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TV Q&A with Rob Owen
Submit a question to TV Q&A by sending an email to TVQandA@gmail.com (include your first name and location).
This week's TV Q&A (after the "Read more" jump below) responds to questions about “NCIS,” language on TV, feedback and voice mail of the week. As always, thanks for reading and keep the questions coming.
-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV writer
Q: What does the acronym ‘NCIS” stand for?
-FRANK, BETHEL PARK
Rob: It stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
Q: Why do a majority of TV shows use God’s name in vain? I have quit watching a lot of shows that do this, like “Chicago Med,” “Chicago PD,” “Law & Order: SVU,” just to name a few. This used to be not allowed. Why do they allow it now?
-DAVID, GREENVILLE
Rob: Freedom of speech.
Look, I’ve tried to teach my kids not to say “Oh, my God!” but they are tempted to because that’s how a lot of people speak. I’m sure it’s for that same reason that TV dramas, which seek to accurately depict characters who behave like real people, make some of the choices David objects to.
Q: Are conservative networks like Fox News required to run Biden/Harris ads? Same for liberal networks, like CNN, running Trump/Pence ads.
-BOB, MT. LEBANON
Rob: Cable networks are not required to run political ads and have declined to run some political ads as recently as last year.
When it comes to broadcast channels, there are more nuances involved.
FEEDBACK
Great piece on “Pittsburgh Today Live” and “pay to play.” Suggest you watch the show closely and see how many times segments are specifically identified as “paid for by so and so.”
It is absolutely a “pay to play” situation and that should clearly be stated. Ever wonder why certain segments only feature long-time, paid advertisers, especially when a number of other experts are clearly available?
-DAVID VIA EMAIL
VOICE MAIL OF THE WEEK
“Rob, American Movie Classics, if I’m not mistaken, cuts out frames of movies in order to make more time for commercials. Would you please editorialize against that? They should be exposed.
-Left no name
CHANGING CHANNELS
It's the end of the line for my TV Q&A column in the Post-Gazette, but I'll still be answering TV questions elsewhere. Feel free to send your queries to TVQandA@gmail.com. Thank you for reading and especially for all your questions. The column wouldn't have worked without your input. I appreciated it.
