Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions every Wednesday at TribLive.com in a column that also appears in the Sunday Tribune-Review.
Q: What happened to Gordon Loesch on WPXI-TV? I’ve noticed he is no longer on as the morning anchor.
— Dave, via Facebook
Rob: Loesch posted to Facebook that he was on vacation in early July and then filling in on the evening newscasts in mid-July.
Q: If a new sports anchor will be starting at KDKA-TV soon, does that mean somebody is leaving? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen KDKA — or any local news station — keep four sports anchors.
— Chad, via email
Rob: Cassidy Wood will indeed start on-air as a KDKA-TV sports reporter in the weeks ahead and I reported earlier this month that Josh Taylor is filling in as a news anchor.
Per KDKA news director Shawn Hoder, “We are upping our coverage during Steelers (season) but also using Josh in news. He was on the air with news (July 16) and did a great first day. For the time being, you will see him putting his hand in for both.”
My guess is the ultimate plan may be for Taylor to move into a news role permanently.
Q: Is KDKA ever bringing back their extra effort award or is it retired for good?
— Xavier, via email
Rob: My understanding is due to time constraints the station is no longer going to produce those segments. But they are currently considering other ideas to recognize the work of high school student-athletes.
Q: It seems that some of the local TV stations are going overboard with what seems every day is an action or alert day. Or is it just me?
— Walter, Monroeville
Rob: I mean, there have been more tornadoes – and conditions that might spawn tornadoes – in Western Pennsylvania this summer than usual. But TV news does have a tendency to take an urgent-sounding concept and run it into the ground (see also: “breaking news” post-9/11).
Q: Is Steve Mears, who does the Penguins, related to Hannah Mears, who does the Pirates?
— Ken, via email
Rob: I’m told they are not related. Mears left SportsNet Pittsburgh last fall and was recently named play-by-play voice for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.
Q: I heard earlier in the year about a new show featuring Tim Allen, “Shifting Gears.” Do you know if it was picked up for the fall schedule? I don’t see it anywhere.
— Chad, via email
Rob: “Shifting Gears” filmed a pilot episode earlier this year and remains in contention but ABC has yet to make a decision on whether the show will be ordered to series. “Shifting Gears” is not on ABC’s fall schedule.
Q: When will new episodes of “Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch” air on Discovery Channel?
— Dan, via email
Rob: My understanding is new episodes will debut later this year but Discovery did not provide a time frame for when that might happen.
You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow @RobOwenTV on Threads, X, Bluesky and Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.