Stanley schoolteacher Park Gillespie is still alive after six episodes of Showtime’s American Candidate reality show, which promises to choose a person with the “qualities to be the President of the United States.” The show “simulates” a political campaign featuring people of all persuasions. From an animal rights lover to the lesbian daughter of Senator Dick Gephardt (who have both been voted off the show), this one is a doozy. Gillespie, a Bob Jones University grad, is the unapologetic evangelical Christian on the show. His stand on guns is, “proper gun control is a tight 5-point shot group.” Read more of the fun at americancandidate.com.
Two Charlotte-based newspaper journalists are making the bookstore scene these days with new works. Charlotte Observer sports columnist Scott Fowler, who recently covered the Olympics for the daily, has come out with Tales from the Carolina Panthers Sideline, a collection of short tales and anecdotes from the 2003 season. A highlight is the chapter about Sam Mills, the former player and assistant coach who is fighting cancer.
Garnering three stars from his former employer, Rolling Stone, Charlotte Observer entertainment editor Mark Kemp chronicles his Southern roots and intersection between the South’s racist shadows and the beast called “Southern Rock” in Dixie Lullaby.
If the thought of telling a TV station what to do makes you tingle, WTVI is giving you a shot at doing just that. They’re looking for public input in picking their new station logo. All you have to do to register your choice among four different graphic logos is go to www.wtvi.org, and have at it. Not to stuff the ballot box or anything, but vote for number 3…vote for number 3.
CHICKS WITH HAMMERS If you’re a chick with attitude and power tools, there might be a TV show waiting for you. Local TV production company Tentmakers Entertainment is looking for area women with experience in all phases of home construction for an upcoming series to be shot in Charlotte. Put down that Black and Decker drill and contact them at julie@tentmakersentertainment.com…
Live! Onstage! It’s the Charlotte Symphony! WDAV-FM launches its sixth annual season of Charlotte Symphony performances recorded live at The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Hosted by Mike McKay, the series will be broadcast Sundays at 3pm beginning October 3. If you’ve never heard this city’s symphony, here’s your chance. Stay tuned.
E-mail at Shannon.Reichley@cln.com
This article appears in Sep 15-21, 2004.
