News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 55

Short-story author Bradbury finally gets to do TV his way9D Film critic William Wolf gives 'The Hitcher' a thumbs-down12D Datebook2D Horoscopes5D Movies10D NEWS-PRESS FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 21, 1986 PDpl MIXED REVIEWS MICHAEL ERICKSON 1 1 -'94 1 Award often turns tables for winners Looking between the letters 1 1 It's showtime for the stars atop charts Gannett News Service Ken Ehrlich remembers a previous Grammy night when an awards presenter's first line to a TV audience of millions was "Are we really on He also recalls a very nervous moment when just before airtime his opening act Ste-vie Wonder had not arrived. "Stevle got tied up in traffic and arrived with only minutes to opening. He wasn't even in costume but we got him on stage just as the curtain opened." This year marks the 28th anniversary of the Grammy Awards, and the seventh year Ehrlich has produced the Grammy extravaganza for CBS-TV. He said he finds producing the "live" Grammy event exciting and challenging.

"These stars may have egos, but they're always cooperative here. We rehearse 15 acts over three days In preparation for the Grammys. If we fall behind schedule In rehearsal, they work It out They defer to one another." The three-hour live telecast next Tuesday, starting at 8 p.m., originating from Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, by tradition features announcements of winners and performances by nominees in about 1 4 of the 7 1 categories. Winners In other categories are honored In a special ceremony before air time, and their names are announced during the television show. "Beyond that structure, every year Is a totally new and excltlngshow," Ehrlich said.

See SHOWTIME, page4D In his diary of Adam's days in Eden, Mark Twain's first-generation male is confounded by much that goes on after Eve's arrival, but especially by how his flighty mate so smugly names all of the animals. Eve assures him that she would never name anything what it isn't. If they had had radio or television in Paradise what might be considered a mutually exclusive arrangement she would have been as good at naming the stations as she was at picking frull "I don't think it means anything," Barbara Thomas says today of her station's call letters. She works at a place called WINK. WINK radio, the AM station, went on the air in 1 940 as WFTM, letters that presumably stood for Fort Myers.

The letters were changed in 1942 to WAAC (which sounds like a war-time acronym) and in 1 944 to WINK. Surely someone must have noticed that they formed a four-letter word that means "to close one eyelid and open it again quickly," but, according to Thomas' research, no one now at the station can remember back that far. So much for youth having all the answers. WINK-TV began broadcasting in 1954. Edward R.

Murrow was delivering the nightly news for the CBS network, with which the station has always been affiliated. WBBH-TV, the NBC affiliate, entered the picture In 1968. General manager Howard Hoffman says Its call letters mean "Best Buy Hours." It was and, he says, still Is a subtle message to advertisers. "The reason we selected the call letters WEVU," says program director Susan Peters at the ABC affiliate, "Is that It says exactly what we want people to do: we-vu, like 'we view." Viewers got their first look at WEVU in 1 975. In explaining the selection of call letters, Peters points out, "WINK was already taken." The newest television station in the area is Channel 36, which went on the air last fall from studios in Cape Coral.

The FT In Its WFTX call letters stands for "family television," says general manager Hugh Robinson. Family Television Is the name of the company that owns the station, as well as the general scope of its programming. The in the name does not suggest that the station is concentrating on X-rated family shows. "It was added," Robinson says, "just to bring it out to the required four letters." ByGAYEDELAPLANE Gannett News Service "When you're hot, you're hot, and when you're not you can't give it away" Is a favorite line of songwriter-singer Roger Miller. It also helps explain the competitive fever when Grammy Awards time rolls around.

Miller, who bagged a bunch of Grammys in 1964 and 1965 (for "Dang Me" and "King of the has been hot and not-so-hot so he speaks from experience. The media exposure from the awards can catapult artists into super-stardom. Two-time Grammy winner Kenny Rogers will host as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences honors artists and technicians for recording excellence next Tuesday In Los Angeles. And who's hot this year? Those most often mentioned by the experts to go home with Grammys are Dire Straits, Bruce Springsteln, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, Sade, Phil Collins and Aretha Franklin. Most critics refuse to be specific about wins in specific categories, but the consensus Is: Dire Straits rock group is hot.

The group's had a terrific year, its music is solid, record sales are big. Drummervocalist Phil Collins, a big talent who's highly respected In the industry, is a versatile favorite. Female vocalist Sade has an appealing, refreshing and unique sound. She's had a great year and her mainstream recordings are strong. The smart money Is on trumpeter Wynton Marsalls, guitarist Stanley Jordan and vocalist Tania Maria in jazz categories.

"We Are the World," USA for Africa will take a Grammy as a reward for the united humanitarian effort. Bruce Springsteen's phenomenal year and super talent will bring him a Grammy for "Born In the U.S.A." Singer Whitney Houston, nominated in pop and rhythm and blues, had a break-through year and is getting a lot of attention. Critics pick Aretha Franklin for the rhythm and blues nod. Alabama, Rosanne Cash and The Judds are strong contenders in country categories. While anticipation mounts, NARAS President Mike Greene devotes his waking hours to promoting and planning the big event.

"For about six weeks, It's hectic," said Greene, who not only represents NARAS but is vice president of a video production company In Atlanta. "Instead of typical 12-hour days, it's more like 18-hour days. We're doing extra interviews, planning the TV show." And for those who haven't decided whether or not to tune in for the Grammy Awards on television, he added, "It always amazes me that every year, new artists and new music come along that See AWARD, page4D 1 i QNS Illustration 1 1 'Tt Music stars expected to figure prominently in this year's Grammy Awards are (counterclockwise from top) Pat Benatar, Stanley Jordan, Ricky Skaggs, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Wynton Marsalls and Whitney Houston. See a complete list of Grammy nominees and past Record of the Year winners on page 3D. 'Kv 1 i There was a qualifier in that second-to-last paragraph.

It began, "The newest television station in the area There'san even newer radio station at 1 200 on the AM dial. WDCQ began broadcasting from Cape Coral on Thursday morning. It is calling itself "the 24-hour gold giant." Instead of a "Miami Vice" look-alike contest, this station would be more likely to sponsor an "I Spy" competition. "DCQ stands for 'Dynamite Classics on "says program director Bob Roberts. Owner Jerry Collins, who recently sold a station In a cold place In Minnesota called Duluth, says his 1 daytime broadcasts should cover Lee and Collier counties.

When the sun drops, his wattage power will drop with It to 1 ,000 watts. He says his nighttime broadcasts should cover Lee County. -f- V(l TODAY will be held at Lely High School). Tickets are $15 for hotel patrons, which includes reserved seating and an invitation to an after-concert reception. All other tickets are $5 each, and concert-goers must provide their own seating.

Tickets are available at Robinson's, Naples Beach Hotel and Naples Area Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Collier County Arts Council. For details on other festival events, call 263-2626. SATURDAY Annual shrimp show scheduled The Fort Myers Beach Lions Club's 28th Annual Shrimp Festival, featuring entertainment, contests and food, begins Saturday and continues through March 1. A race for children in kindergarten through fifth grade will be held at 9 a.m.

at Gulf Beach Drive. Trophies will be awarded to the winners. From 1 0 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, a boat show, marine flea market and trade show will be held.

Food served includes bratwurst, kraut, sausage, beans and potato salad. On Sunday, there will be a jam session from 2 to 5 p.m. Other activities include bingo at the Fort Myers Beach Shrine Club and American Legion Hall. Food flows freely at benefit The Food Festival of Marco Island will be held Saturday and Sunday on North Collier Boulevard. Sponsored by the newly formed Marco Island Merchant Association, the festival runs from 10 a.m.

to 5:30 p.m. each day. In addition to the wide selection of food available from local restaurants, there will be entertainment, raffles, fashion shows, and arts and crafts displays. Special guests include Playboy bunnies and Bobby Riggs, former Wimbledon champion. Proceeds from the event will benefit Meals on Wheels based in Naples and the Guadalupe See WEEKEND, page 70 Nero appearing at festival THOMAS A.

PRICENewvPress Rodeo clown Texas Bill Thorpe steers toward the LaBelle festival. LaBelle swamped by crowd The first annual NaplesMarco Arts Festival, sponsored by the Collier County Arts Council, will be held Friday through March 2. The festival features concerts, demonstrations, art exhibits, and a public dance presented by members of the Collier County Arts Council. A Some other call letters, and what they were meant to mean: WGTR: "That's short for 'Gator Country," says Dwyer Broadcasting's Pat Detsch. He says sister FM station WOO "goes along with the fact that we call ourselves 'Orange and the reason we call ourselves 'Orange 1 07' Is that when you think of Florida, what do you think of? orange Juice.

And the OJ stands for orange juice." Before becoming so nutritional, the station was called WSWF, "Radio Southwest Florida." Although it dates back to what station personnel refer to as "Doc Peters' time," which means no one is certain anymore, WRCC apparently means "Radio Cape Coral." think initially they called themselves 'Cozy says Kevin Dunn. "But we're anything but cozy now." Dunn says See REVIEWS, pat6D Pianist Peter Nero Thousands of people are expected to swarm to the park this weekend to devour the Florida state tree. Although this may sound rather strange. It's actually part of a tradition that's been taking place for 20 years. It's the Swamp Cabbage Festival, a celebration of Florida's state tree the cabbage palm.

The three-day event is helrj each February in La- Belle's Barron Park on State Road 29. Last year, an estimated 42,000 people came to the party to feast on the delicins swamp cabbage, take part in country and western dances, watch parades and rodeos, play games, and enjoy some down-home entertainment For the last few days, men have been tramping through the woods See SWAMPED, page 5D special concert by pianist Peter Nero will highlight the festival's opening. Sponsored by Robinson's of Florida and the American Express Company, the concert will be held tonight at 7:30 on Watkins Lawn of the Naples Beach Hotel, Gulf Shore Boulevard, Naples. (In case of rain, the concert i.