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.

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Q: A few years back there was a home improvement TV show that featured a Pittsburgh woman. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the show name, her name, or even which network it was on. Do you recall the program and is it still on TV?

— Louis via email

Rob: I think Louis is thinking of HGTV’s “Restored by the Fords” featuring Pittsburgh siblings Leanne Ford and Steve Ford.

It has been a while since new episodes aired – season two premiered in spring 2019.

In an email, Ford said she took some time off to care for her daughter and then covid-19 also delayed a return to production.

They’re now filming a new season — production resumed July 6 — and Ford said, “Happy to report we will be coming back to HGTV soon!”

Q: Any statistics on “Dancing with the Stars” ratings so far this season with the departure of Tom and Erin? I’m not watching, just curious if all the other people who said they weren’t going to either are.

— Nancy via Facebook

Rob: Through its Sept. 29th episode, ratings for “DWTS” were up compared to a year earlier.

Part of the reason ABC fired hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews and installed a single host in Tyra Banks was to try to draw more young viewers. Through its third episode of the new season, ratings in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demo are up almost 36 percent and total viewers are up 4%.

Now the question is, how much of that increase in audience was due to Banks and how much was rubbernecking to see “Tiger King” star Carole Baskin, who got voted out last week? Ratings in the weeks ahead will answer that question.

Q: “Chicago P.D.” is my favorite show. Why have they killed off so many people? It really cut the cast down.

— Jack via Facebook

Rob: Usually when TV series kill off characters it’s because the actor wants out to pursue other opportunities, for a creative reason (to show the impact on remaining characters, because the writers ran out of storylines for the character, etc.) or it can be an economic reason.

The longer an actor stays on a show, their salary typically goes up every year so that actor becomes more expensive. If producers need to cut the budget, they may consider killing off a character.

“Chicago P.D.” returns for a new season at 10 p.m. Nov. 11.

Q: When certain movies seem to be run on television over and over again like the 1987 movie “Overboard” is it because they are now in the public domain so it is free for them to be broadcast?

-Rebecca, Scott Township

Rob: No. Copyrights endure longer than 33 years.

My best guess is that it’s all about money. It seems likely that older films such as “Overboard,” released in 1987, are cheaper to program than more recent films. And perhaps it also draws better ratings than other films from the same era.

Ask TV questions by e-mailing rowen@TribLive.com. Please include your first name and location.

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