Comedy Bootcamp: the Documentary Airing Monday, November 14 9:00 P.M
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VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER 2016 Comedy Bootcamp: The Documentary Airing Monday, November 14 9:00 p.m. on WHRO TV15 From the Chief Executive Officer NOVEMBER 2016 VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 11 As I write to you, it’s early October and We’ll also premiere Comedy Bootcamp: A publication for the WHRO community in Hurricane Matthew is heading toward The Documentary produced by WHRO Hampton Roads, VA. Hampton Roads with little certainty about Studios. This hour-long program, executive whether the storm will make landfall and produced by Jeff Fine, head of production We appreciate the support of all of our members, what the impact might be. It’s a bit like the at WHRO, and Kenny Hopkins, recognized and thank each and every one of you! Presidential election, now just 32 days away as one of Inside Business Top 40 Under 40, WHRO maintains an open meeting policy for our and too close to call. By the time you read follows a class of veterans who learn stand Board of Directors and Community Advisory Boards. this, Presidential History will be made and up from professional comedians during a Members of the public are welcome to attend and hopefully, any storm damage averted. series of workshops offered by the Armed observe these meetings. To find out when and where these meetings are held, consult the Corporate section Services Arts Partnership. Full details about of our website, whro.org, or call 757.889.9420. I’m proud of all of the coverage we brought the participants and their stories can be found you about the issues and the candidates in at comedybootcampdoc.org Comedy PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER the two years leading up to the election. Bootcamp: The Documentary airs November Bert Schmidt 757.889.9410 Whether it was joint PBS and NPR reporting, 14 at 9:00 p.m. HearSay with Cathy Lewis dissecting local CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Phillip Perdue 757.889.9115 issues, documentaries such as The Choice, or Cultural and arts programming includes Alvin gavel to gavel coverage of the Republican and Ailey American Dance Friday, November 4, at DIRECTOR, CORPORATE SUPPORT Democratic National Conventions, we worked 9:00 p.m., and Great Performances starring Diane Rogic 757.724.4423 to keep you informed. On November 8, watch Imelda Staunton as the indomitable Momma all the election results on the PBS NewsHour Rose in Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim’s VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTENT Heather Mazzoni 757.889.9396 beginning at 8:00 p.m. classic musical Gypsy, Friday, November 11, at 9:00 p.m. And stay tuned to WHRO 90.3 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS One of the issues discussed during the FM for a classical soundtrack to usher in the Dwight Davis, Laura Dresen, Belinda Elliott, Barbara Presidential election was the state of black holiday season. Hamm Lee, Heather Mazzoni, Sally McConnell, Nancy America and our nation as a whole. In his Rogan and Joy Yoo new four-hour series, Black America Since Speaking of the holidays, Happy Thanksgiving! CHIEF MARKETING & BUSINESS OFFICER MLK: And Still I Rise, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., In closing, thank you for your ongoing support Sally McConnell 757.889.9107 embarks on a deeply personal journey through of WHRO Public Media. I’m appreciative the last fifty years of African American history. that so many of you have become sustainers! MANAGING EDITOR Joined by leading scholars, celebrities, and Enjoy the holiday and that extra slice of Kathy Adams 757.889.9345 a dynamic cast of people who shaped these pumpkin pie! years, Gates travels from the victories of the VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES MANAGER civil rights movement up to today and asks Sharman Goode-Hurd 757.889.9379 Bert Schmidt profound questions about what it means to AUDIENCE SERVICES 757.889.9499 be black in America today. Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise, airs November Dimensions (ISSN 1047-5532. Publication No. 190-200. 15 at 8:00 p.m. Copyright 2004) is published monthly by the Hampton President Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, Inc., a non-profit corporation, licensee of WHRO TV 15, Veterans Day is commemorated on November & Chief Executive Officer Public Television, and 89.5 WHRV FM / 90.3 WHRO 11 which means in-depth programming FM, Public Radio. Distributed to WHRO members who related to the military, including Military contribute $48 or more annually. Medicine: Beyond the Battlefield reported DIMENSIONS by Bob Woodruff. The show describes military medical advances and the role of technology 5200 Hampton Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23508 from the battlefield to the return home. It airs PHONE: Southside 757.889.9400; Peninsula Wednesday, November 9, at 10:00 p.m. 757.881.9476; Williamsburg 757.903.2302 Fax: 757.489.0007 e-mail: [email protected] web: www.whro.org INSIDE THIS ISSUE Periodicals postage is paid at Norfolk, VA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to From the CEO Radio Highlights DIMENSIONS, c/o WHRO, 5200 Hampton Blvd. 2 9 Norfolk, VA 23508 3 On the Cover 11 WHRO Matinee Locally owned by 19 regional school systems, WHRO is a public service institution of education, culture 5 , 7 TV Highlights 12 The Veterans Project and citizenship utilizing its communication resources to serve and interact with the Hampton Roads community. On the Cover As a local karaoke DJ, the spotlight is nothing new to Breckenridge. Both comedy and music are outlets that temporarily take his mind off his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). How does one go from having no stand-up comedy “When it’s my turn to go up there and do my stand-up, it’s experience to performing stand-up routines at local like I’m taking off a uniform,” he explained. “When I grab venues—and even the White House—in just a matter that microphone I’m somebody totally different. Then I go of months? For a group of local veterans it was by back to my seat and put that back on—my PTSD uniform.” attending an eight-week Comedy Bootcamp to hone their talents. A new WHRO original documentary chronicles The course culminated with a graduation show where their journey. veterans performed for friends, family and the public at a local comedy club. A few of the comics were also chosen to Comedy Bootcamp: The Documentary follows the class perform at the White House. of veterans as they learn to use humor as a way to share their experiences and connect with others. Participants The production was an ambitious undertaking for the learned from professional comedians through a series of WHRO production team. Using the largest crew they have classes provided by the Armed Services Arts Partnership, ever had out in the field, the team shot more than 300 an organization that offers free arts classes to service hours of footage at locations all over Hampton Roads. For members, veterans and their families. On their way to Kenny Hopkins, WHRO promotions producer, the project learning to become stand-up comics, some of the vets was an opportunity to become better acquainted with the discovered a new outlet to discuss the struggles they have men and women who serve in our military. faced in their transition to civilian life. “I better understand what veterans are going through For Mike Lake, a third-generation military veteran, when they come home,” he explained. “We owe them making people laugh is a way to cope with the chronic a lot. They are sacrificing the best years of their lives pain he suffers from a degenerative arthritic condition. to protect their country. They should be able to come After the condition forced him to retire from 16 years of back and enjoy life. That’s part of our duty as civilians to service in the Coast Guard, he dealt with depression until welcome them back.” he began to find new interests. The project was made by possible through a grant from “For a long time I focused on what the condition and my David & Susan Goode that enables WHRO to broadcast physical state prevented me from doing,” Lake explained. various performing arts initiatives in Hampton Roads. “Now I’m just trying to focus on what I can do and do as Comedy Bootcamp: The Documentary airs Monday, much as I can.” November 14, at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO TV15. Learn more and view the trailer at comedybootcampdoc.org He learned about Comedy Bootcamp after becoming involved in the Wounded Warrior Project, and he found the comradery among his new classmates to be very uplifting. “Telling jokes and making people laugh helps me feel better myself,” he said. William Breckenridge, a retired Army veteran, also derives enjoyment from making people laugh. His former Army commanders encouraged him to apply for the program citing his innate humor and gregarious nature. Pictured on cover and above: Isaura Ramirez, William Breckenridge, Mike Lake, and Mae Brayton. November 2016 Primetime 8:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. 1 Contenders - 16 for ‘16 • Bush/Obama Battle of Chosin: American Experience TUE America ReFramed • Kivalina Black Gold Boom PBS NewsHour Martha Bakes • Chocolate America’s Test Kitchen Steven Raichlen’s Project Ellie’s Real Good Food The Woodwright’s Shop Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope 2 Nature • The Story of Cats: Asia to Africa NOVA • Treasures of the Earth: Gemstones Secrets of the Dead • Graveyard of the Giant Beasts WED Dream On POV • What Tomorrow Brings PBS NewsHour Lidia’s Kitchen Cook’s Country Joanna Weir Gets Fresh New Orleans Cooking Ask This Old House Rick Steves’ Europe 3 The This Old House Hour A Chef’s Life Moveable Feast Globe Trekker • Mumbai City Guide THU Secrets of the Dead • Graveyard of the Giant Beasts Secrets of the Dead • Vampire Legend PBS NewsHour Martha Bakes America’s Test Kitchen Steven Raichlen’s Project New Orleans