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 am really enjoying the show “Tracker” with Justin Hartley and when I was watching the show this past week, he skydived into a remote area. I was wondering if he actually did that and has he been doing lots of the other stunts on this show? I am also really enjoying all the scenery in this show.
— Mary, Penn Hills
Rob: CBS publicists for “Tracker” did not respond to my query, perhaps because they did not want to break the illusion that Hartley does his own stunts. While he likely does some of the stunt work, he surely has a stunt double for this practical reason: Stars do not have as extensive stunt training as stunt actors and if the star of a show gets hurt, the show cannot go on. Stunt doubles are used so actors can concentrate on their primary job: acting.
For the skydiving scene, if it was even new footage and not stock footage of a skydiver, that was likely not Hartley making the jump. FYI: “Tracker” films in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.
Q: I set my DVR for Sunday, April 28 at 11 p.m. as WQED was promoting a special on the true events and people involved in the legal battles against the British post office featured in the dramatic series “Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office.” It was not shown as promoted. Do you know if there will be a showing of the promised telecast? “The Mr. Bates” series on “Masterpiece” was an atrocity by the British government and how the postal subcontractors financially suffered and were embarrassed at the British government’s hands.
— Elaine, Mt. Lebanon
Rob: Turns out the documentary, an intended companion program to the “Masterpiece” dramatic series, was never on WQED-TV’s schedule. PBS embedded a promo for the documentary in the “Masterpiece” episode, which led to Elaine’s confusion.
Kudos to WQED for being responsive and finding a time to air “The Real Story of Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office.” The program will air at 8 p.m. May 19 in place of a “Lucy Worsley Investigates” repeat telecast. “The Real Story of Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office” is also available for streaming on the PBS app for those who have PBS Passport and on the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel.
Q: Do I have any recourse? After a long chat with a Verizon customer service rep April 9, I opted for a slightly pricier cable package and overdue router and DVR box replacement for $200.07 monthly, confirmed by email. A nice technician came April 11 and handled the switch. I later received an email that my new bill would be $217.91. I called Verizon and was told the rep had given me an incorrect, recently outdated price and nothing could be done. Not even a supervisor could change it. Thoughts?
— Barbara, Castle Shannon
Rob: Barbara sent me both the email showing the $200.07 price she was quoted and the second bill for $217.91. It seems like bait and switch to me. Verizon should honor the original quoted price. I sent Barbara’s concern to Verizon spokeswoman Caroline Brooks asking for comment. Brooks did not respond but evidently did share Barbara’s concern with someone on the Verizon Executive Relations Team, who was very helpful in untangling the issue (Barbara was mistakenly assigned the pricier package). In the end her new cost is $202.13, which she’s satisfied with. I still think Verizon owes her $2.06 per month credit for the difference between what she was quoted and agreed to and what will be on her new bill going forward.
“I thought about fighting for that $2 but took my small victory and quit,” Barbara wrote back to me. “Lesson here is — check the name of the pkg. you requested and the one you received. And then be prepared for multiple emails or phone calls.”
Q: Sometime in March, SportsNet Pittsburgh was no longer available with no change notice or warning from Verizon. I initially decided to dump FiOS and cut the cord and go internet only. I was doing some research and thought Comcast had a package that would include SportsNet. I even called Comcast to verify the package advertised included SportsNet and I was assured “yes, it does” multiple times. I set up the install and the first channel I check after installation is SNP. Surprise, no SNP, not part of the package. Naturally, I’m angry and frustrated. I called Comcast and really got nowhere except some regional manager called me back and indicated nothing could be done or I could cancel my service. The manager did indicate he would make a note to provide better training for the sales folks. I really feel like it was a “bait and switch” tactic. For now, I upgraded my service to include SNP, which is almost the same price Verizon was. I’m leaning toward pulling the cord and going internet-only but need to do some research on the best options.
— Brian, via email
Rob: Another apparent bait and switch, this time by Comcast. These companies really should know better. But there is some good news for Brian that might make the decision to cut the cord easier: SNP is now available as a stand-alone, subscription streaming app for $18 per month.
And kudos to Comcast for doing the right thing. After I shared Brian’s concern with a Comcast spokeswoman, a company rep reached out and offered Brian a substantial monthly credit that he found satisfying.
You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow @RobOwenTV on Threads, X, Bluesky and Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.
