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TV Q&A: How many sportscasters are on KDKA-TV?

Rob Owen
| Wednesday, June 19, 2024 12:00 a.m.
Courtesy of KDKA-TV
Bob Pompeani (from left), Josh Taylor and Richie Walsh are KDKA’s sportscasters.

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: How many sportscasters are there on KDKA-TV?

— Bill via email

Rob: Bob Pompeani and Richie Walsh are the full-time KDKA sports reporters/anchors, and freelancer Josh Taylor also contributes as needed — most often during the summer on Friday and Saturday nights.

Taylor joined KDKA in 2015, and he previously was the weekend sports anchor at KHBS/KHOG in Fayetteville, Ark. A Pittsburgh native who grew up in the Hill District, Taylor is a graduate of Duquesne University.

And the KDKA sports team will grow later this summer: Cassidy Wood, currently on WOWK-TV in Charleston-Huntington, W.Va., posted to social media that she’ll join the KDKA-TV sports team July 8. News director Shawn Hoder said she will likely be on air in August. A native of San Diego, Wood’s family is from Pittsburgh and Fairmont, W.Va. She is a graduate of Oregon State University.

Q: Will the Travel Channel’s “Urban Legend” series ever do a second season?

— Zach via email

Rob: Some networks have gotten unnecessarily squeamish about answering questions like this in a straightforward manner. Travel Channel would only say it has not announced another season of “Urban Legend” — and my sense is it likely never will.

Q: I’ve seen a commercial for Mighty Mendit starring Billy Mays air on HLN and UPtv several times. Considering Billy Mays died in 2009, isn’t it odd they’re airing this commercial again?

— Lin via email

Rob: In most cases it would be odd, but these ads have been running for more than a decade. The New York Times wrote about Mays’ commercial afterlife in 2009 following his death.

Q: Why do they, at times, have maybe one or two too many episodes in a series? For example, Hulu’s “Murder at the End of the World”: As good as it was, it went on for too long. “Safe” by mass writer/producer Harlen Coben is another. Yes, I know, it’s often more about money than it is creativity.

— Andy via Facebook

Rob: I 100% agree with you on “Murder at the End of the World.” I was already meh on it for all the time the show spent wallowing in its characters’ angst, but then that ending proved quite unsatisfying.

Andy’s correct that it’s often about money. More episodes means more content, which means more amortizing the cost over a longer period to bring down the per-episode price, which looks better to the bean counters. Also, sometimes it’s the creators who think they need as much time as they take — and they are often just wrong.

Q: I have what I call antenna TV. Do you know if there is a channel or show guide? I really just wing it, but it would be nice to know what programs are on at certain times.

— Laureen via Facebook

Rob: It’s a good question, but I am not aware of an over-the-air on-screen guide that’s available. I think Laureen’s best bet is probably broadcast listings at www.tvguide.com/listings. There are some devices, including non cable/satellite system-affiliated DVRs, that offer on-screen guides.


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