ENTERTAINMENT
The University Daily KANSAN
April 17. 1984 Page 6
Jim McCrossen/KANSAN
Dick Wilson, host of KSHB's "All Night Live," takes a break on the show, which is broadcast from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. The
former disc jockey for KYYS-FM replaced "Uncle Ed"
Muscare as host of the show Feb. 20.
New host uses dry humor to attract broad audience to 'All Night Live'
By MELISSA BAUMAN
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
"I promise every night at 11, I will tune in to 'Night Live! A faithful viewer I will always watch!"
Although "All Night Live" is still shown on KSII Channel 41 in Kansas City, the show has been cancelled.
The "All Night Live" anthem is no longer repented, some new reruns have replaced the old and the set has been changed. But the range of all of it is the show's new host. Dick Wikison.
"UNCLE ED" MUSCARE, the show's former host, resigned from the show last January to move to a warmer climate.
Although the staff tried to convince Muscatre to stay with the show, its protestations were to no avail. Muscatre now lives in San Diego, said Dian Wheatcroft, executive producer of the show.
Wilson, who began as a host on the show Feb 29, differs from Muscatue in a number of ways, including that he does not wear a tie.
"Ed's humor was more of a gimmick, visual humor. His humor is more what he looked like. Mine is what comes from inside of me." Wilson said.
CINDY GRAY, CO-PRODUCER OF the show, described Wilson's humor as dry, deadpan and more subtle than Muscare's. In addition, Wheatercraft said that Wilson's humor appealed to a younger adult audience than Muscare's.
Wilson uses no gimmicks, such as Muscare's banana phone; Caffeine, the perpetually sleeping cat — who, by the way, was not drugged; or the "All Night Live" raised hand gesture. Yet Wilson is also drawing "fairy views," but in smaller numbers.
The ratings show that "All Night Live" is "in less popular than when Muscarec was host. But Illumination" is "not as popular."
KSHB, said that he expected Wilson to broaden the show's audience.
Powell said that the former KYYS 102 FM disc jockey was already appealing to a more varied audience than Muscaret did. For example, that more women watched Wilson, he said.
"FRANKLY, ED WAS a turn-off to most women. I don't know whether it's sex appeal or if it just is that he's not as much of a turn-off, but he can call and talk to Dick Wilson." he said.
Wheatacroft agreed that Wilson would draw a broader audience.
"Ed drew a cult audience — not meaning a fruitcake audience but people who liked Uncle Ed. I don't think you found too much of a middle ground." he said.
Wheatcroft said that although many Muscare fans had tuned Wilson out, many would return because Wilson was more "middle-of-the-road."
Gray said that the majority of the mail and calls about Wilson had also been positive. Wilson said that he has had to battle fewer Uncle Ed cultists than he had expected.
In spite of the station's support of Wilson, the staff still seems to mourn the passing of Mather.
"I don't know that anybody will attain the almost star quality that he had before he left."
He said Muscare virtually stopped a Rodney Dangerfield concert when he walked into the show.
"On his last day, we ate lunch at the Nelson Art Gallery. There was a line of people — businessmen, little old ladies — that not only recognized him, but wanted his autograph. And this is the Nelson Art Gallery, not Kelly's in Westport." Powell said.
DESPITE THIS WARM attitude toward Muscare, Powell admitted that Muscare was a "producer's nightmare," because he would not understand what he planned to do for that night's show.
Wilson said that many of his calls came from people returning from late-night work shifts and students.
Although Wilson apparently has a hard act to follow, he is gaining his own following. He said that he had several regular callers.
He said that he had not considered working in television until the "All Night Live" position of head of the station.
"We talked to a fraternity up at KU, and they sang their fraternity sweetheart song, which was pretty sickening." he said.
"ON RADIO YOU COULD create any fantasy that you wanted to all by yourself on the air. Now, I have the cameramen and director that I have to let know what I want to sell."
Although some preparations are made for the 23 segments Wilson appears in each night Monday through Friday, some spontaneity still remains.
"We had some girls who were up from Tulsa and called in looking for something to do. So I had them on the show and had somebody call in and tell them what to do." he said.
Wison said that he had done only television commercials before becoming host of the show and that he did not like the way he looked on camera.
"You have to think over-exaggeration to have your face come out where it looks halfway
"If someone called you a jerk on radio you could roll your eyes or something. But on television, the audience is looking for your reaction," he said.
IN ADDITION, WILSON said it was difficult to move from radio to television because on radio he could hide his emotions.
On future "All Night Lives," viewers may expect to see "Slice of Life," a newcast about viewers, the "All Night Live" penalty box, to which even callers can be sentenced if they do not comply with the "Midnight Snack Theatre," in and viewers will perform original two-minute scripts.
Alternative TV trend thrives
Lawrence low-power TV targets special audience
By MELISSA BAUMAN
The low-power television station that will begin operating in Lawrence by Sept. 1 will be one of hundreds of stations following a nationwide trend in television.
Staff Reporter
Low-power stations, which have a maximum broadcast radius of 15 to 20 miles, are trying to offer an alternative to network television by serving grassroots America.
The low-power station is considering airing music videos of regional bands in addition to the band's own tunes.
The new Lawrence station, which will broadcast on Channel 30, will aim primarily at attracting an audience of 20- to 34-year-old viewers, according to Andrew Byrnes, development director of Low Power Technology, which is based in Golden. Colo.
THE STATION is also negotiating with two package network suppliers, Country Music Network, which offers country music programs and concerts, and Financial News Network, which features stock updates, economic interviews and projections and financial news from Washington and New York, Byrnes said.
After applicants are given construction licenses, they must complete the stations within a year or forfeit the licenses. Upon completion of the station, the owner must then apply for an operating license, which is almost always granted if the station meets regulations, she
Although thousands of low-power stations will be licensed and this new genre in television has been dubbed "the fourth network," it is questionable if these stations will provide much competition for existing network affiliates and independent stations, said Bruce Linton, KU chairman of the radio-television-film department.
BUT BYRNES SAID THAT Low Power Technology was not attempting to compete with local stations because it was trying to create and tap a new market.
"My reaction is why you want a fourth of the same old thing?" he said.
Byrnes said that the company intended to provide an advertising rate far lower than the network affiliates could offer.
"We're talking $15 to $30 a spot compared to $300 to $400 a spot. We're talking about getting a station on the air for $300,000 as opposed to $2 million," he said, attributing the low advertising
Andrew Byrnes,
development director of Low Power Technology
Low Power Technology is not the only company tapping smaller markets, such as
HE SAID THAT THIS FIGURE included low-power stations still in the testing phase working out minor problems and assembling staffs.
The proposal was made because technology allowed low-power television to become a reality and because networks were not serving grass- roots America.
Nationwide, 104 low-power stations are in operation, said John Reilly, executive director of the National Institute for Low Power Television in New York.
AFTER THE PROPOSAL WAS ANNOUNCED in 1980, the FCC received such a flood of applications that it froze the acceptance of applications in 1981. The proposal was finally approved in 1982.
But the 104 stations in operation are inconsistent when compared to the 12,000 applications the Federal Communications Commission received for construction licenses in 1980, and the 2002 competing applications in 1988, said Audry Spivack, researcher for the FCC.
This flood of low-power activity is the result of a 1800 FCC proposal to create low-power stations. In essence, this proposal opened up low-power television to the nation so that special-interest groups could serve the segment of the community that large networks could not.
This boom in low-power applications may be attributed to the low cost of building these stations. In addition, low-power television is subject to considerably fewer government regulations. For instance, the fairness doctrine and equal time rule are applied in a limited way.
But applying for a construction permit is only
at the beginning of a long process leading to an
opening of a new building.
After a party applies for a construction license, the FCC must grant approval of the application. The application is then put on public display and will then be sent to file applications for the same community.
STAVACK SAID THAT AFTER all competing applications were filed, the single party licensed to build in that community was chosen through a monthly lottery.
Because low-power stations were originally meant to be outlets for minorities and special interest groups, these groups are given some preference in the lottery, she said.
rates to low overhead.
Dave Clark, general manager for Sunflower Cablevision, 644 New Hampshire, said that he was not worried with the new station's nerfing programming with his station, not concerned about competing with the station.
Linton said that, in general, low power stations would have a less effect on existing water resources and indicate inertia.
A low-power station's biggest obstacle to success is innovative programming because sources of programs are difficult to locate, he said.
"About all they have to deal with are old syndicated programs and new things that are being developed for that market. You are stuck with having to deal with existing program sources or what you can do locally." Linton said.
HE SAID THAT LOW-POWER stations would also have difficulty attracting advertisers because a station must show that it had a better product and a large number of viewers.
A national objection to low-power television is that it is often run by "absentee landlords," who may be less interested in the local issues and community service than a local owner may be
But Byrnes denied that this problem would exist for the Lawrence station because it would be too expensive.
The firm has received more than 50 applications for staff positions  the majority from high school graduates.
"From here (Golden, Colo.), I cannot tell you what is going on in Lawrence, and I am depending on the people I hire to make local programming a reality.
"If I run old movies, why would you watch me over the next guy?" I am depending on the local programming to make it a success there." Byrnes said.
BYRNES SAID THAT HE would visit Lawrence in early May to organize construction and to hire staff for the station. He said he would like to locate the Lawrence-based station between here and Kansas City to attract a larger audience.
The station will be run by a locally hired general manager and staff with minimal training.
Byrnes said that the company expected construction licenses for stations in 10 to 20 other college towns. The firm aimed specifically at licenses in expanding communities of about 100,000 people because it considered those to be untapped markets, he said.
BLOOM COUNTY
BY BERKE BREATHED
Cable advertisements create local celebrities
By PHIL ENGLISH Staff Reporter
A hidden camera spies on a young man in the dressing room of a local department store.
The camera shows him seductively pulling on and buttoning a pair of Levis jeans. The television audience is treated to various revealing shots of the lower half of his body.
Satisfied with the fit, the man walks out of the dressing room, sings a denim jacket over his shoulder and leaves the department store, arm in arm with his pretty girlfriend.
ALTHOUGH MOST VIEWERS do not know Russell Livingston, 1730 Learnard St., by name, they do recognize him as the handsome man in "The Sensation of Advertisement for Litwin's, 831 Massachusetts St.
The comments that Livingston did receive have practically made him an underground Lawrence celebrity, he said. The success of his work has enabled a student of the jeans, as well as a beach version.
"When doing that at work, we tried to use a little sex, but to the point where we reach a crossover between blatant sex and good taste," said Mark Davis, the co-founder of Kevin's and producer and star of the commercial.
Litwin's is just one of the many Lawrence stores that uses Sunflower Cablevision, 644 New York Ave.
"I don't know if the commercial actually helped sell anymore jeans than before, but it was a huge success."
Roger Bain, director of marketing for Sunflower Cablevision, said that local cable ads were spawning a series of underground celebrities.
"Just in the past year, there have probably
been hundreds of faces appearing on local cable commercials," he said. "It's kind of gotten to be a promotional philosophy with local organizations — that putting people in commercials is not only good promotion, but it also lets people know that cable is a local medium."
Bain said that opera singer John Andrews, 1101 Vermont St., was one of the more flamboyant and best known personalities on local cable commercials.
IN HIS MOST RECENT COMMERCIAL promoting MTV on Sunflower Cablevision, Andrew is dressed in a rabbit outfit, singing and dancing to the bunny hop.
"I guess I could be called a local cable celebrity," he said. "On several occasions people have recognized me downtown. Some would come up to me and call me the MTV man."
Andrew said that he had been associated with Sunflower Cablevision's MTV commercials for more than a year. He has appeared as Elvis Presley, Billboard and in some of his ample performances.
"I guess I'm one of those guys who likes to bring attention to myself," he said. "I'm also a cop."
"I can get any reaction from people, make them happy or give them a jolt, that's better than nothing."
"Local advertisers are realizing that local cable TV and local faces are a great outlet for advertising," he said. "Local cable is still in its
ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT advertisers on Channel 6 is Gammon's Nightclub, 1601 W. 23rd St. The club used commercials such as "Gammon's Girls," made up of mostly K-Swiss and French girls, spent much time in January, said Warmer Lewis, president of Lewis Advertising, 719 Massachusetts St.
infancy, and we are fortunate to have something for a wide range of people."
Kevin Brief, 1320 Massachusetts St., an aspiring local actor, was searching for an acting job, when he was cast in a commercial for Mazzie's Pizza, 2630 Iowa St.
"I WAS IN A COMMERCIAL, where myself and two women were watching a video and I said "Gee, watching this video makes me hungry." he said. "It doesn't rate with the best, but I thought it was funny and it was also a good hour. It made a good way to kill a few hours in the morning."
But, not all of the commercials result in happy memories and celebrity status.
John Naughtin, a graphic designer for University Relations, said that his role in a Mazzie's Pizza commercial led to a conflict among friends.
"In the ad, I had to say that I thought Mazzio's Pizza was the best in town," he said. "A friend of mine, who happens to own another pizza place in town saw the commercial and was furious with what called me and said he was mad because I told him his pizza was the best in town."
TOM GLEASON, FORMER LAWRENCE City Commissioner, said that he was confronted with the idea of doing a local MTV commercial after he chose to withdraw from his elected office.
The advertisement had Gleason standing in front of Lawrence City Hall wearing a MTV T-shirt saying, "Now that I have my Tuesday nights free, I'll stay at home with my MTV."
"Actually, I spent more time at the commis sion meetings," he said.
"It was kind of an 'in' joke with the people who broadcast the City Commission meetings," heBA