City Beat - News flash: WTCI wins Emmy, Dr. Shock returns

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Some news from local TV and radio.

First, WTCI-TV 45 and producers Emily Compton and the late Peter DeLynn scored an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, MidSouth Division. They won for "One With Courage," a three-minute, 40-second video imploring Tennesseans to stand against child abuse, produced for the Children's Advocacy Center of Hamilton County.

¦ WRCB-TV 3 will add an hour to its weekend morning newscast starting Saturday, Feb. 15.

"Eyewitness News: Weekend Today" will air from 6 to 8 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It will be followed by NBC's "Today" show, airing 8-10 a.m. Saturdays and 8-9 a.m. Sundays.

¦ WTVC-TV 9 will launch "Good Morning Chattanooga Weekend," a two-hour news program that will begin Saturday, March 1. The show will begin at 6 a.m., and will be followed by ABC's "Good Morning America" with the second hour of "Good Morning Chattanooga Weekend" starting two hours later at 8 a.m.

¦ On the radio dial, Brewer Broadcasting is simulcasting WPLZ-FM 106.9 on FM 92.7. Brewer recently acquired the station and is doing some tests while it decides on a new format.

¦ And horror of horrors, WDEF-TV 12 will broadcast the fifth "Shock Theatre" episode at midnight Saturday, Feb. 15.

For those too young to remember, the original "Shock Theatre" was a wildly popular late-night show in the '60s and '70s that featured Tommy Reynolds as Dr. Shock and Dan East as the voice of Dingbat, who introduced B-grade horror films. They were joined by Nurse Goodbody. Most of their shtick was centered on local humor and inside jokes that poked fun at the city's movers and shakers.

The current show is produced by Jack Gray, who also plays Dr. Shock. He is joined by Dingbat, Nurse Goodbody and Dirge, a dream reaper puppet master.

On Saturday, the group will introduce the film "Dracula's Great Love," the 1974 vampire thriller. Gray has added some special guests, musical numbers and taped film elements to the local format. James Ward will demonstrate his Vampire Hunter's Kits, and Victor the Undertaker will prepare an old family recipe with his Halloween Hot Sauce. You'll also see a rockumentary package created by Shock himself.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6354.