The CW Network set to land on KSKN-22 in the fall
KSKN-22 will become Spokane’s CW Network affiliate when that new network launches in September.
KSKN is Spokane’s WB affiliate. The CW Network will be the product of the upcoming merger between the WB and UPN networks.
The CW Network will consist of the top shows from the old WB and UPN (including “Gilmore Girls” and “Everybody Hates Chris,” among many others), as well as some new programming.
DJ Wilson, the KREM-KSKN general manager, said it will “allow viewers in the Inland Northwest one-stop shopping for some of the best shows on TV.”
The CW schedule will run during prime time seven days a week, with other blocks on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings. KSKN will continue to run its lineup of syndicated and local shows, including “KREM-2 News at 10,” “Dr. Phil,” “Friends” and Seattle Mariners broadcasts.
The official announcement came Monday, when the CW Network signed agreements with 12 affiliates around the country, including KSKN.
KSKN is KREM-2’s sister station. Both are owned by the Belo Corp., a media conglomerate based in Dallas.
Spokane has been without a UPN affiliate since the first of the year, when KQUP-24 dropped its affiliation.
Local movie releases
With “Mozart and the Whale” finally making it to the big screen this weekend in Spokane, it’s time to do an update on the status of some of the other Spokane-filmed features, including:
• “The Cutter”: This Chuck Norris action thriller, filmed in November-December 2004, went straight to DVD last month. Rent a copy and you’ll see lots of familiar sights and a number of local actors as well, including Morecedes Brown, Todd Jensen and Terry Sticka.
• “End Game”: This Cuba Gooding Jr.-Burt Reynolds-James Woods-Angie Harmon spy thriller was filmed in February and March 2005. It is scheduled to go straight to DVD on May 2.
And a local star …
“United 93,” the controversial Paul Greengrass-directed movie about the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001, will be released to theaters around the country on April 28.
It wasn’t locally filmed; it was shot near London. Yet one of its stars is Cheyenne Jackson, the Newport (Wash.) High School graduate and former stalwart of the Spokane Civic Theatre and Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre.
Jackson plays Mark Bingham, one of the passenger-heroes of the flight.
A good road reputation
Here’s a bulletin from Kasey RT Graham, the Spokane musical whiz who is the musical director for the national tour of “Oklahoma!” which visited the Opera House this weekend:
“The city of Spokane has a really great reputation as a touring city in the Equity/non-Equity world. The downtown area and the people are well-respected by both the touring actors and the technical veterans.”
Spokane Children’s Theatre lineup
Here’s the recently announced Spokane Children’s Theatre 2006-2007 season:
• “Bunnicula!” – A mystery tale starring popular rabbit characters.
• “Nutcracker!” – The classic holiday tale, but the comedy version, not the ballet.
• “Magic Mrs. Piggle Wiggle!” – The famous mother’s helper of children’s literature comes to life in this musical tale.
• “James and the Giant Peach” – A dramatization of the classic Roald Dahl story.
• “Cinderella!” – The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical version of the fairy tale.
Dates will be announced. Season tickets will go on sale soon.
If you want to be considered as a director for any of these shows, call Diane Ormsby at 327-9303.
KXLY-AM changes
KXLY-AM (NewsRadio 920) will have some schedule changes beginning Monday:
• Clark Howard will run from 9 to 10 a.m. and again from 6 to 7 p.m.
• Tony Snow will move from afternoons to the 10 a.m. to noon slot.
• Mark Levin’s talk show will be added in the 3 to 5 p.m. slot.
Levin is a constitutional lawyer familiar to listeners of Sean Hannity’s show. Hannity remains in the noon to 3 p.m. slot.
Bud Nameck of KXLY-AM said these moves allow the station to run Snow in an earlier slot while still allowing listeners to catch Howard’s consumer-oriented show.
Going operatic
Here are a couple of events for the operatically inclined:
• Bill Graham of the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Opera will present a preview of “La Traviata,” complete with singers, at the monthly meeting of the Opera Buffs, Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Rockwood Retirement Community Center, 2903 E. 25th Ave. Admission is free.
• The official run of that very same “La Traviata,” the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Opera’s major production, will be May 5 and 6 and 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m., at the Central Valley Performing Arts Center at Central Valley High School. Tickets are on sale through TicketsWest outlets (325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).