THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 2, 1995 TAG: 9506020070
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
LOCAL TV news and views to ponder while you wait for the Harborfest fireworks to begin:
Maybe he'll find a spot for a woman on the 6 o'clock newscast - Elden A. Hale Jr., who will become general manager of WTKR when the station's sale to The New York Times Co. is finalized around June 19, expects to continue as executive vice president of programming and development for the New York Times Co. Broadcast Group after he takes over in Norfolk.
Judging by what Hale said in a mini-interview recently, look for a great leap forward in Channel 3's local news. ``The New York Times company, which stands for quality journalism, intends to produce quality newscasts in Norfolk.'' Hale also pointed out that since the Times is another word for stability in broadcasting and publishing, expect WTKR to be in the family for many years to come. The CBS affiliate has changed hands about as often as a 1965 Mustang.
Hale isn't one of these advertising guys in French cuffs who made it to the executive suite without working a day in the newsroom. He's a deadline junkie who held executive positions in newsrooms in Orlando, Dallas, Miami and Scranton, Pa., before moving up to general manager at WNEP in Scranton.
Will Hale make over Channel 3's news pronto? Do away with the all-male cast on the 6 p.m. newscast? End the ``Eleven at Eleven'' approach at 11 p.m.?
And you thought the end of tolls on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway was a big deal - City fathers in Hampton Roads still have that rosy glow although it has been days since ``Wheel of Fortune Norfolk Week'' wrapped up aboard the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower. During 10 shows taped in Norfolk, the most popular TV program in syndication spread stardust all over this area.
There was Vanna White boating and beaming in front of Nauticus.
There was Pat Sajak on camera referring to Norfolk as ``a terrific city.'' So what if the wind blowing into the Eisenhower's hangar bay mussed his hair?
Norfolk's director of economic development, Robert Smithwick, couldn't wait to present a couple of keys to the city to White and Sajak. I never knew there were keys to the city. Did you?
Smithwick said it was a fabulous week for tourism in this corner of Virginia. The pictures sent out of here by the ``Wheel'' producers are worth a zillion dollars in promoting the area, he said. ``The experience of having the tapings in Norfolk was everything we had hoped it would be, and more.''
And it wasn't so bad for a Georgia college student named Kyle Phillips who won $46,750 including $25,000 cash while playing ``Wheel of Fortune'' aboard the carrier.
It took two years of negotiations to bring the game show to Norfolk. If the shows taped in Norfolk pop up in reruns, that's gravy for the area's tourism.
You've come to the right place - Rebecca Sandiford, who works for the BBC out of an office in Manhattan, is looking for people hereabouts who are related to Pocahontas or who might know a lot about the daughter of Powhatan, who is suddenly hot now that Hollywood has put her story on the big screen.
The BBC is producing a documentary about the princess who saved John Smith's neck. ``I'm very keen to speak to Virginians who are passionate about this remarkable story. I'd like to hear from descendants as well as enthusiasts - anyone who can help me,'' she said. That goes for Smith's kin, too.
The assistant producer's address is BBC Television, 1995 Broadway, Suite 505, New York, N.Y. 10023.
Think of all the other actors who can't get work - Norfolk actor Stephen Furst, who already has a job on the syndicated ``Babylon 5,'' has landed a role in a new Fox sitcom, ``Misery Loves Company.'' Norfolk State U. grad Tim Reid had his sitcom, ``Sister, Sister,'' dropped by ABC and picked up by Warner Brothers starting in the fall. New shows will air on WB Wednesday nights at 8, repeats on Sundays at 7:30 p.m. by CNB