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: Does Stacy Smith do a commercial for Ozempic where he’s stepping off a small airplane with clipboard in hand?
— Susan, via email
Rob: I was 99.9% sure that is not something Stacy Smith would do – even in retirement! — but I wanted to check in with him anyway. He confirmed he is not the man in the commercial Susan describes.
But Smith, who retired from KDKA in May 2021, has a new endeavor: He’s launching two podcasts, one financial called “The Bulls, The Bears, and You” (with panelists Carrie Coghill, Frank Ruscetti, Kim Forrest and Michael Godwin) and another political, “Trunk N’ Tails” (with panelists Tom Corbett, Jim Burn, Keith Schmidt and Joe Mistick), named after the Republican elephant’s trunk and the Democratic donkey’s tail. Both are available on Spotify, Apple and other podcast platforms or via Smith’s website, ssaroundthetable.com.
Although that wasn’t Smith in the weight loss drug ad, another retired KDKA stalwart, Paul Martino, has gotten into the pitchman business.
“I’ve picked up some work doing something that I did as a young man: radio ads,” said Paul Martino. “I’ve done commercials for a political candidate (Nick Mastros), Aetna insurance, Berk’s men’s clothing and Nasco roofing. That led to a TV ad for Nasco. And yes, I climbed a ladder to show their beautiful roof! It’s a nice income to supplement my pension. And if any of your readers think I would be a good spokesperson for them, they can contact me on social media!”
Q: Are reporters Shelley Bortz and Alexandra Todd, who seemed to disappear when Ricky Sayer started, still working for KDKA?
— Joe, via email
Rob: Yes, both still work at KDKA. Bortz has taken some time off but is expected back in June. Perhaps Todd is working a different shift than the broadcasts Joe typically watches.
Q: I just finished your May 17 column listing the fall broadcast TV lineups starting in September. The May 16th season finale of “So Help Me Todd” (CBS Thursday at 9 p.m.) was a bit of a cliffhanger so, I’m disappointed to see it missing from the fall schedule and from midseason replacements. Has the show been canceled?
I was also surprised to see “Blue Bloods” listed for CBS on Fridays at 10 p.m. given that the series finale is May 17.
— Dennis, Murrysville
Rob: The May 17 “Blue Bloods” episode was not the series finale. It was essentially a midseason finale with the final finale slated for December.
I reported the cancellation of “Todd” in April.
Q: On “CBS Sunday Morning” a few weeks ago they were interviewing Tom Selleck. He implied his whole cast on “Blue Bloods” does not want this to be their last season and that CBS is foolish to not renew “Blue Bloods.” If that is true, why is CBS canceling “Blue Bloods” if it has high ratings?
— @prettybuddybird via X, formerly known as Twitter
Rob: Because the ratings are not that high.
Season-to-date among CBS’s 21 scripted series, “Blue Bloods” ranks No. 16 among advertiser-preferred viewers ages 18-49, an almost 16% decrease year-to-year. The show averages 5.3 million total linear viewers (No. 8 out of 21) weekly, a 10% decrease compared to last season.
The show’s age likely means it is more expensive than a new series will be (folks in TV like annual raises, too).
Q: Just read your article on the fall broadcast TV schedule. Noticeably absent was “NCIS: Sydney.” I heard it was renewed for season two. Any idea when it will air?
— J., via email
Rob: “NCIS: Sydney” was renewed but is not on CBS’s announced fall schedule and will likely air later in the 2024-25 TV season.
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.