THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 21, 1995 TAG: 9512210067
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LARRY BONKO
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
LOCAL TV NEWS and notes to consider while you wait for Rosemary Clooney to pop up on ``ER'' tonight singing songs of Christmas:
Maybe it was just one too many of these talky programs - WGNT's search to find a late-night show that clicks with viewers here goes on.
Last year, the United Paramount Network affiliate tried William & Mary grad Jon Stewart. His show crashed and burned. This year, WGNT scheduled Stephanie Miller at 11 p.m. Her show was canceled last week.
Come Jan. 1, Ricki Lake fills Channel 27's hour from 11 p.m. to midnight. It will be a repeat of the talk show that airs at 5 p.m. In other words, a double dose of people with bad marriages.
The second new syndicated talk show to be dropped this month is ``Carnie.'' WAVY replaces it with ``The Jim J. and Tammy Faye Show'' starting Tuesday at 9 a.m. Yes, she is that Tammy Faye. But this Jim is Jim J. Bullock, an actor from the sitcom ``Too Close For Comfort.''
As Lake's weight goes down, so do her ratings. Same story with Oprah. Montel Williams picked up three rating points and six share points in the last year to lead a slimmed down Oprah at 4 p.m. in Hampton Roads. Are the thin Lake and Winfrey not as lovable?
I wonder how he keeps his cameras dry - Through the end of March, Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, presents an exhibit by underwater photographer Al Giddings, whom you can see on ABC tonight at 8 on ``World of Discovery.''
Tonight on ABC, Giddings is seen hanging out the door of a helicopter to film giant blue whales in waters off San Francisco. He sees 40 of the 90-foot-long whales in one sighting!
``To See the Sea: The Underwater Vision of Al Giddings'' at Nauticus consists of videos, photographs and murals from Giddings, who has been diving with his camera for three decades. He took pictures of the Titanic in its grave.
When you're hot, you're hot - The new bosses at WTKR were celebrating about the latest ratings even before they saw the weekend numbers. Now they are jumping for joy because Channel 3 leads the local weekend newscasts in the early morning on Saturday, and at the dinner hour and 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
(WTKR is No. 2 weekdays at 6 and 11 p.m., tied for No. 1 at 5 and a big winner at noon with the suddenly gray Glenn Corey anchoring).
Is everyone watching to see whether the nasty northeast wind will blow the WTKR weatherman's umbrella inside out?
It's back to the 18th century - Colonial Williamsburg has been the background for Christmas television shows hosted by Perry Como, the gang from ``Good Morning America'' and others. Yesterday, it was Bill McCuddy of ``Wake Up America'' on the America's Talking cable channel introducing viewers to all those marvelous old red bricks up there.
You didn't see it because no cable company in Southside Hampton Roads carries the channel, soon to become NBC's 24-hour cable news service.
Now let's hear from the readers - George Raiss of Norfolk called Infoline (640-5555, press 2486) to agree with my criticism of the jazzed-up CBS morning show: ``After watching and loving the show ever since Paula Zahn joined Harry Smith as co-host, I switched to `Good Morning America' when CBS brought in a studio audience. They've fouled up what was a great show, losing the tone and feel of a substantive news program.'' . . . Mrs. L.M.G. in Rocky Mount, N.C., writes, ``While vacationing in Orlando, Fla., recently, we were pleasantly surprised to see Chris Castleman, formerly of WVEC, doing the weather at 11 p.m. on the NBC station there. The Florida climate agrees with him. He looks great.'' by CNB