Where's a camera when you need one?
Pacific Business News (Honolulu) - by Erika Engle
Two TV notables were seen apparently scouting out a lunch venue this week. KGMB 9 News anchor Russ Shimooka and KHON TV General Manager Kent Baker walked through the Mai Tai Bar on the third level of Ala Moana Center. Meanwhile, KAIM morning radio personality Jim Mendoza will be returning to KGMB TV in December, this time as 5 p.m. anchor. He had previously served the station as weekend sports anchor.
Lifelong radio veteran Bill Thompson was "terminated" from AMFM Inc. Tuesday. Thompson says he has filed a sex discrimination case against the station -- it is still pending. He says, "Ironically, I started my broadcast career at the old KGMB radio (590 AM) in 1952." The station is now known as KSSK (590 AM) and is owned by AMFM. Attorneys for Thompson and AMFM were not available for comment.
Radio rumors are rampant that "Hawaii's New Home of Classic Rock" -- AMFM Inc.'s 98.5 FM KKLV -- will become the new home for Hawaiian music very soon.
It was just in March that KKLV brought in Chris Daniel from a successful rock-formatted morning show in Fresno, to replace the syndicated Mark & Brian out of Los Angeles. Daniel's show has been through some transitions, and had seemed to find stability with partners Michael Piranha -- a musician by night -- and Bridgette Sarchino.
General Manager Bob Longwell says they always want strong stations, and they're always looking at ways to gain strength, but he says, "no decisions have been made." PBN has confirmed that at least one local personality has been approached to do the morning show, with another air personality from a sister station offered the title of operations manager for the format flip -- he was off island and unavailable for comment.
Sources observed to PBN that AMFM just "did the pie chart" and realized they'd be better off going for the 20 percent of the population that listens to Hawaiian music vs. the 10 percent that listens to rock.
Still at the old padMeanwhile AMFM Inc.'s KHVH (AM 830) remains the only station of the group of seven not yet moved into the new digs at Dole Cannery Square. Morning man Rick Hamada is still doing his show out of the old Queen Street facilities.
New Wave Broadcasting LP Director of Sales Mark Haworth and his wife Jill will have greeted their fourth "and last" child this morning at approximately 7:30.
With the nursery painted at home, and the delivery time scheduled, do they know if this will be their second daughter or third son? "We had to keep part of it a surprise," Haworth says. The new Haworth baby will make its debut at the Queens Medical Center.
Hawaii opens wide for ADAThe American Dental Association brought out the best in just about everyone in Waikiki. Businesses proudly displayed welcome signs hoping for their share of the anticipated $74 million boost to the economy; the city tiled the sidewalks of Kalakaua Avenue; and volunteers helped the Police Department patrol the streets.
Lt. Harrison Kim-Han of the Honolulu Police Department's Waikiki substation says there was a coordinated effort with the Hawaii Convention Center, HPD and several other groups to ensure the event's success. Police were more visible on the streets to deter prostitution and other criminal enterprises, and the grassroots "Aloha Patrol" organization's 400 citizen volunteers walked their own beats.
One landowner apparently didn't catch the hint, leaving the parking lot next to 1877 Kalakaua Ave. overgrown with weeds and strewn with glass bottles, and miscellaneous other litter. The sagging chain link fence appeared to be making its best effort to hold all the squalor in, away from the thousands of convention participants who walked by at least a couple times of day.
A ratings tsunami"Baywatch Hawaii" is not only riding a wave of ratings success, it captured the whole surf meet, and the No. 1 ranking among syndicated weekly first-run shows around the world its first week out.
Produced by Pearson Television, it is also among the popular syndicated TV programs that will be shown in all Latin-American territories via Cisneros Television Group. The group signed an agreement covering the broadcast rights for Baywatch Hawaii with Pearson Programming International at MIPCOM, an international trade show for television programmers. Baywatch Hawaii Promotion Consultant April Masini is thrilled, and anxious to learn if there will be any tracking of increased visitor numbers resulting from the worldwide syndication.
A hotel where some of those visitors might stay could soon have new owners. Industry talk indicates the Aloha Surf Hotel on Kanekapolei Street may have a buyer after three years on "the block."
As for the other show in which Masini Productions was involved, "Destination Stardom," April Masini says the show needs time to build. "It's shown three nights a week, Thursday, Saturday and Sundays, on PAX TV (TV 66)."
Masini revealed to PBN that Kala`i Miller, "Destination Stardom" co-host, "Baywatch Hawaii" cast member, and Honolulu firefighter, had just (as in just before we spoke to her on the phone) landed a magazine cover. Gym magazine, with a new owner, publisher and editor, will be flying Miller to New York the week of Oct. 25 to shoot the cover of its February edition. Masini says she's told the magazine will focus on health, wellness and fitness.
New Cisco's in MililaniThere's a new baby sister-restaurant for Cisco's Cantina. Gregory Blotsky and Martha Harding have opened a new Cisco's Cantina in Mililani Shopping Center on Kipapa Drive. Located in the remodeled space of the former Rex's Steak and Seafood, it's open for lunch and dinner, as is its 16-year old sister-restaurant in Kailua.
Hawaii actor/comedian/entertainer Ray Bumatai is appearing at Shipley's Ale House in Manoa Marketplace. His band, mossRock, plays Thursday nights at 8:30.
Contribute "scoops" to Erika Engle by phone at 955-8041, by fax at 955-8031, or by e-mail at .
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