Q: Does “Tracker” on Sunday evenings on CBS seem to have “darker” stories this year? Colter Shaw is having help from another official or his brother. And Reenie had a male escort in the Nov. 30 episode. That seems out of character. And Reenie lied to Colter that she was in New York with her mother! Your thoughts?

— Elaine, Mt. Lebanon

Rob: Executive producer Elwood Reid replied to Elaine’s inquiry, saying, “We like to have real stakes as often as possible, and we are trying to understand some of what drives Colter. In my opinion, what makes Colter so appealing is that he wades into extreme situations each week, whether it’s lost teens in the woods or the call of an old friend. He goes where the clues take him and, yes, that can be dark.

“Russell Shaw is part of Colter’s world and when Jensen Ackles is available, we build story around him,” Reid continued. “I also think he’s essential to Colter solving the mystery of his past.”

Reid said Reenie was not with a male escort.

“Yes, Reenie had a one-night stand, but we will be seeing that character again,” he explained via email. “Reenie is still coping with the tragedy she experienced during season two. She was nearly killed. Her boyfriend was shot. She’s a very confident lawyer and always tries to put on a brave face, but there are real costs to what has happened to her. Reenie is ‘covering’ and trying to maintain the perfect in-control veneer. It will of course yield some great story as we see her try to juggle her personal and professional life.”

“Tracker” returns with new episodes at 9 p.m. March 1.

Q: Is Fox’s “Crime Scene Kitchen” returning, and, if so, when?

— Peter via Facebook

Rob: This show is in limbo. Not yet renewed but not canceled either. That’s not an unusual status for reality competitions. And even those that do get canceled can be revived years later (see: the return of “Fear Factor” on Fox earlier this month).

 

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Q: Is reality TV spontaneous or planned out? On those “Real Housewives” shows, for example, do they really film what’s happening or do the producers tell the women, “Hey, you two fight with each other. And you other two, be besties, etc.”?

— Katie, Scott Township

Rob: This is a tough one because I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all answer, especially when you consider all the different styles of reality TV. A “Real Housewives” is not going to be produced the same way, say, “Deadliest Catch,” is produced.

So let’s narrow it down to “Real Housewives”-style shows. I’ve never been on the set of one of those shows so consider this merely informed speculation. My sense is producers may suggest and even plan out the situations — “You all go bowling” — but the dynamics of the relationships that develop are more real to the extent that the participants know what makes good drama (and therefore might purposefully go more over-the-top than they otherwise would). I don’t think producers necessarily script the interpersonal dynamics.

Q: Whatever became of Channel 11 reporter Antoinette DelBel?

— Sam, Dormont

Rob: We reported in June on DelBel’s departure from WPXI. According to her Facebook page, DelBel is now a reporter at WPEC, the CBS affiliate in West Palm Beach, Fla., where she’s listed on the station’s website.