TV Talk: ‘Big Bang Theory’ spins off ‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’Video
Gotta give credit where it’s due: HBO Max’s “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” is a completely unpredictable spin-off from “The Big Bang Theory.” Streaming its premiere tonight (new episodes debut at 9 p.m. Thursdays for the next 10 weeks), “Stuart Fails” is shot single-camera style (think: “Young Sheldon;” “Big...
TV Q&A: Is a ‘Jeopardy!’ writer from Pittsburgh?
Q: There often seem to be questions related to Western Pennsylvania on “Jeopardy!” Are any of the writers from the Pittsburgh area? — Charlotte, North Huntingdon Rob: I’ve heard others wonder about this, too, so I asked Western Pa. native Jimmy McGuire, formerly a founding member of the “Jeopardy! Clue...
TV Talk: Predictable comedy prevents ‘The Hawk’ from soaringVideo
A year after Apple TV’s “Stick” and Netflix’s “Happy Gilmore 2,” golf still seems to be having a pop culture moment, although anyone who watches Netflix’s new Will Ferrell comedy series “The Hawk” may wonder why. Now streaming its 10-episode first season, Ferrell stars as Lonnie Hawkins, 2004’s No. 1...
TV Q&A: Where did WPXI’s Alyssa Raymond go?
Q: Did Alyssa Raymond leave WPXI? I do not see her in any promos. — Dolores, via email Rob: Raymond posted to Instagram on June 17 that her daughter “Aria is so proud to announce that her little sister is here and ready to take on the world with her.”...
TV Talk: Simon Cowell talks ‘AGT’ judging journeyVideo
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. Now in its 21st season, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m. Tuesday, WPXI) has become as much a part of some viewers’ summer habit as watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. For “AGT” judge...
TV Talk: Grittier ‘Little House’ crosses prairie on NetflixVideo
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. Netflix’s remake of the 1970s-80s NBC classic “Little House on the Prairie” hews closely to the original NBC pilot, but in the broader picture, this new iteration attempts to be more faithful to Laura Ingalls...
‘The Pitt’ leads all Emmy nominations with 25 — including drama, actor, supporting cast
Going into the 2026 Emmy nominations, the question wasn’t whether “The Pitt” would get a boatload of Emmy nods; it was how many nominations the ER drama would receive. Turns out the number is 25, almost double last year’s 13 nominations for the show’s freshman season. “The Pitt” received the...
TV Q&A: Following up on firings of Verszyla, Hunter; KDKA-TV’s new set
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Saturday Tribune-Review. Q: Why does Jeff Verszyla get fired so much? What seems to be his problem? — Elaine, via email Q: Any idea whether WTAE will hire...
TV Talk: Retired Steelers compete on ‘Family Feud;’ Apple slots locally filmed ‘Nocturne’
Two retired Pittsburgh Steelers will be among the AFC Champions team vying for a win on the 12th season premiere of ABC’s “Celebrity Family Feud” (8 p.m. Thursday, WTAE; streams the next day on Hulu). Mel Blount and Hines Ward will join fellow AFC champs Ray Lewis Jr., Terrell Suggs...
TV Talk: ‘Legally Blonde’ prequel follows ‘Elle’ to Seattle; ‘The Pitt’ adds castVideo
No question, the 2001 Reese Witherspoon feature film “Legally Blonde” was a hoot. But is that a world and a character you’d want to revisit on a weekly basis? Amazon’s Prime Video seems to think so, already ordering a second season of prequel series “Elle,” now streaming its entire eight-episode...
TV Q&A: What’s the vampire sitcom coming this fall?
Q: I saw a promo for a vampire sitcom coming this fall. Do you have any information on it? What station and when will it air? — Peter, via email Rob: In April CBS ordered “Eternally Yours” for its fall schedule, and the series has a Western Pa. connection. Altoona...
TV Talk: PBS’s ‘America Made in Virginia’ celebrates the U.S. at 250
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. PBS’s usual “A Capitol Fourth” concert and fireworks from Washington, D.C., moves up a day this year, airing on WQED-TV at 8 p.m. July 3 to make way for the Semiquincentennial special “America Made in...
TV Talk: Pittsburgh podcaster Tori Mistick lands QVC2 host jobVideo
Tori Mistick, who grew up in Squirrel Hill, is one of the newest hosts on QVC’s home shopping channels. Looking at her background now, it almost seems inevitable. Although she never accompanied her father, Joseph Sabino Mistick (who is a TribLive columnist), to the studio sets of shows he hosted...
TV Talk: Kristen Powers exits WTAE
Kristen Powers, who joined Channel 4 as 11 p.m. co-anchor in the summer of 2022, announced her departure from WTAE and the TV news business in a social media post this morning. Her last newscast will be tonight at 11. “After four years anchoring the evening news at WTAE, I’ve...
TV Talk: Meteorologist Jeff Verszyla out at WTAE
WTAE opted not to renew the contract of meteorologist Jeff Verszyla, and his last on-air appearance was the noon newscast on June 25. “No easy way to say it, so I’ll just get straight to the point,” Verszyla wrote on Facebook. “At 4:30 p.m. today, I was informed that my...
TV Talk: KDKA-TV latest CBS station to get augmented/virtual reality setVideo
During its 6 a.m. newscast today, KDKA-TV revealed the “big announcement” the station has been teasing in promos for the past week. KDKA will implement an “augmented reality/virtual reality” set in the station’s Studio A, something CBS has installed at many of its owned and operated TV stations already. Pittsburgh’s...
TV Q&A: What films locally after ‘Kingstown’? Where’s Erica Mokay been?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Saturday Tribune-Review. Q: Now that “Mayor of Kingstown” is ending its filming here in Pittsburgh, are there any plans or rumors for another show to film locally? —...
TV Talk: ‘The Pitt’ cast talks up series in FYC seasonVideo
March through mid-June is Emmy Awards “FYC” – For Your Consideration – season in Hollywood, as studios stage screenings and QAs for shows aspiring to collect Emmy nominations. Reigning champion “The Pitt” is no exception, but it has competition this year and by all rights, it should have more. When...
TV Talk: SportsNet Pittsburgh lets reporter Hailey Hunter go; FIFA World Cup ratings rise
SportsNet Pittsburgh let go of Penguins sideline reporter Hailey Hunter after three seasons. “We are grateful for all of Hailey’s contributions during her time at SportsNet Pittsburgh. We wish her the very best in her future endeavors,” reads a statement provided by SportsNet Pittsburgh. “We will soon begin a nationwide...
TV Talk: Pitt grad Jodie Turner-Smith stars in season 2 of ‘The Agency’Video
Sometimes learning what you dislike is as important as figuring out what you like. That was the experience of actress Jodie Turner-Smith (“Bad Monkey”) when she studied finance at the University of Pittsburgh. A native of England who emigrated to suburban Washington, D.C., as a child, Turner-Smith graduated from Pitt...
TV Q&A: Why so much ‘severe weather’ talk on local newscasts?
Q: What’s up with “SEVERE WEATHER” every five minutes during the local news? So nice to DVR the news so I can fast-forward through the weather after the first mention. — Ken, via email Rob: To some degree, this should be seasonal: Viewers are more likely to hear legitimate talk...
TV Talk: All-out war arrives in 3rd season of ‘House of the Dragon’Video
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week. A recent study by Ampere Analysis found that the wait between seasons of TV shows on streaming — especially sci-fi and fantasy series — has increased from an average of 10 months in 2016 to...
TV Talk: True crime meets Disney fandom in ‘Stolen Kingdom’Video
“Stolen Kingdom” may be a documentary about what goes on after dark at Disney Parks, but there’s no way it will ever stream on Disney+. A documentary about the history of urban exploration, trespassing, and theft at Walt Disney World in Florida, “Stolen Kingdom” recounts early pranks that led to...
TV Talk: WPXI, WTAE atop May sweeps ratings; KDKA reporter exitsVideo
Local newscast ratings from the May 2026 sweeps period show WTAE coming in first most often in households and WPXI winning the key demo, but all of the Big Three network affiliates in Pittsburgh saw their ratings drop year-to-year in most time periods. Not by a lot — often one-tenth...
TV Q&A: What will air on ’60 Minutes’ with so many correspondents gone?
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Saturday Tribune-Review. Q: With more than half of the “60 Minutes” correspondents fired or otherwise departed, what stories are they going to replay this summer? — Mark, Squirrel...
