Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 31

Entertainment 2B TIMES TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2000 ScMessiraeir SEIZE THE DAY Bubba prevails in boning match By PAMELA DAVIS Timet Staff Writer RADIO NOTES New York Timet Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the conservative radio host who has been the target of a nationwide protest by gay groups, has unleashed a counteroffensive aimed at retaining her advertisers. The campaign by Schlessinger, the second highest rated talk show host on radio after Rush Limbaugh, The crowd that showed up for Friday's Boxing for Books match in Tampa belonged to Bubba the Love Sponge. But by the end of the three-round exhibition fight many of them were chanting Dave McKay's name. McKay, half of country station WQYK-FM 99.5's afternoon me and Bubba," McKay said.

"I don't feel like I lost I feel like I gave it my best" Boxing for Books was a charity event to raise money for the Tampa Bay Buccaneer Chidi Ahanoutu Sponsorship Fund. MJ Kelli, morning man on WFLZ-FM 93.3, is dabbling in TV again. In May the radio personality hosted Kathy Fountain's Your Randy and Dave Show, J- 1,1 fm. -iV Turn, an m- came as her syndicator disclosed just how many sponsors have left the program because of the protest Kraig Kitchin, president and chief operating officer of Premiere Radio Networks, said the show has lost 12 brands, or nearly 10 percent, of its national advertisers. Pressure on the sponsors began to mount in April, after months of protests failed to persuade the Paramount Television Group to back away from plans to produce a new terviewcall- Dr.

Schlessinger segment on WTVT-Ch. 13's noon newscast and recently he taped a game show pilot for lo McKay came out swinging and never let up. He landed many of his punches and seemed to tire Bubba out But Bubba hung in there and produced a few moves of his own. Most of them involved pushing McKay into the well," said Barbara Burley, director of programming and promotion for Channel 44. Kelli is scheduled to tape an appearance on Hollywood Squares next month.

The game show invited morning radio personalities throughout the country for an episode that will air in November. With an eye to the bottom line, RadioDigest.com, a leading source of online radio news, will no longer cover several radio markets, including Tampa St. Petersburg. Four months ago, the Web site announced it was expanding from 45 radio markets to 94, but die budget isn't holding up, said editor-in-chief Jason Jackson. RadioDigestcom will continue comprehensive lists of AM and FM stations and coverage of major radio markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas.

A new host has taken over the 6 to 8 a.m. slot on sports radio station WDAE-AM 620. Sandy Penner comes to Tampa from WFNZ in Charlotte N.C., where he cohosted a program the Charlotte Observer named the area's best sports show. In addition to his new morning gig, Penney will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pre- and post-game shows (Bucs games air on country station WQYK-FM 99.5 and sports station WQYK-AM 1010). He also will be the station's main fill-in host Penner replaces Dan Sileo, who left WDAE to join the new Fox Sports Radio Network.

1: Kelli THINGS TO Chicago's Veruca Salt (not the spoiled little girl from Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory) hits the stage at 9:30 p.m. today at Tahiti Joe's (formerly the Groove), 1327 Seventh Ybor City. Tickets are $1 0 through Ticketmas- ter, $1 5 at the door. Call Tahiti Joe's at (813) 248-5533 orTicketmaster at (727) 898-2100 or (813)287-8844. Poet Bhau Kalchurl, author of MeherRos-hani: The Effulgence ofMeher and Meher Sa-rod, visits Borders in Carrollwood at 7:30 p.m.

today at 1 2500 Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, Kalchuri heads to the Palladium Theater, 253 Fifth Ave. St. Petersburg, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, then appears at Borders, 909 Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

All free. If Kids Night at Beef O'Brady's Family Sports Pub, 241 8 Jim Redman Parkway, Plarrt City, featuring Radio Disney-AM 1 380's Funs-' quad from 6 to 7 tonight. Kids can eat free, dance, play games and spin the prize wheel for gifts that include Devil Rays tickets. Call (727) 577-4500 or (81 3) 757-0300. Sample wine and cheese, then watch chefs Robert and Dr.

Giacomo prepare two Italian classics, risotto and ossobuco, from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Amore Catering, 4245 Henderson Tampa. The cost is $30. Call to reserve at (813) 287-2253. The curtain rises through the Smoke and Mirrors today at Florida Studio Theatre at 1 241 Palm Sarasota! Show times are 8 p.m.

-Tuesdays through Sundays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and 3 Sundays. Runs through Aug. 12. Tickets are Call (941) 366-9000.

Learn to arrange flowers from 1 0 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Tampa Federation of Garden Club Circles, 2629 Bayshore Tampa. The materials fee is $6 per class; bring a bag lunch and drink. RSVPat (813) 251-5059.

THINGS TO Cockroaches inspired by killer bees' behavior threaten the residents of an island off the coast of Maine on USA tonight irt the new made-for-cable movie They Ne Stars Thomas Calabro and Dean Stockwell. 8 p.m. Noah Wylie, who plays ER's young Dr. Carter, visits Beggars and Choosers tonight on Showtime. Wylie, said to to be a big fan of Beggars and Choosers, plays an unappealing TV type.

10pm Compiled by Times staff writer Kathleen Lang. She can be reached at langsptimes.com. For a complete roundup of activities around the Tampa Bay area, log on to the Web at http:www.tampabay.com. ft Bubba cal UPN affiliate WTOG-Ch. 44.

The show is called You're Wanted. Kelli describes it as a "localized street game show where the host is on a mock investigation." Kelli's job is to randomly approach people and ask them questions. Taping lasted two days and took place in downtown Tampa, WestShore Plaza and Clearwater Beach. You're Wanted will air at 6 p.m. Aug.

5. If it does well in the ratings, the reality game show could air regularly on Channel 44 as early as next year. "I have no inkling whatsoever to get into TV," Kelli said. "I'm not soliciting it. I was ap- proached and said 'Sure, 111 help you out' "I think his radio bit translates ropes.

In the end it was Bubba who won the decision but McKay who appeared to win the fight Overall, for two guys who talk on the radio for a living, the boxing was pretty good. On Monday morning, McKay visited the Bubba the Love Sponge Show on WXTB-FM 97.9 to forgive and forget all the trash talk, parody songs and general dislike that Bubba dished out days before the fight "There are no problems with syndicated TV show starring Schlessinger, who has described homosexuality as "deviant" and derivative of "biological error." The show is to make its debut Sept 11. In May, one of the first advertisers on the TV program, Procter Gamble, dropped its sponsorship. Radio sponsors began dropping immediately after that though Paramount executives said no other advertisers have abandoned the TV show. Schlessinger last week began urging her listeners to start a letter and e-mail campaign thanking those sponsors who have remained with her radio show and urged them to buy their products.

Schlessinger, who had previously been relatively passive amid the attacks, also announced that she will begin making on-air plugs for the sponsors who have remained with her. On Friday, in a brief telephone interview, she said, "I think anybody who has traditional values has been put on notice that if they express their values, they'll be put under attack." Those that have severed their ties with Schlessinger include some of the largest corporations in the nation: Toys Us, United Airlines, Kraft, General Foods and Xerox. The continued success of the protest campaign against Schlessinger led by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and a group called Stop-drlaura has been notable. The actions have reflected the growing political and economic power of gays, who are now exercising the sort of influence on the entertainment industry that conservative groups have in the past. Schlessinger has said she believes she is being unfairly targeted, claiming that her statements about gays are being taken out of context and that she is simply espousing family values.

She has said that while she opposes homosexuality and a "gay activist agenda," she does not oppose gays. Despite loud complaints even from within its own ranks, Paramount said it is sticking with the program. Production started last week. Protests prompt Walter? to cancel Simpson interview New York Timet (727 VL. C-CCUU Free Consultation Ite only if successful -exdusive of costs 00 The Wring of lawyer it Important dtctolon that houtd not based soWy upon ahnrtwarrnt.

Etotor you decida, ff JuJI Leisure I Board OWHjtd I amm us to send you wnrwn -orrrMUton aooui our qutunca- tione and experience THE Daily Crossword 1 Edited by Wayne Robert Williams mm Monday's Puzzle Solved rhe Ail ALL lERJGE ON Bfl ATK INGUP HUGE Entire Stock of Diamond Earrings OFF! SjE LM ApElY 0)PEN ER Diamond Earring Jackets 7 8 9 10 11 Barbara Walters has decided to cancel an appearance by J. Simpson scheduled for Wednesday on The View, after being deluged with protests from viewers and members of the staff of the program. Simpson was booked last week to appear on the daytime talk Show, in conjunction with the start of a Web site that will solicit money from the public for an opportunity to ask Simpson questions. The site also will sell memorabilia associated with Simpson. "I received more very unhappy phone calls from viewers than I have in a very long time," Walters said.

That was not the defining thing, but that troubled me." Also important were the opinions of two of the show's other hosts, Meredith Vieira and Joy Behar. "Meredith and Joy both expressed their unhappiness about it on the air last week," Walters said. The fourth host, Star Jones, had indicated that she would be eager to talk to Simpson. Simpson is scheduled to appear on NBC's Today show today, and the Fox News cable channel, Court TV and others later in the week. Ir AID! IR ElNlD vIaIsIsa 1 1 Its rj i ns imp at i IIn Tnowm iLlElAlsrTDBlulNlKMolulslEl THamotet 14 12 34 1 A RKC1 I DA UP bl 4HT i Stud 14 $99 12 $290 1 $750 172 $1450 2 A I I EST OLJR 00 mS -A 12 13 18 22 23 24 25 Shoulder warmer Shipshape Klutz Mineral vein Egyptian landmark What Jefferson's not worth? Longest river in France Spirited mount Camera part Sharp turn Celebrations Reformat Jefferson's favorite channel? Functions Challenged Haley or Trebek Carpenter's box Rabbits' kin We hold truths to Alphabetizes Wheel nuts Marshal Wyatt $1790 A RGO j3 ub "eLJ vv I I LJ I I I 4 Carat $6800 72500 (Q2000 Tribune Madia Services, Inc.

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