Submit your question to Rob Owen

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "True Blood," "The Jeff Dunham Show" and Ben Roethlisberger coverage. As always, thanks for reading, and keep the questions coming.

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

Q: Last year the History Channel ran a series called "Expedition Africa." Will there be a similar show this summer?

-- Linda, 46, Cecil

Rob: "Expedition Africa," which I also enjoyed, was not renewed but a History publicist made note of two new series:

"Chasing Mummies" (10 p.m. July 14) follows legendary archeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass "as he pursues one of the most challenging and exciting jobs in the world: discovering new archeological finds while managing 250 digs throughout Egypt."

There's also "Stan Lee's Superhumans": "Throughout history, humans have evolved through genetic "mistakes" that produced physical changes and abilities which advanced our species over time. It's a process that's still happening today as viewers will discover in the fascinating world of the legendary 'Stan Lee's Superhumans.'"

I'm not sure either of those offer what you're looking for, but there you have it.

Q: Is it just coincidence? The fact that a picture of Anna Paquin of "True Blood" appeared on your article while the New York Times crossword puzzle asks in 6 down "True Blood actress?"

-- Tom, 60, Mt. Lebanon

Rob: It's a coincidence in the sense that I was not colluding with the New York Times but it's not a coincidence because it makes sense that news outlets would publish references to "True Blood" the Friday before its season premiere.

Q: Did they cancel "The Jeff Dunham Show" on Comedy Central or is it coming back for another season? Also, are they replacing Jon Greiner at WTAE? The weekend morning show on WTAE is not so great anymore because of the revolving door on meteorologists on the show. What's going on there?

-- Joe, 24, East McKeesport

Rob: As for the morning weather folks, it's simple: V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N. It's summer and people traditionally take time off. I also noticed a fill-in on KDKA Sunday night.

WTAE news director says the station is "recruiting for an open reporter position," which would be the Greiner slot.

And, yes, Comedy Central canceled "The Jeff Dunham Show" but he'll continue making specials for the channel.

Q: I was just watching the most recent episode of "Drop Dead Diva" and in the final scene they show the exterior of a bar where the characters are celebrating a birthday. While the show is set in California it was a picture of the 1902 Tavern in Market Square (you could see the edge of Nicholas Coffee to the right). Do production companies often use stock footage like this?

-- Janice, 46, Mt. Washington

Rob: Yes, they do. We've seen this before with Pittsburgh locations, including the former Nick's Fat City on the South Side.

Q: The past couple days we've been bombarded with information about Ben Roethlisberger's television interviews on WTAE-TV and KDKA-TV.

Some people may think that was big news.

I don't.

I think the story might have been why he would not grant an interview to WPXI-TV.

What do you think?

-- Bill, Cranberry

Rob: I tried to get in touch with WPXI news director Mike Goldrick for last week's TV Q&A about the Channel 11 snub but I did not hear back from him by deadline. Turns out he was out of town.

Monday morning we chatted and he said he had not talked to anyone from the Steelers organization although members of his staff had. I asked him about rumors that WPXI was shut out as punishment for past coverage.

"I've heard some of those rumors. I don't know," he said. "From what I've heard the Steelers have been pretty squishy about why we didn't get that interview. Every time we called them there was a different reason. I don't know if they have their stories straight yet."

Later in the week, after discussing what happened with managers who were at the station last week, Goldrick sent this statement from WPXI general manager Ray Carter: "We were surprised and disappointed to find out that Channel 11 was excluded from the interview process. Our reporting on this story has been the most comprehensive of any of the TV stations and we will continue to report in that manner."

Ultimately, the Roethlisberger "get" (or lack thereof) may not mean much.

Last Wednesday when WTAE aired the first interview segments, KDKA was still No. 1 in households and viewers 25-54 at 5 and 6 p.m. No. 2 WTAE got some lift on Wednesday at 5 p.m. putting the station six-tenths of a ratings point ahead of WPXI. But by Thursday when Channel 4 aired the full interview, WTAE was just one-tenth of a household ratings point ahead of WPXI and came in third behind KDKA and WPXI in the demo.

KDKA's airing of the Roethlisberger interview Thursday and Friday gave the station a small Thursday boost at 6 p.m. in households (an 8.1 household rating Wednesday to a 8.4 Thursday and down to a 7.8 Friday) but not the demo (a 3.1 Wednesday dropped to a 3.0 Thursday and to a 2.7 Friday). Maybe Pittsburgh really is over Big Ben.

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