THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 7, 1995 TAG: 9502070035
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LARRY BONKO
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
LOCAL TV NEWS and notes to mull over while you wait for the weeklong ``Buncha Brady Mania'' to begin at 8 p.m. Sunday on Nick at Nite:
They could call it the news for early risers - Just because Fox affiliate WTVZ was sold recently to a Baltimore company for $48 million doesn't mean finis for Channel 33's plans to start a local nightly newscast at 10 p.m.
Speaking for the new owners, Steve Marx of the Sinclair Broadcast Group said he believes that early-to-bed, early-to-rise, blue-collar Hampton Roads is ready for a 10 p.m. local newscast. Sinclair is ``actively exploring'' the possibility of starting such a newscast, said Marx, who is due in Norfolk this week to pick up vibes.
Sinclair's stations in Baltimore (WBFF) and Raleigh, N.C., (WLFL) have solid ratings with 10 p.m. newscasts, said Marx. ``We know how to do a 10 o'clock newscast and how to do it successfully,'' he said.
Whenever it happens, let's hope it's a loose and lively newscast.
Marx also announced that WTVZ will operate without a general manager in Norfolk. He expects Channel 33 to continue its affiliation with Fox.
You didn't think WAVY was going to let WTKR get the edge, did you? - Just weeks after CBS affiliate WTKR announced that it was starting a daily 4:30 p.m. newscast with Tom Randles, NBC affiliate WAVY is also expanding local coverage. Channel 10 this month signs on Saturday mornings at 6:30 with a 90-minute local newscast anchored by Andy Fox, with Stan Verette aboard for sports and Jim Lawrence reporting on the weather.
NBC's Saturday morning ``Today'' broadcast will follow at 8 a.m.
Fox, the reporter turned politician - he twice ran for Congress and twice lost - turned reporter again, will continue as WAVY's ``Road Rebel.'' Viewers who call Fox at 397-4031 or send him e-mail on Internet (wavy10(AT)infi.net) with tips about dangerous intersections and the like will qualify for a Road Rebel T-shirt if Fox turns the tips into stories.
WAVY also announced that Steven Lattimore will replace the soon-to-be-departed Monique Braxton as Channel 10's Peninsula reporter.
Isn't downtown Norfolk just as photogenic as downtown Petersburg? - The Family Channel's movie special about growing up in the Lincoln White House was one of 11 major television and movie projects filmed in Virginia last year. ``Tad,'' which had its sneak preview in Richmond a few days ago, will premiere on cable this weekend.
It was shot in and around Petersburg and Richmond with Kris Kristofferson cast as Honest Abe. There could be a darn sight more than 11 TV and film projects produced in the state in 1995 if the hiring freeze in state government is lifted. The big chill in Richmond has kept Norfolk from having a film office of its own and laying out the red carpet to filmmakers.
The man or woman who runs the Norfolk office for an annual salary starting at $32,027 will be expected to promote Hampton Roads as Hollywood East, bring the communities here together to seek movie business and make life as comfortable as possible for the film crews on location.
That means everything from helping to make Sandbridge look like Malibu to arranging for Chinese take-out 24 hours a day.
Movie folks can be very demanding.
Don't look now, but WGNT is threatening to turn hip - Channel 27's locally-produced ``On Cue'' gets a new look and new time period this month. It airs Sundays at 11:30 a.m. with input from the folks at Port Folio Magazine and the radio station that bills itself as The Coast 93.7.
WGNT's Jeanne Pennington says ``On Cue'' will include live music in its mix of interviews, reviews of movies for rent and previews of upcoming events here. She calls it a heavy-hitting format. Gerald Walsh continues as host.
She promised to do it and she did - Seems like a local person turns up every other day on the nationally syndicated talk shows with a story of woe. The other day on Ricki Lake's talk show on WGNT, Michelle Bauman of Virginia Beach fulfilled her New Year's resolution - giving the boot to her boyfriend of 3 1/2 years, Tracey Hodge.
Remember when people did these things in private? by CNB