Q: I enjoy watching Channel 11 News. Just curious, is Rachel Pierce, the reporter, related to Rich Pierce, the news anchor? Or is either of them related to the Pittsburgh lawyer with the same last name whose ads are on TV?
— Kay, via email
Rob: When Rachel Pierce arrived at WPXI last year, I quickly reported that she and Rich Pierce are not related because I knew I would get that question. Neither one is related to the lawyer Robert Peirce, as his name is spelled differently.
Q: Has “Sherlock and Daughter” been renewed or canceled yet?
— Jack, via email
Rob: The CW drama is in limbo: Neither renewed nor canceled. The ratings were pretty decent for season one, at least relative to other CW series, so I’m surprised it’s yet to be renewed.
Q: Conan O’Brien as Oscars host? Really? You and others lauded his performance. I had watched the Oscars for years and seen many hosts from Johnny Carson (great) to Jack Lemmon (horrible). Conan’s a funny guy (sometimes) but has no presence or, an old term, “gravitas.” Who is the Academy trying to attract to the show when there are no stars or blockbusters?
— Jon, Pittsburgh
Rob: The Academy is chasing young viewers, just like almost all platforms. It’s why they’re moving the Oscars from ABC to YouTube in 2029.
Conan O’Brien may be Gen X, but he has a comedic sensibility that appeals to younger audiences as well. “Gravitas” is the furthest attribute from what the Academy is seeking from a host, particularly when viewers haven’t seen the films. The Academy wants to give viewers a reason to tune in, and comedy seems like a safe bet.
Q: Whatever happened to the “Black Sheep Squadron” television series from the ’70s? My father and I used to watch it since he was a Marine veteran who served in the South Pacific and knew a lot about Greg Pappy Boyington. Are there any reruns available anywhere?
— Ken, Wexford
Rob: That 1976-77 series, which also went by the title “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” is not available to stream, per JustWatch.com. And a search of TVGuide.com listings suggests it also does not air on broadcast TV.
What happened to it? Well, it only ran two seasons, which means it wasn’t very successful and shows like that tend not to show up in syndication as often as more successful programs.
While it is possible the show could turn up on some digital subchannel or a streaming channel on a platform like Tubi, Roku or Pluto TV – looks like it aired 10 years ago on Heroes & Icons Channel — at the moment, the best way I could find to watch “Black Sheep Squadron” is to buy the DVDs.