TV Q&A: Why do TV news anchors hold tablets during newscasts?

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: I noticed years ago that the anchors on WTAE-TV were holding computer tablets in their hands. I remember one of the anchors dropped it on the floor on TV. They often hold the tablet to their chest, but they don’t look at them. And now I noticed that KDKA-TV and WPXI-TV started doing it. They’re copying what Channel 4 was doing. I’ve questioned that a couple of times from the news stations and they tell me they look at them for the news. Well, they don’t. It doesn’t look like they look at them. It looks like they just hold them. Can you clarify why they hold the tablets in their hands and do not look at them?

— James, via voicemail

Rob: This is not the first time I’ve heard from viewers confused by news anchors holding tablets.

Pre-tablets, anchors had scripts on paper on the anchor desk. Now the scripts are on the tablets.

Just as anchors rarely looked down at the paper scripts, they rarely look down at the scripts on tablets. As with the paper scripts, the scripts on tablets are there for backup in case the TelePrompTer fails. Most of the time anchors read scripts off the TelePrompTer, which is part of the studio camera, which makes it look like the anchors are looking directly at viewers.

Q: Since the introduction of streaming services and DVDs going by the wayside, I was wondering if there is any place you can see deleted scenes from movies or TV shows? I’ve always enjoyed watching them as well as the commentary that could be included as well.

— Christa, Mount Pleasant

Rob: Occasionally you might see something like a DVD extra on a streaming service, but sadly these extras are going the way of DVDs. Though, it should be said that streaming services not living up to their initial promise of keeping shows on their platforms forever has renewed interest in DVDs among some media consumers and collectors. SHOUT! Factory in particular continues to release DVDs of series even as the company also moves into streaming some titles as well.

Q: I see Hallmark Channel is rerunning Lori Loughlin’s “Garage Sale Mystery” series. Is it safe to say enough time has passed since her incarceration and legal troubles from the college scandal to consider her as part of the brand? Do you think they will bring her back to star again in a series?

— Beth, McCandless

Rob: Perhaps some day, but for now she seems to have been thrown in with Hallmark rival Great American Family where she’s making a second Christmas movie.

Loughlin stars in “A Christmas Blessing” premiering at 8 p.m. Nov. 12 on GAF.

Q: I really like shows that have simultaneous plots going in different time periods like “Yellowjackets” and “Cruel Summer.” Is there a name for such a format? Is this a new invention?

— Becky, Scott Township

Rob: TV used to be pretty linear but over the past 20 years TV shows have become more willing to take risks with non-linear storytelling (see also: “This is Us,” “Better Call Saul,” “Ordinary Joe”). ABC’s “Lost” in 2004 was perhaps the test case that proved viewers would stick with shows that time hop and not get confused.

There is no official or unofficial name for these shows that I know of but maybe something like “time trippers” or “time hoppers” fits.