LPB to participate in campaign to reduce dropouts

Photo provided by Discovery Channel -- Pasquale Buzzelli holds the briefcase he had with him on Sept. 11, 2001, when he was in his office on the 64th floor of the World Trade Center North Tower when the attacks began.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is joining with public television stations around the country to help increase awareness of the dropout problem and what programs are helping to solve it.

The centerpiece of these activities will be “American Graduate Day,” which will air on WLPB, Channel 27.1 (cable Channel 12) from noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 22. This unprecedented full-day broadcast by WNET in New York will include celebrity guests, relevant spokespeople and compelling stories from the students themselves

Each half hour will feature a 23-minute segment about a national organization working to keep kids on track and in schools. In addition, LPB’s education reporter, Sue Lincoln, will create six new segments that will air during the broadcast featuring an interview with state Education Superintendent John White, profiles of the Diplomas Now programs at Belaire High and Broadmoor and Capitol Middle schools in East Baton Rouge Parish, and a look at the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s youth program that serves students in and out of school.

It’s all part of “American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen,” a public media initiative supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — to help students stay on the path to on-time high school graduation and future success.

The most important element of “American Graduate Day” is the participation of community-based organizations (CBO). LPB’s partners include Education’s Next Horizon and the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Nationally, WNET will provide a toll-free telephone number and various online destinations, including the organizations’ websites, for viewers to get more information on how to become involved in the American Graduate initiative.

Also on LPB

Louisiana Public Broadcasting will air eight new episodes of its “Louisiana Legends” series Monday-Thursday.

The series debuts at 8 p.m. Monday with interviews with former U.S. Olympic weightlifting Team coach Gayle Hatch and former ambassador to Liberia and the current director of foreign service for the U.S. State Department, Linda Thomas-Greenfield at 8:30 p.m.

At 8 p.m. Tuesday, Acadian Ambulance co-founder and community activist Richard Zuschlag will be interviewed followed at 8:30 p.m. with an interview with retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré , who coordinated the recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina and is chairman of the State Bicentennial Commission.

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and Fox Sports announcer Terry Bradshaw, who won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s, will be interviewed at 8 p.m. Wednesday, followed at 8:30 p.m. by fellow Louisiana Tech alumnus, businessman and philanthropist James Davison.

At 8 p.m. Thursday, country music star Mickey Gilley, who had 17 No. 1 country hits in the 1970s and ’80s, will be interviewed.

That will be followed at 8:30 p.m. by Shreveport native Kix Brooks. Before breaking up in 2010, Brooks & Dunn was the most honored duo in country music history, winning 17 Country Music Association Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards and two Grammy Awards. They sold 30 million albums that included 23 No. 1 country hits.

LPB President Beth Courtney hosts the series.

WBRZ honors athletes

WBRZ Sports 2 Louisiana has kicked off the 2012 prep football season in South Louisiana with the 17th year of WBRZ’s Fans’ Choice High School Athlete of the Week Award. The Fans’ Choice award is an interactive approach to recognizing the most outstanding high school athlete of the week.

Coaches, players and fans are encouraged to watch “WBRZ News 2 Louisiana” at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. and visit the website, http://www.WBRZ.com, to nominate their favorite high school football athlete of the week. Every Tuesday, viewers cast their votes online, then every Wednesday the top vote getter will be announced with a special story on “WBRZ News 2 Louisiana” at 10 p.m.

Cox’s TigerVision game

LSU football is back on Cox Communications’ TigerVision pay-per-view with the Saturday contest between LSU and Idaho. The game and pre-game show will air at 6:45 p.m. on Cox cable Channel 150.

The LSU vs. Idaho TigerVision package is $34.50 plus tax for residential customers. Customers can order the game by calling [phone]. Customers have until 9 p.m. on the day of the game to order the game via remote control by tuning in to Channel 150 and following the on-screen directions. Cox business customers (bars and restaurants) can get the game by calling [phone]. The cost for Cox business customers is $400.

TigerVision is an agreement between Cox Communications and LSU Athletics to broadcast select games on a pay-per-view basis. The games are available only to customers who subscribe to Cox Advanced TV service.

Customers who do not currently have digital service can call Cox at [phone] to upgrade to Cox Advanced TV and get access to the TigerVision package. Cox customers can also visit one of their local service centers throughout the metro New Orleans, greater Baton Rouge and Acadiana areas to pick up a digital converter for self-installation. Customers can self-install at no charge.

Worth a look

BREAKING AMISH: 9 p.m. Sunday, TLC (cable Channel 48). The new series follows five people who choose to leave behind the world of the Amish/Mennonite religion and lifestyle to explore the outside community. Their strict traditions mean “firsts” for the cast members, from flying in a plane to using a cellphone.

THE 9/11 SURFER: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Discovery Channel (cable Channel 46). The one-hour special, airing on the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the U.S., tells the story of 9/11 survivor Pasquale Buzzelli, who “rode” a pile of debris from a 22nd floor stairwell of the World Trade Center and lived to tell his story.

Louisiana Public Broadcasting, WBRZ and Cox Communications provided information for this column. Television stations with news about programming, on-air reporters or personalities should fax information to Judy Bergeron, [phone], or email [e-mail].