TV Q&A: Why so few episodes of ‘This is Us’ this season?

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: Why did NBC only broadcast two weeks of “This is Us” and “The Blacklist” and then they are not going to broadcast again until January? Why not just wait so there is no break for the viewers?

— Linda, Munhall

Rob: Broadcast schedules are more unusual than normal this year due to the global pandemic that resulted in shows slowly ramping up production in September instead of their usual July start.

“This is Us” aired four episodes so far this season, including two the week it returned. (The show was originally going to return Nov. 10 but aired earlier in late October because producers wanted the episodes seen prior to the election.)

It takes up to eight days to film each one-hour episode. With the late production start shows need time to make additional episodes. New “This is Us” episodes are back on Jan. 5, an earlier-than-usual return date for the show in the new year.

As for “The Blacklist,” it’s a similar story. The show got a late production start due to the pandemic but NBC wanted to get two episodes on the air sooner rather than later. “The Blacklist” returns with new episodes on Jan. 22.

Q: What has happened to all of the various “A Christmas Carol” movies made over the years? Like the Susan Lucci version where she runs a department store (1995’s “Ebbie”), the Vanessa Williams one where she plays a music diva (2000’s “A Diva’s Christmas Carol”)? I remember Cicely Tyson did one years ago with Katherine Helmond (1997’s “Ms. Scrooge”).

— Lyn via Facebook

Rob: Most made-for-TV movies do not re-air in perpetuity especially when there are more than 100 filmed versions of the same story available and it continues to be re-made (see: FX’s 2019 “A Christmas Carol”).

A search of JustWatch.com shows “Ebbie” is available via Amazon Prime Video and fubo.TV. “A Diva’s Christmas Carol” did not come up at JustWatch.com or in a search of TV listings at the time I looked. “Ms. Scrooge” is on fubo.TV.

Q: Since we’re all stuck at home, why doesn’t WQED-TV re-air some of those great archival programs of the Met Opera, symphonies and ballets?

— Anna Maria, Natrona Heights

Rob: WQED-TV confirmed PBS programs such as “Great Performances” and “American Masters” that carry operas, ballet and Broadway specials are part of the PBS common carriage schedule and unavailable for individual airings by each station independently. It’s likely that, especially when music rights are involved, PBS gets a certain number of runs and that’s it unless they want to pay additional license fees.

WQED-TV turned its efforts more toward education in the pandemic while WQED-FM is broadcasting local concerts from years past throughout December.

WQED-TV has partnered with Pittsburgh CLO to broadcast “A Musical Christmas Carol,” recorded at the Byham Theater in 2018, at 9 p.m. Dec. 18 and 24 and at 1 p.m. Dec. 27. It’s also available online at wqed.org/clochristmas through Dec. 31.

Q: Is Wil Willis going to return to “Forged in Fire” on History? The show just is not the same without him!

— Sherry, Murrysville

Rob: It doesn’t sound like it. History released this statement on the recasting of the show’s host: “As with any legacy series that has had the privilege of being on the air for five-plus years, fans will notice new names and faces from time to time. While we appreciate Wil Willis and everything he brought to the series we are excited to start this new chapter and welcome Grady Powell into the ‘forge’ as our new host.”

History did not provide a reason for the change in host but it can usually be chalked up to a creative choice or something financial, whether that’s a desire to improve ratings or cut costs by hiring someone at a lower rate.