Media Release

March 16, 2006

Media Contacts:

Kim Greason

Video Production Specialist

MetroBeat TV:  The Missing Local Link

             When many of us were growing up, watching TV meant watching our friends on a local television show created especially for us kids and our parents.  As we got older, we watched local public affairs programs, local public service announcements, and local news that covered in-depth community happenings, not just the latest car accident or shooting. Those days are long gone, along with the Federal Communications Commission guidelines that mandated such programming as the basis for a station to be granted its license to operate.

             Gone, but not forgotten. In fact, local programming is back, in the form of MetroBeat TV — airing in most communities every week on Broomfield’s KCCB Channel 8 on Comcast Cable (check Broomfield.org for exact times and dates).

             MetroBeat TV offers an upbeat, up-to-date and up-close look at what’s happening and who’s making it happen in communities across the Denver metro area. Comcast has funded the project, hiring top talent, funding producers and creating exciting local television unlike anything you’ve seen. Local communities are participating by providing content ideas and program segments -- even entire shows in some cases -- as part of the “MetroBeat TV Presents” program.

             So if you’re looking for REAL TV (instead of so-called “reality TV”) -- locally produced shows about people, places and events close to you, but with a national network feel -- catch the beat with MetroBeat TV!

 The MetroBeat TV lineup airs on most Denver area municipal Channel 8s on the Comcast system every Thursday from 7:30-10 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.  New shows debut each month. Viewers who aren’t available to watch on Thursdays or Sundays, or who don’t have a municipal Cable 8 operating in their area, can tune into MetroBeat TV programming any time with Comcast’s ON DEMAND.

 For more information, and to submit your ideas for upcoming MetroBeat programs, please visit www.metrobeat.tv.

 Here’s a look at what you’ll see each week on MetroBeat TV on Channel 8, now through April 19:

 STUDENT VOICES

At Issue: Teen Smoking

Thursdays 7:30 p.m., Sundays 11:30 a.m.  Hosted by BRIAN HARPER.

 Each month, Student Voices brings together eight outspoken teens from schools throughout the Denver metro area to participate in a real-life exchange of ideas on topics of interest to high school students.  This month’s episode of Student Voices focuses on smoking.  More than 3.5 million U.S. high school students smoke cigarettes. Its impact on teens’ lives today and how it may affect their futures is grim. Asthma, chest colds, bronchitis -- not to mention cancer and heart disease –- are potential risks. In fact, 87 percent of lung cancer deaths are the result of smoking. And  53,000 non-smokers die every year because of second-hand smoke. 

 With appearances by State Senator KEN GORDON who has worked on a proposed statewide smoking ban, public health worker JUSTIN PONZIO, and Boulder High School student ALEX GUTOW who decided to take action against the tobacco industry.

 METROBEAT MAGAZINE

Thursdays 8 p.m., Sundays 12 p.m.  Hosted by SHELLENE COCKRELL and TYLER LOPEZ.

 “THE BEAT”

Put together seven Colorado College theatre majors with a wacky sense of humor and what you get is off-the-wall, hysterical improv; a weekly ‘sitcom’ (think “Seinfeld” meets “Friends” with a touch of “Sex and the City”); and other wildly original takes on classic drama. BUNTPORT THEATER  COMPANY pulls off performances with hilarious imperfection. You’ll find out what makes this troupe tick and why they have been cracking up Denver audiences non-stop for five years.

 “DELICIOUS DETOURS”

Located in the woods of Aurora, EMIL-LENE’S SIRLOIN HOUSE is a throwback to Colorado’s Wild West past. Originally owned by a true character, Frankie Emmerling, it dates back to the early 1900s where it served as a stop along the stagecoach route into Denver. It’s been a roadhouse hideaway for Denver’s elite in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s and still packs ’em in today.  Emil-lene’s features fine cuts of meat prepared over a charcoal grill, a tree growing in the middle of one of the dining rooms, a three-foot-long pepper mill and a pesky ghost that shows up at the most inopportune times.

 “LOCAL LEGENDS”

Known affectionately as Dr. Colorado, a name he acquired years ago when he entertained tourists and conventioneers by answering their history questions wearing a lab coat, TOM NOEL is a historian’s historian who makes Colorado history come alive.  He’s just published book number 35 and his personal collection of Western historical photos and artifacts houses a number of one-of-a-kind items.

 “COLORADO CLASSICS”

Amid the high-rise buildings, hi-tech businesses and high-end housing in lower downtown Denver, the COLORADO SADDLERY COMPANY serves as a reminder of the past. Founded in 1945 by Denver native PR Van Scoyk and three other partners, the place is now run by Van Scoyk’s son, Jeff.  We take you behind the scenes for a look at how these artisans handcraft each saddle and to find out why Colorado Saddles are renowned throughout the West -- and the world -- as simply the best.

 “CITY EXTRA!”   (PRODUCED BY BOULDER CHANNEL 8)

“From Russia with Love” is the fascinating story of a unique Colorado landmark, the BOULDER DUSHANBE TEAHOUSE, and how this beautiful, handcrafted treasure ended up in Boulder, Colorado.

 PEOPLE TO WATCH

Thursdays 8:30 p.m., Sundays 12:30 p.m.  Hosted by BERTHA LYNN.

 LANNIE GARRETT, Entertainer

For more than two decades, Lannie Garrett has been one of Denver’s premier entertainers.  From local nightclubs to Red Rocks to Monte Carlo, Lannie has wowed audiences around the world, and navigated the ever-changing musical trends to be consistently named “Best Female Vocalist of the Year” by The Denver Post, 5280 Magazine, and Denver Magazine.  Now she’s singing a new song as part owner of a new nightclub in Downtown Denver called, appropriately, Lannie’s.  Surviving in the entertainment business isn’t easy, but Lannie keeps singing and laughing through it all to come out on top.

 DREW LITTON, Cartoonist

Drew Litton is the creator of “Win, Lose & Drew,” the cartoon that pokes fun at sports in a town that takes sports very seriously. Since 1982, Drew has been lampooning the world of sports for the Rocky Mountain News.  His work is syndicated nationally, and has been recognized by the National Cartoonists Society.  But we’ll also see another side of Drew.  He’s experienced some dramatic wins and losses in his personal life, and we’ll see how his work kept him focused.

 INSIDE THE COVER

Thursdays 9 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m.  Hosted by BRET SAUNDERS.

 Get ready to laugh! The next edition of INSIDE THE COVER looks at the lighter side of literature. Our special guest is Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist DAVE BARRY. He talks about his latest book, Dave Barry’s Money Secrets; the dubious recognition he received in North Dakota; and testing the waters for a political campaign.

 In our “HOME GROWN AUTHORS” segment, we’ll drop in on local writer DIANE MOTT DAVIDSON, whose quirky detective stories have a culinary, as well as a comic twist.   In “FROM BOOK TO SCREEN,” Bret chats with respected local film critic HOWIE MOVSHOVITZ to get his take on some humorous and satirical literature that has found its way to the silver screen.  And CURIOUS THEATRE COMPANY takes us on a dramatic adventure into James Thurber’s magical garden in our “FAVORITE PASSAGES” presentation.

 METROBEAT TV PRESENTS:  “IN CONCERT”  a performance by the Denver Municipal Band

Thursdays 9:30 p.m., Sundays 1:30 p.m.  A presentation of Denver 8 TV.

 A special presentation of old favorites and new compositions given by the DENVER MUNICIPAL BAND during a performance at the King Center for Performing and Academic Arts at Auraria on September 11, 2005, under the direction of conductor Gerald Endsley.  Founded in the 1860s, the Denver Municipal Band is the oldest continually performing professional concert band in the United States.