TV Notes for February 5, 2012
“Swamp People” has made it to the Super Bowl.
A 30-second national spot for the History show shot in Louisiana will premiere during the fourth quarter of Superbowl XLVI on Sunday. The Superbowl kick-off is at 5:30 p.m. on NBC (cable Channel 3).
The announcement was made last week by Nancy Dubuc, president and general manager of History.
The commercial will promote and showcase the network, as well as the third season of “Swamp People,” which debuts at 9 p.m. Thursday (cable Channel 47).
Joining the cast this season will be Livingston Parish natives Austyn Yoches and Blake McDonald, cousins and best friends who call the swamp home. The two, in their early 20s, live on a houseboat.
The pair are also scheduled to appear on ABC’s “Good Morning America” between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday (cable Channel 5).
“Swamp People” will again follow several hunters in the Atchafalaya Basin and elsewhere in south Louisiana during the 30-day alligator hunting season, regulated by the state.
‘Catwalk’ moves
Barrett Hutchinson, an LSU alumnus, will compete on Lifetime’s “24 Hour Catwalk” at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16.
The show was originally announced to air two days earlier.
Lifetime is on cable Channel 26.
News from LPB
Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s “Louisiana: The State We’re In” has added Dr. Rani Whitfield, also known as “Tha Hip Hop Doc” to the weekly newsmagazine.
Whitfield has practiced sports medicine and has had a family practice in Baton Rouge for the last 16 years. He will join anchors Charlie Whinham and Shauna Sanford on the first Friday of the month for “Prescription for Health with Dr. Rani Whitfield.”
The program airs at 7 p.m. Fridays (cable Channel 12) and also airs at 2 p.m. Sundays on LPBHD (cable Channel 1012). On LPB2 (cable Channel 122), it airs at 9 p.m. Fridays, 8 a.m. Saturdays and 9 p.m. Tuesdays. The segments can also be viewed on the LPB website at http://www.lpb.org.
Whitfield said he plans to coordinate his segments with whatever disease prevention is being emphasized that month such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and breast cancer, along with medical topics in Louisiana and the nation. He said awareness is the key to treating or preventing diseases.
“If you don’t recognize the symptoms of a disease, you may ignore it and not seek medical treatment for it,” Whitfield said.
“We hope these segments will help get people more aware of potential medical problems and get them more attuned to their health.”
Also, five viewers were selected winners of LPB’s Inauguration Quiz about the state’s past governors.
The winners are: Carolyn Jean Batiste, of LaPlace; John Harper, Baton Rouge; Colorado Robertson, Baton Rouge; Brent Waguespack, Garyville; and Spencer Wyld, Hammond.
The contest was held in conjunction with LPB’s live coverage of the inauguration of Gov. Bobby Jindal and other statewide officials on Jan. 9. To qualify for the prize drawing, entrants had to correctly answer at least 10 of the 12 questions on the quiz. The winners were selected in a random drawing from the 181 qualifying entries. The winners receive a copy of LPB’s six-part “Louisiana: A History” series and companion book “Louisiana: An Illustrated History.”
The new deadline for nominating an outstanding Louisiana student in grades 7-12 for the 2012 Louisiana Young Heroes Awards is Friday. The awards are sponsored by LPB and the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge and honor students who have served their community, overcome adversity and inspired others. ExxonMobil is the underwriter for the program.
The winners and their families will be honored April 18 in ceremonies at the Governor’s Mansion and at a banquet at the Marriott Hotel.
Nomination forms are available online at http://www.lpb.org/heroes or by calling LPB at (800) 272-8161, ext. 4276, or (225) 767-4276.
French for kids
TV5MONDE has launched America’s first French-language channel devoted solely to children’s programming.
Tivi5MONDE will be offered to DISH subscribers as part of its French bouquet which already includes TV5MONDE USA, America’s 24/7 French language entertainment channel.
Tivi5MONDE will offer French-language programming including animation, education and dramatic series targeting tweens and young teens. The new channel is being programmed to appeal to children and youth audiences ages 4-14.
Worth a look
THE INTERRUPTERS: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, WLPB, Channel 27.1 (cable Channel 12). “The Interrupters,” an installment of “Frontline,” follows three dedicated “violence interrupters” — Ameena Matthews, Cobe Williams and Eddie Bocanegra — who, with bravado, humility and even humor, work to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they themselves once employed. From director Steve James (“Hoop Dreams”) and author Alex Kotlowitz (“There Are No Children Here”).
Television stations with news about programming, on-air reporters or personalities should send the information to: Judy Bergeron, television editor, The Advocate, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810; fax to (225) 388-0351 or email to jbergeron@ theadvocate.com.