Local Folks Miss Chance For TV Fame

It’s time to sing the funeral hymn for “Amazing Grace.”

“All but officially, yeah, it’s canceled,” said Nunzio de Filippis of the show’s L.A. production office. “That’s it for us.”

The first hint came when NBC jerked the last two episodes of this locally filmed Patty Duke series off the air on April 29 and May 6 and replaced them with an hour-long episode of “Empty Nest” and something called “An Affectionate Look at Fatherhood.”

The second hint came when NBC made it clear that they had no plans to air these two episodes, anytime, anywhere, anyhow.

Which means all of the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane folks who appeared in the “hospital strike” episode and the “congregant accused of child abuse” episode are out of luck. Your moment of fame has been snatched away, unless some cable station purchases the episodes someday. (Get the Lifetime channel on the phone.)

Ratings were dismal for the four episodes that were broadcast. The final show on April 22 finished 87th among prime-time shows for the week. To have been considered even a moderate success, the show would have needed twice as many viewers.

Our track record

The Inland Northwest (slogan: “Hollywood in the Boondocks”) is sorely in need of a hit.

First, we hosted “Toys,” the Robin Williams flop, and now “Amazing Grace.”

The only thing that can pull us out of this slump might be the return of Johnny Depp in “Benny and Joon II.” Don’t hold your breath.

Dylan in the park

Last week I hinted about a Bob Dylan concert in Spokane, and Wednesday it was officially announced, although it has now become an outdoor concert: The Lilac Bowl in Riverfront Park, June 7, 8 p.m.

Tickets are $25, but anybody who wants to hear Bob from a distance can probably just wander down to the park and eavesdrop. There are those who say that “from a distance” is the best way to hear Bob these days.

Another big hint

Now that I have established my credentials as a prophet of upcoming concerts, let me throw out another tantalizing hint.

A huge, huge, HUGE rock band led by a moody poet/tortured soul may play an outdoor concert this summer in an Inland Northwest artsy resort town. I will say no more except that this band has a particular distrust of Ticketmaster and is playing some unlikely places around the country.

If you’re wondering how much credence to give this tip, remember that I got the site and date wrong on that Bob Dylan tip.

Rush re-broadcast

Feeling despondent because you missed your morning fix of Rush Limbaugh, delivering his dispassionate, objective, even-handed opinions on American politics?

You can catch a re-broadcast every weekday from 3-6 p.m. on KJRBAM, 790. The original version airs every morning 9 a.m. to noon on KGA-AM, 1510.

St. Helens retrospective

A locally produced documentary, “St. Helens: Out of the Ash,” will air on KSPS-7 on Thursday at 7 p.m., which is the 15th anniversary of the volcanic eruption.

Alison Kartevold produced this fascinating hourlong special, which includes dramatic footage of the event and also shows how the St. Helens area has changed in the past 15 years.

The show will repeat on May 21 at 6 p.m. and May 22 at 1 p.m.

Ring those chimes

Once again, carillonneurs from all over the world will be in Spokane this summer to play a free public concert on the carillon at St. John’s Cathedral.

The performers and dates are: Peter Langberg of Logumkloster, Denmark, July 6; Beverly Buchanan of Franklin, Tenn., July 13; Dr. Reginald Walker, Sydney, Australia, July 20; and David Osborn, Berkeley, Calif., July 27.

All concerts are at 7 p.m. Listeners are encouraged to bring a chair and blanket and picnic on the cathedral lawn.

Get your ‘Jelly’

Here’s an interesting item for all of us disappointed by the cancellation of “Jelly’s Last Jam” in Spokane last winter.

The show plays the Paramount Theatre in Seattle from June 6-18. This is the same tour that was intended for Spokane until scheduling problems arose. Maurice Hines is the star.

Single tickets, ranging from $40 to $18, are now on sale. Call (206) 292-ARTS.

Hosts du jour

Here are the guest hosts for KXLY-AM’s 2 p.m.-to-4 p.m. talk show slot: Monday, Rick Miller, former Seattle talk show host; Wednesday, Ed Renouard, Jr., advertising executive and former talk show host; “Day of the Black Rain” special, a two-hour retrospective about Mount St. Helens, hosted by Mike Fitzsimmons; and Friday (first hour only), Rep. George Nethercutt.