When will game shows such as ‘Price Is Right’ run out of new episodes?
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: Wondering how far in advance game shows tape. I see that “Price Is Right” and “Wheel of Fortune,” which are advertised as NEW, still offer gifts of travel across the U.S. and the world.
— BEVERLY VIA EMAIL
Rob:
Game shows tape several months in advance. “Wheel” is currently airing a mix of new episodes and reruns.
A spokeswoman for “Wheel” says all episodes were taped in advance of the current health crisis, and accommodations for any trips won by contestants will be made when it’s safe to do so.
For some perspective, “The Price Is Right” episodes airing the last week of April were taped the first week of February. It appears the last “Price Is Right” originals from the 2019-20 TV season will air the week of May 25 and were taped March 9 and 10 just prior to the shutdown.
Q: What is with the mini-infomercials, like West Shore Remodeling and the eye cream infomercial, that have popped up during commercial breaks at or near the end of local newscasts lately? I’ve seen them mostly on Channel 11 at noon, 5 and 6 p.m. and also on Channel 4. Aren’t there enough commercials on during the news? It’s extremely annoying!
— DAN, SHALER
Rob:
This appears to be all about the challenges TV stations face during the coronavirus as regular advertisers, whose business are closed, have pulled their advertising.
“Our commercial landscape is very different right now,” explained WPXI general manager Kevin Hayes. “This is a recent shift due to circumstances.”
Q: Do all of the local news meteorologists who are working from home during the pandemic get equipment to do the weather forecasts from the station they work for, or do they already have or own said equipment?
— JEFF VIA EMAIL
Rob:
Interesting question, Jeff, and I sent it out to the news directors at all three stations.
WPXI’s Scott Trabandt passed it along to chief meteorologist Stephen Cropper, who replied, “As with many businesses coping during this crisis, we have had to think outside the box and adapt quickly. While we do have the capability to broadcast live remotely (i.e. after a storm), we did not have that option from our homes.
“Thanks to an incredible team of engineers, technicians and problem solvers, we have been able to outfit our homes with remote access to our studio equipment, including our on-air graphics display system and other vital weather forecasting tools.
“Our team of meteorologists continues to put together daily forecasts from home, and we still plan to be live in the WPXI studios during severe weather events. The option of remote [home] work stations has allowed us to make a seamless transition to help limit exposure and enhance safety. An amazing feat that would not have been possible just a few years ago.”
Per KDKA-TV news director Kathy Hostetter, “Yes, forecasters can access their work computers remotely from their homes, so they did not physically have to bring their work computers with them.
“Fortunately, our weather vendor had developed remote technology well before the pandemic, and we had actually been working with this technology when we’ve had meteorologists live in the field.
“The extra layer in our ‘homecasting’ from an equipment standpoint is supplying camera/app/4G technology for talent transmission. Some of our meteorologists had their own equipment, and some of it we supplied. I need to brag on the collaboration between my meteorology team and my technical team, who were able to implement our ‘forecasting from home’ plan effectively, efficiently and flawlessly.”