TV Q&A: Is Discovery's 'Alaskan Bush People' real?

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: Can you please clear something up for me: On Discovery Channel is the “Alaskan Bush People” for real or are they just actors who are placed there to make the show? Do they really live out there? I really dont think so.

-Skip, Bethel Park

Rob: They are not actors. They are members of a real family and a Discovery representative insists the Browns live off the grid but some coverage questions how much time they really spend in the wild.

Q: Not sure if you have reported on this but will “The Last Alaskans” be coming back? Enjoy watching this program but it seems to be rerun after reruns lately.

-Fred, Butler

Rob: My understanding is as of now Discovery Channel has no plans to produce new episodes of “The Last Alaskans.”

Q: Is “Manifest” coming back or is it canceled ?

-Mark, Pittsburgh

Rob: Production began last week on season three of “Manifest.” It’s expected to air in 2021.

Q: Is “Ray Donovan” coming back next year?

-Robert via Facebook

Rob: Showrunner David Hollander, a Mt. Lebanon native, has teased the possibility of more “Ray Donovan” since the show’s surprise cancellation by Showtime in February. But so far there’s been no announcement of how or where the show might continue.

Q: Will “Star Trek: Discovery” or one of those others (“Picard,” etc.) be on regular TV this fall?

-John via email

Rob: Season one of “Star Trek: Discovery,” executive produced by Franklin Park native Gretchen Berg and her writing partner Aaron Harberts, airs at 10 p.m. Thursdays on CBS. That’s the only “Trek” series CBS is borrowing from streaming service CBS All Access.

Season three of “Discovery” launches Oct. 15 on CBS All Access.

Q: Will WGN America no longer produce original series now that they have their own national news channel to compete with Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, etc. in prime time?

-Joe via email

Rob: WGN America hasn’t produced its own shows since canceling “Underground” and filmed-in-Pittsburgh “Outsiders” in 2017 amidst a since-aborted sale to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Since then WGN America has acquired series, mainly Canadian, and aired those but with the switch to a news format, it’s the end of original scripted series in prime time on the channel.

Q: I see where WPNT has taken True Crime Files off their schedule completely. Has the show been canceled?

-Lucas via email

Rob: “True Crime Files” was a compilation of previously aired programming from cable’s Investigation Discovery. WPNT no longer has a contract to air the show, so essentially it has been canceled locally.