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: What happened to “Fan N’Ation” on KDKA ? Has it been canceled, or will it eventually return? Their page on X/Twitter hasn’t been updated in a year and a half.
— Ryan via email
Rob: Sometimes I hear from readers who are upset I haven’t answered their question in a timely manner. Often it’s because the people who work in TV and can provide me with an answer to share are not responding or because there is no good answer to be had.
Ryan’s question came in last summer and I couldn’t get a definitive answer until now.
While the weekly 30-minute “Fan N’Ation” series is done, the show is coming back as a two-and-a-half-minute segment at the end of KDKA’s 6 p.m. Thursday newscast beginning Feb. 19.
“Fan N’Ation” premiered in 2020 with hosts Rich Walsh and Daisy Jade sharing stories of Pittsburgh’s sports fans and fan culture. They’re seeking story ideas for this revived iteration of the show via email at FanNation@kdka.com.
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Q: Big fan of the Muppets. I have the original “Muppet Show” on DVD and several of the movies.
I’ve always been disappointed that Disney bought up the Muppets and then they kind of disappeared. Maybe they had run their course. I think a big part of the problem is Disney . Some people have it, but a lot of people don’t and there are people like me who would never buy it. The only way the new “Muppet Show” is going to be a success is if it’s on network.
— Chuck, via email
Rob: Like Chuck, I’ve been a fan of the Muppets since childhood to the point that being the next Jim Henson is my earliest memory of a career aspiration at age 7 (followed by morphing into a Tom Brokaw wannabe at 10, Steven Spielberg wannabe at 14 and finally wanting a job like Matt Roush, TV Guide’s TV critic, by my senior year of high school).
Chuck’s right that Disney has often mishandled The Muppets, something I alluded to in a recent column sizing up the quality Muppet productions relative to the stinkers. But I disagree on the how and why.
If it was just Disney — and yes, there have been Muppets misfires on the streaming service, most notably “Muppets Now” and “Muppets Mayhem” — then there wouldn’t also be a string of creatively unsuccessful Muppet projects pre-dating the 2019 launch of Disney that go back to when Disney bought the Muppets in 2004.
To me the biggest issue with the Muppets in the Disney era is one Disney could not control: The premature death of Muppets creator Jim Henson, at age 53 in 1990, dealt the franchise an enormous blow. He’s the one who had the vision for the characters and the franchise. Since Henson’s death, I suspect there have been too many cooks in the kitchen and not all of them can tap into their inner Jim Henson.
But credit Seth Rogen with successfully doing just that with the one-time special “Muppet Show” that debuted earlier this month simultaneously on ABC and Disney . If more episodes get ordered, my guess is this new “Muppet Show” would continue to debut episodes at the same time on linear TV and streaming, just as ABC’s “American Idol” will being airing and streaming simultaneously on March 30th.
Q: Do you know if they are only looking for young people for the “Mayor of Kingstown” extras?
— Vincent via email
Rob: Nope, “Kingstown” needs extrasof all ages and ethnicities to play town locals, SWAT/cops/FBI, prison guards, gang members, inmates and diner/bar patrons as “Kingstown” films its fifth and final season locally March through June.
Pay is $250 for 12 hours guaranteed, with overtime if shoot goes over 12 hours. No experience necessary. Apply at movieextraspittsburgh.com.