THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 29, 1996 TAG: 9604270065
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
LOCAL TV NEWS and views to consider while waiting for Jessica Fletcher to solve her 264th and last case on ``Murder, She Wrote'':
It's hello and good morning from Norfolk - In early June, ABC's ``Good Morning America'' is scheduled to salute the Little Theater of Norfolk for staging more than 300 plays in 70 years.
With only 224 seats, it's the coziest of theaters.
Capt. John Smith was the first tourist - While we're on the subject of ``Good Morning America,'' let's make note of the fact that GMA weather reporter Spencer Christian will narrate a local special to premiere on WHRO May 13 at 10:30 p.m.
The PBS outlet, which found a large audience for local nostalgia with two hour-long shows about Hampton Roads in the 1940s and 1950s, again goes back in time - way back - for ``Fortunate Vision,'' the history of Newport News. Watch and learn how the city got its unusual name, how Newport News and Hampton were almost one and how the city outlived its for-whites-only segregated past.
Try to figure out what the title, ``Fortunate Vision,'' means.
Christian, a Peninsula native, hurries his narration. It sounds like he's rushing to catch a ride to the airport. The special repeats May 24 at 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. on May 25.
Other local programming from WHRO in May: a festival of films from students at Regent U. in Virginia Beach. The films range in length from two to 55 minutes. They will be seen May 13 through May 17 at 11:30 p.m. and in one block on May 18 at 10 p.m.
That's using your head, Greg - I was relieved to see WTKR weather guy Greg Padgett come down off the roof and into the studio during severe weather last week. There was rain and hail and lightning.
I didn't want to see Padgett become a human lightning rod. I wish he were in the studio to stay. The novelty of Channel 3's rooftop forecasts wore off long ago.
May I suggest a course in mastering the use of the VCR? - Brian Baker and Shirley Elder are among readers to call and ask if I taped the two-hour ``Murder One'' special last Monday - the two hours which delivered the verdict in a trial that took 21 episodes to unfold.
Baker and Elder said they botched the taping and would like to see those two hours. Sorry, guys. I did not tape the two-hour special, but I do have the final, climactic hour of ``Murder One'' (it aired Tuesday night) on tape and would be happy to share it with readers.
I thought the conclusion of what had been an innovative ``Murder One'' for 21 weeks was rushed a bit. It ended like your average cop show. (What did you think of the finale? Let me know by calling Infoline 640-5555, press 2486).
I already heard from Tony Wilkerson who said he was completely caught up in ``Murder One'' from start to finish. Were you? Do you care if it returns in the fall?
When seconds count - It was 11:08 p.m. the other night when WTKR co-anchor LeAnne Rains reported on the collision of Oceana-based F-18 Navy fighters over the Atlantic. She said the names of the pilots had not been released.
Really? Minutes earlier on WVEC, Terry Zahn identified the fliers who bravely brought their heavily-damaged jets back to Oceana without crashing into anyone or anything. WVEC also had news-hawk tape of one of the crippled F-18s coming home on a wing and prayer, jet fuel leaking all over the place.
Local TV news at its best.
Complaint department - On the other hand, Chis Astal, a reader in Newport News, says he's upset to see WVEC weather reporters popping up once an hour on The Weather Channel with local forecasts.
Who wants that, asks Astal?
``I resent the intrusion,'' he said. Astal maintains that you can't improve on TWC, so why try? He's right. WVEC does appear to be pushing itself on cable subscribers. by CNB