Submit your question to Rob Owen

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles," portable TVs in the digital age and the voice-over guy on WTAE. As always, thanks for reading, and keep those questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

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Q: Did they announce new episodes for "Law & Order" since the writers' strike is over?

-- Joe, Greenfield

Rob: Yes, five new episodes will be produced and will begin airing April 23.

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Q: I noticed that "Ugly Betty" has been replaced with "Lost" reruns. Will "Ugly Betty" be back in that time slot soon?

Also, I was a big fan of "The Class" and wonder why it was not brought back during the writers' strike instead of running repeats of other shows.

-- Peggy, Bridgeville

Rob: "The Class" was canceled in May 2007. The set was torn down, the actors had moved on and were no longer under contract. It would make no business sense to relaunch what is viewed as a failed series (although I, too, would have welcomed such a return for that underrated comedy).

"Ugly Betty" will return to its usual 8 p.m. time slot with new episodes on April 24.

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Q: I have a hand-held portable color TV. Will it be worthless next February when analog is gone?

-- Ron, Virginia

Rob: Understand that my area of coverage is software, not hardware, but I believe that, yes, without a converter, your portable TV that is not connected to cable will be useless once analog signals go away next February. I have one in my kitchen that will be useless, too.

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Q: So over the past two months I have grown very fond of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." I hear that because of the writers' strike this season has been cut down to nine episodes instead of the planned 13. Is there any word on whether or not it will be returning for a full second season next year or is it going to be canceled?

-- Sean, Pittsburgh

Q: I hate to do this to you, but can you look into your crystal ball and give me your 2 cents as to whether "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" will be renewed past this season?

-- Rob, Jefferson Hills

Rob: I'm cautiously optimistic that "Sarah Connor Chronicles" will be back, but I have some concern because I've read that the high cost of making the show could be a roadblock to renewal.

In a teleconference with reporters yesterday, executive producer Josh Friedman said that was not the case.

"I think we're below the budget of many action shows on TV right now. We're more in line with a basic drama you would find on any network. I don't think cost is a factor," Friedman said. "As for the ratings, the show has done well for a new show and for a new drama, which haven't done very well in the strike era. We do well in certain demos, we do well in DVR and downloads. We're one of the Top 5 shows being TiVoed."

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Q: I'm with a group that loves the show on CBS called "The Unit." I know we don't have the rabid following my favorite show "Supernatural" has but we're out here. Being in a military town and being involved with the military in one way or another my whole life, "The Unit" is quite a gem in today's TV. I know it's been put on hiatus for the rest of the season. Do you have any information as to whether it's in danger of being canceled?

-- Christine, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Rob: Seeing as "The Unit" was on the bubble for renewal last season, I think it's a safe bet that's it's in a similar position this year.

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Q: Why does WPXI's RTN channel not list their programing schedule in the Post-Gazette? I stumbled upon Comcast Chanel 207, and have been a faithful watcher ever since. I love their shows: "The Fugitive," "Streets of San Francisco," "Hawaii Five-O," "Mission Impossible," etc. I am worried that without some awareness in the paper or some other form of advertising they may go off the air. What do you think?

-- Michael, Moon Township

Rob: The Post-Gazette chooses what channels to list in TV Week and the daily paper, not the TV stations. To add another station would require deleting one, which would get people upset, which would lead to my phone ringing off the hook, which would result in me getting no real work done.

RTN's schedule is listed in on-screen program guides and at WPXI.com.

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Q: How do local TV stations know exactly where a certain news story is developing? Example: How does a station known there was just a car wreck on Rt 791/Rodi Road in Penn Hills? Are the news directors in the back listening to police scanners?

-- Tyler, Penn Hills

Rob: The news directors are not listening to the police scanner, but the assignment desk is. When they hear something that sounds newsworthy, they put in a call to their sources and begin tracking the story, sometimes assigning a reporter if it develops into something that warrants a full-blown report.

A friend who is a local TV news reporter told me that lately more viewers are calling his newsroom directly.

"I don't know if it's the whole I-Report thing, but people are always calling the station saying, 'There are 50 cops with guns running around my neighborhood, they're surrounding 1533 Main Street, what's going on?' Those type of situations would not come out over a scanner. We get as much news these days from tip callers as we do from scanners.

"My favorite is: "I have cell phone video of this building on fire, how much will you give me for it?"

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Q: I was watching WTAE last Friday with their extended snow coverage, and was watching it on my HDTV and I noticed that instead of completely simulcasting their SD feed, WTAE had "their own" HD feed.

There were no pillar boxes, and it featured an updated 4 logo and different ticker font.

I know you don't know the date about the HD switch, but does this mean WTAE is two more steps closer to going HD?

-- Christian, Freeport

Rob: "The viewer saw our newly modified school closings/cancellations system which allows us not to drop out of HD programming," explained WTAE news director Bob Longo. "It also therefore has a different look, but is not HD."

No date yet for newscasts in HD on Channel 4.

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Q: Do you have any new information on when Don Cannon might be back on KDKA's weekend news? I have switched channels since Stephanie Watson has been flying solo.

-- Amy, South Hills

Rob: Every few weeks I call Cannon to ask when he might be back on the air and in recent months those calls have gone unreturned. KDKA executives would offer no update on when he might be back.

At this point, even though his biography is still posted at KDKA.com, I'm not sure that whatever problems he's dealing with will ever allow him to return.

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Q: Maybe your sources have this answer. The voiceover for the commercials for the new Will Ferrell movie, "Semi-Pro," sounds very much like the announcer for Channel 4 News. Is the same man doing both? Thanks.

-- Lee, N. Huntingdon

Rob: I am consistently astounded by the things people pick up on.

"Yes, alas, I must confess, I'm the voice of yet another whacky Will Ferrell movie, and I am the voice of Channel 4 in Pittsburgh," explained voiceover artist Bill Ratner. "I was also the voice on the trailer and TV campaigns for Will Ferrell's 'Talladega Nights' and 'Blades of Glory.' "

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Q: This week "Jericho" had no center channel audio (only background noise) on the digital feed. This is a common problem with KDKA. I thought they were going to resolve this.

Since "Jericho" is the best show on TV, I hope this outage didn't cause too many issues and mess up the Nielsen ratings.

-- Anthony, Brookline

Rob: According to KDKA's chief engineer, via general manager Chris Pike, the audio matrix switch between stereo and surround sound is apparently intermittent. It was scheduled to be replaced on Wednesday.

As for "Jericho" and its ratings, they have not been promising in recent weeks, but I doubt a glitch on the digital feed in Pittsburgh will have much impact. CBS did try to paint a brighter picture of "Jericho" and its ratings, issuing this release for Tuesday's ratings: "At 10:00 PM, JERICHO was second in households (4.2/07), viewers (6.90m), adults 25-54 (2.9/07) and adults 18-49 (2.2/06). Compared to last week, JERICHO was up +11% in households (from 3.8/06), +16% in adults 25-54 (from 2.5/06), +10% in adults 18-49 (from 2.0/05) and added +1.04m viewers (from 5.86m, +18%)."

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Q: Never saw a report as to whether Comcast will be able to attach an additional charge next year for the conversion of the digital TV signal. They charge for everything else so unless denied by law, I am betting they do. What say you?

-- Louise, Jeannette

Rob: According to Comcast spokeswoman Jody Doherty, there will not be an additional charge associated with the broadcast digital transition.

"All Comcast customers who are connected to cable will continue to receive broadcast channels without interruption after the broadcast digital transition," she said. "The broadcast digital transition will have no impact on these customers. Comcast will soon begin an extensive communications campaign to educate our customers about the broadcast transition."

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Q: I am hearing rumors that Verizon is adding several HD channels the first week of March. Do you have any information on this?

-- Tom, Shaler

Rob: Nope. Verizon hasn't announced anything and a spokesman would only say, "In the spring, Verizon will begin expanding its HD lineup as well as the sports and multicultural program offerings on FiOS TV. Verizon initially will double the current number of HD channels, on a market-by-market basis, to more than 60, including additional sports channels. Verizon expects to have more than 150 HD channels by year-end 2008 as it continues to add to its HD lineup and programmers launch new channels."

No word on when the Pittsburgh market will get the new HD channels beyond sometime in spring. But if you're reading rumors on chat boards, keep it up. They may prove accurate.

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B-e-e-e-p: You need help. I don't know where you think Jon Stewart was funny. He stunk. The whole show stunk. I agree with you about the music, but oh my god, Jon Stewart? He stinks!

-- A female caller took umbrage with my review of the Oscar telecast

B-e-e-e-p: If you thought Jon Stewart was funny, you've got a weird sense of humor. It was terrible.

-- Another female fan

B-e-e-e-p: Hey Rob ... What the hell is this: Monday night at eight o'clock you've got "Deal or No Deal" instead of "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad." That's kind of reversed [from what's on TV now]. How come you rubber stamp everything and never proofread everything and get it straight? Nothing's ever right in this doggone piece of crap, and it's time you're held accountable!

-- Still feeling the love, a male caller who fails to understand the disclaimer on Page 2 of TV Week, which notes that if the networks change their programming after TV Week is printed, there are no magical elves available to rewrite the changes in an already published TV Week