March/April 2014. Vol 29 #2. wcte.org BLUEGRASS UNDERGROUND WINS FOUR EMMY® AWARDS MARCH MEMBERSHIP DRIVE SHOWS MARCH 1 - 16 PLUS: “THE ADDRESS” BY KEN BURNS APRIL 15 〉 Staff & Contents Management PUBLIC Television FROM THE UPPER Cumberland (931) 528-2222 or (800) 282-9283 Becky Magura Avery Owens A Night at the Emmys President & CEO Director of Advancement 5 Mary Boring What’s it like to win an Emmy? Becky Asst. to the CEO/Special Projects Jodi Pitts Auction Coordinator Reggie Brown Magura shares the experience. Education & Community Cindy Putman Engagement Associate Education & Community Desirée Duncan Engagement Associate Coming Attractions Director of Content 6 Nathaniel Rich Celeste Flatt The special programs of the March Account Manager Programming and Master Control Associate Membership Drive. Allison Fox Membership Associate Seth Stanger Craig Gray Sales & Development Assistant Business Development Producer Ralph Welch Spotlight on Sonja Higgenbotham 8 Membership Manager Director of Engineering/ Dean Hutson, Publisher, Tour Joyce Hunter-Green Technology Auction Consultant Rick Wells Coordinator & Entrepreneur. Randall Jackson Senior Producer/Director Broadcast Engineer Canaan Williams Craig LeFevre Faces of WCTE Master Control Operations Online and Programming 9 Manager Associate & Gridmaster An introduction to the teams Upper Cumberland of WCTE. Broadcast Council Lillian Hartgrove, Chair Dr. Kathy Bertram Jere Hargrove, Vice-Chair Andrea Burckhard Dr. Wali R. Kharif, Secretary Marc L. Burnett On our cover Tom Janney, Treasurer Mona Copeland Dr. Max Atnip Morris Irby BLUEGRASS UNDERGROUND Becky Magura, Nina Lunn Combine the beautifully lit Volcano Room 333 feet WCTE Pres. & CEO Jack Stites underground in the Cumberland Caverns near Mike Galligan Dr. Alan Tatum McMinnville with amazingly talented musicians and you have one of the most unique music series on Advisory Board television. Soon shooting its 4th season, Bluegrass Underground keeps winning award after award. Story p. 4. Dr. Steve Copeland, DVM Dr. Carl Owens photo credit H. L. Harder Diana Baranowski Jack Barton Kelly Swallows Lissa Parks Program guides 9 Daytime Programming Hal L. Harder - Managing Editor [email protected] Ready to Learn and weekend guide Contributing Writer Andrea Moran 10 Primetime Programming For on-air, print and website advertising and Quality PBS evening programs promotion information, contact Avery Owens at 19 931.528.2222, ext 220 or [email protected] WCTE Close-Up is published bi-monthly. It is mailed to individuals, corporations and foundations who contribute $35 or more to WCTE WCTE-HD Ch. 22.1, WCTE-WORLD SD Ch. 22.2 annually. Third class postage at Cookeville, Tennessee. Phone: 931.528.2222. Schedule is subject to change without notice. Send address & WCTE-Create SD Ch. 22.3 changes to WCTE, P.O. Box 2040, Cookeville, Tennessee 38502. Check out the schedule on the website at www.wcte.org. January/February 2014 | 3 awardlocal color winning series Producer Todd Mayo Becky Magura James Burton Yockey Producer Todd Jarrell photo credit Tommy Lawson Photography The Talented Crew Of Bluegrass Underground he musicians are amazing, the venue PBS, our wonderful family of underwriters The Emmy for Best Lighting went to the is stunning and if you’ve ever been and all of the great folks at Cumberland nationally recognized Lighting Designer Tto a Bluegrass Underground concert Caverns,” commented Mayo. Allen Branton, Gaffer Han Henze, Best Boy in the Volcano Room of the Todd Latia, their show production staff in- Airing coast-to-coast on PBS, the show is Cumberland Caverns near McMinnville, cluded electrician Wally Bigbee, and Grips a unique mix of HD video, near-perfect you know the experience is unforgettable. Brad Jarrell, Buddy Jarrell, and Joel Palmer. acoustics, and top musical talent that But all of the amazing talent in the cave Allen Branton — co-creator of the MTV brings viewers “an eye-popping presenta- does not appear on the rocky stage. series Unplugged and lighting designer for tion of one of the most visually amazing such artistic luminaries as Michael Jack- On January 25th, some of those behind- venues there is,” said Jarrell. Currently son, U2, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, the-scenes talents were recognized. midway through its Season Three run, the Beach Boys, and Madonna — believes Bluegrass Underground is set to tape its At the 28th Annual Mid South Emmy there could be no better place for his work fourth season in March. Awards held at Nashville’s Schermerhorn than in the true absence of all light, such Symphony Center, Bluegrass Underground Producers Todd Mayo and Todd Jarrell as this inside a wondrous cavern. “I want brought home four Emmy awards. The picked up the Emmy for Best Entertain- to thank the cave. What a joy to practice Emmys were awarded for Best Entertain- ment, which honors “excellence in a pro- one’s craft in such a special place,” com- ment Program, Best Director-Program, Best gram, series or special that covers general mented Branton. Audio, and Best Lighting. The series was entertainment.” The Emmy for Audio went to Hugh John- also nominated for Best Photography and son and to concert series’ Front of House Technical Achievement. Nashville’s legendary James Burton Yockey audio mixer, Danny Poland. Johnson and won the Emmy for Best Director-Program. Poland not only executed the live shows According to series creator/producer Todd Yockey has worked for PBS, ABC, CBS, but also mixed and mastered the final Mayo, the series is a true “musical adven- Cinemax, HBO, MTV, and NBC in venues series for Audio. Both are long-standing ture” created to shine a light — literally like the Ryman Auditorium, Carnegie Hall members of Vince Gill’s touring recording and metaphorically — on America’s finest and the Eiffel Tower. He has worked with and touring operations. export: the diversity and quality of its mu- Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor, Dolly Parton, sical culture and natural beauty. “These Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Watch Bluegrass Underground Mondays Emmys go out to the entire crew, the pa- Frank Sinatra, Alan Jackson, Waylon Jen- at 7:30 pm and Thursdays at 9:30 pm. trons and viewers of the series, WCTE and nings and scores more. 4 | WCTE Close-Up A Night At The Emmys by Becky Magura, President & CEO of WCTE photo credit Jennifer LeFevre hen I was a freckled-faced, and those personal folks who keep me sun kissed, impassioned going every day - Max, Jen, Aunt Ruth W 7-year-old kid, I remember and all of our family and friends. standing in front of the mirror with a Through it all, I fought back tears of joy bottle of Joy soap in my hands practicing and anticipation and excitement for what my acceptance speech for an Academy this recognition means for all of us. In Award or an Emmy that I just knew I my speech, when I said this Emmy is for would win one day. Fast-forward almost you, I meant it. It is ours, and it is well 50 years later and there I was. My dream deserved. had come true. I was accepting an Emmy award. I am so very proud of Todd Jarrell and Todd Mayo and the whole Bluegrass That night at the Mid South Regional Underground team! To be nominated for Emmy Awards wasn’t my first trip with six Emmys and to bring home four is no Todd Jarrell to that magical stage, or small accomplishment! WCTE has been even the first time being nominated, but involved with this series since its incep- it was my moment to fulfill that 7-year tion and we continue to present the old kid’s dream and finally make that series on a national level through PBS. long-awaited acceptance speech. I’m already practicing a new speech in It was an emotionally charged time. I front of the mirror, still freckled-faced had a chance to give a shout out to our and sun kissed albeit with a few more Upper Cumberland region, our hard lines, but every bit as impassioned. working and talented WCTE staff, all who support us on a day-to-day basis as Only this time, I’m not holding a bottle of members and sponsors, our PBS family Joy soap. March/April 2014 | 5 Shows of the March 2014 Membership Drive WCTE is delighted to help you explore the worlds of music, health and drama from March 1 - 16 during our March Membership Drive. We are proud to bring you the best in national and local programming: shows that educate, inform, inspire and entertain. Your investment in WCTE helps to insure that we can continue to tell Upper Cumberland stories, and at the same time, bring the stories of the world to you. Here are a few highlights: Great Performances - Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration Celtic Woman : Emerald March 6, 10 & 14 March 9 & 16 Heartbeat of Home March 2, 7 & 12 America’s Wild West Rick Steve’s Italy: Cities of Dreams An Evening With Doc Watson March 2, 5, 10, 15 & 16 March 1, 11 & 16 March 1 & 4 Become a Sustaining Member of WCTE Simply set up your checking account or credit card to make an automatic monthly contribution, and support your public broadcasting for years to come. Choose any amount that works for you, whether $5 a month, $10 a month, or more. By spreading your contributions throughout the year, it’s easier on your budget — and since your membership is automati- cally renewed, it’s easier on your memory too! Support your Upper Cumberland PBS station by becoming a Sustaining Member today, and make sure that your favorite programs stay on the air. 6 | WCTE Close-Up Judy Collins: Live In Ireland Suze Orman’s Financial Solutions March 9 & 14 March 1, 8 & 12 Great Performances: Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Dr.