAIL Rob: Everything is cyclical. WPXI-TV and KDKA-TV had stable leadership in their general managers for years, and then both stations saw turnover at the top in the past year or so, which likely precipitated turnover downstream, particularly the firing of KDKA news director Anne Linaberger and chief meteorologist Jeff Verszyla.
As for WTAE-TV, dismissing Wendy Bell in March 2016 necessitated an on-air anchor realignment that had a domino effect.
On-air talent choosing to leave or not having their contracts renewed (see: Ray Petelin) also results in changes, whether that’s hiring from outside or promotions internally.
And let’s not forget, outside the main weekday anchors, Pittsburgh is generally not a destination market; it’s a stepping stone for reporters as they advance in their careers to larger markets (or move up to the anchor desk in a similar or slightly smaller market).
Q: Why doesn’t “Pittsburgh Today Live” have a show on Fridays sometimes? Not that long ago it was three Fridays in a row and then a Friday a couple of weeks later?
— DORA, BETHEL PARK Rob: According to KDKATV general manager Jay Howell, “There are various reasons why we pre-empt ‘Pittsburgh Today Live’ on rare occasions. The main reason is that we do a lot of local production, this seems to be the best place to air those shows. It also gives our ‘PTL’ crew a periodic break.”
I had a hard time figuring out what “local production” he could be referring to. “Your Pittsburgh” doesn’t usually air in the daytime. “High School High Q” airs on the weekend.
“They are usually informational programs for local advertisers like ‘Pittsburgh Showcase,’” Mr. Howell explained.
Q: What happened to Monica Raymund, who played Gabriella Dawson on “Chicago Fire”? She and Matt Casey were married, she went south to do some charity work and hasn’t been seen or listed for quite some time. Unlike Pauley Perrette on “NCIS,” I have seen nothing about Ms. Raymund’s departure.
— PAUL, MUNHALL Rob: Ms. Perrette had a much longer tenure on “NCIS,” but there was coverage of Ms. Raymund’s decision to leave “Chicago Fire.” She returned in the show’s season premiere last fall to wrap up her character’s storyline.
Ms. Raymund will next star in a Starz series about the opioid epidemic.
Q: The returning winners on “Jeopardy” have different outfits on each day they appear. Do the contestants bring multiple outfits with them, do they have time to go shopping between the recording of each show, or does the show provide clothes for them? Just curious. Also how many shows are recorded at one time? Thank you.
— ALEX, UPTOWN Rob: Each contestant brings several changes of outfits to the tapings.
“Jeopardy!” tapes episodes approximately two days every other week. Each tape day five shows are recorded.