Nbc To Forgo Live Coverage Of Gingrich Speech
NBC News announced Thursday it will not carry House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s prime-time speech next Friday night. The network will monitor the half-hour address, however, and include excerpts on the 9 p.m. “Dateline” if the speaker makes headlines.
CBS and ABC as of Thursday hadn’t made up their minds, but it seems unlikely they’ll turn over prime time to a nonpresidential address.
“NBC Nightly News” with Tom Brokaw will broadcast out of Washington next Thursday and Friday nights as the 100 days of the GOP “Contract With America” come to an end. A network spokeswoman said Thursday that “Nightly” is seeking an interview with Gingrich.
NBC’s “Today” show will also be in Washington next Friday, and it has already lined up Gingrich for that morning.
PBS fund drive success
With Congress considering cutting federal funding of public broadcasting, viewers have increased their contributions to PBS stations around the country.
In fact, in the recently concluded March pledge drive, 593,011 persons made pledges totaling $44,204,933, according to preliminary PBS data. The number of pledges was up 12.9 percent from the same period a year ago, while the overall dollar amount is up 15.3 percent.
Viewer donations comprise 21 percent of the total funding for PBS stations. During fiscal 1993, 5.18 million people donated approximately $294 million.
In-line skating series
“Blade Warriors,” television’s first-ever competitive in-line skating television series, will premiere on USA Network today from 11 a.m. to noon.
USA Network has committed to 13 60-minute episodes of “Blade Warriors.”
“Blade Warriors” showcases the athletic talents of the team of Blade Warriors and their challengers, top in-line skaters selected from nationwide skating competitions. Both teams compete in aggressive skating games including: Bladeball, Ricochet, Full Tilt, Hit and Run, Techno Tag, Slam Shot, Tightrope and the ultimate test of skill, the Blade Warriors obstacle course, the Steeple Skate.
The Blade Warriors also illustrate their expertise and their rank as top in-line skaters through stunt exhibitions and Blade Breaks instructional segments, which are conducted by each of the Warriors.
Griffey Jr. on TV
Seattle Mariners centerfielder Ken Griffey Jr. makes a guest appearance as himself on the Fox series “Medicine Ball” Monday from 9-10 p.m. In the episode, Elizabeth (Terri Ivens) enters Max (Darryl Fong) in a radio contest to win a jeep. He wins, but instead of getting the jeep, his unexpected prize is spending the day with Griffey. Max gets annoyed, however, when Griffey’s celebrity status starts to interfere with hospital procedure.
“Medicine Ball” is set in Seattle and is filmed on the Sand Point Naval Base and on location in greater Seattle.