THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 25, 1995 TAG: 9510250062
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
LOCAL TV NEWS and views to ponder while you wait for the revival of ``The Munsters'' on Fox Halloween night:
I can't believe he's giving up the wonderful world of mulch for TV - Tal White, who had been working part time as a weather reporter on WTKR while sweating full time at the family nursery (White's Old Mill Garden Center) in Chesapeake, ends his double life soon.
The 32-year-old White landed a full-time job in Richmond at NBC affiliate WWBT on the morning shift.
In the wake of the major makeover of Channel 3's local news, you can't tell the weather guys without a program. Gone is White (voluntarily) and Carol Novotny Horton (contract not renewed). Arriving is Greg Padgett from Augusta, Ga., and Pete Grigsby from Evansville, Ind.
Poor Greg. He has no life on the weekends. He starts work at 6 a.m. while finishing up after 11 p.m. Grigsby is up early, too, on weekdays. He's also on at noon.
Any time slot is better than 5:30 a.m. - Even before Padgett and his colleagues on WTKR's local Saturday morning newscast start work, the station at 5:30 a.m. airs ``Coast Guard,'' a series from Tam Communications of San Jose, Calif. It has plenty of footage of rescues on the high seas.
This is a pretty good show that deserves a better time slot, and a better time slot it has starting now. WTKR will also air ``Coast Guard'' Sundays at 12:30 p.m.
Coming up this week is the story of how a Coast Guard helicopter crew from Elizabeth City, N.C., in 1993 plucked an injured crewman off the 40-foot long sailboat Hawk in rough weather.
``Coast Guard'' was on the scene earlier this summer for the annual pony swim and auction on Chincoteague. It starts when the Coast Guard uncorks a red flare.
We get letters; we get letters - Reacting to the news that WVEC will produce a 10 p.m. local newscast on WPEN in competition with WTKR's early news on WGNT, Thelma K. Jones in Norfolk writes, ``Has everyone gone crazy with this local TV news thing? I like to watch local TV news, but I don't want an avalanche of talking heads. The same news repeats over and over on TV. I bought my TV for entertainment. I don't want to watch news day and night.''
That's mighty generous of you, Jake - Jake Steinfeld, who starred on The Family Channel sitcom ``Big Brother Jake,'' and now appears on Fit TV (formerly the Cable Health Club), recently endowed Regent University's College of Communications in Virginia Beach with $50,000.
The grant will go to students who produce films ``that celebrate the joy of families,'' said Regent U. president Terry Lindvall. Steinfeld created a fitness program called Body by Jake. Now it's Scholarship by Jake.
Name dropping - Keela Boose, a writer and publisher in Norfolk, is scheduled to appear today at 4 p.m. on the Montel Williams talk show. The subject: ``Black and White Women Talk About Racism.'' WAVY airs the show. . . Getaway Sweepstakes.'' All it took was a postcard mailed to host, wild man Gilbert Gottfried. Smith picked seven days in Alaska over a week in the Bahamas. . . . Robert E. Streater III is the host and executive producer of MVE, which is short for ``Music Video Encouragement.'' It's a locally produced show on WVBT Sunday at 11 p.m. in which uplifting and inspirational music videos are featured. Streater says he'll use MVE as a showcase for local talent. Call 1-804-245-9239 to learn about auditioning. by CNB