The Monitor from McAllen, Texas • 33

IM'v qKpi iWh 5 1 1 1 fl I Wl vUIwUlw I JI I Wlv yrSvI 3 7 SUNDAY JANUARY 15 1995' ILTtTW1 MV buUkJJc Trekkers Been a long time read this COMMENTARY V4Mv'AW'vtiMlfi6''W T'ifefwtie'ti MIWOOdfC I a4 XT I I PHILLIP LOZANO A Vwi7 3fitSt 4V rivtsil ivvna The lovely and tainted Brad Pitt as seen ih Legends of the fjall now playing at Cinemark i Movies 1 0 in McAllen or a seemingly risky proposition like a Star Trek TV revival syndication seemed the final frontier in 1987 In 1 995 however with Star Trek: The Nest Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine having established Anthony Hopkins and Aldan Quinn in the Western epic Legends of the all which opened riday read that been hanging out in these gay bare and that I donated my sperm to my friend (singer) Melissa Shaking his head in bewilderment (he dentes the story by the way) Pitt said he rarely does interviews anymore 'because of what has been written about him haft seeing those little quotation marks around words that didn't come 945 trough The new station is filling the rock music void here ans are getting heavy doses of Led Zeppelin oreigner Rolling Stones Nirvana and Sheryl Crow Long neglected rock listeners now hUve a viable music outlet during their short commutes to work or on late night weekends with old friends According to call in surveys the station is seeing success after only two weeks into the new format of classic rock mixed with songs from the 1 98Qs and music from today's breakthrough bands When 945 replaced the languishing country KRG at 12:01 am Jan I the station offered a relentless 24 hour drone of one song: Led "Rock Roll" The classic tune with John Bonham's pulsating drums and Jimmy driving guitar communicated to 945 listeners intimidation and covert violence As a result a group of colonists has formed an independent niilitaryierrorist organization called the Maquis They begin fighting the Cardassians in the process violating the ederationCardassian treaty and ederation law The Maquis are thusly perceived as criminals by' Starfleet whom attempt to arokanJ fhpm eujvivetviM ww Captain Kathryn Janeway in command of the starship USS Voyager has been ordered to purstfe a particular Maquis ship Events unfold in such' a ay as they are flung 70000 light years from ederation spaceinto an unknown region of the galaxy Prime directive problems crop up as well as the matter of survival The Voyager and Maquis crew team up to try and reach home which at best speed (unless some wormhole type shortcut is found I would take at least 70 years Whew! Exciting fare to be sure although Trekkers are of course likely to catch oo to going on much more quickly than others Once you A sci fi technobabble though it VS should be quite an interesting ride MUip Lozano is a copy editor for The Monitor 7 77 Since They Rock Rolled: Top a low budget change )6 the old ROG sign outside of 945 Above program director Alan Sells keep on top of things At left 945 morning DJ Tony orina works the control board By BARRETT MARSON The Monitor McALLEN Rio Grande Valley rock fans missed out on the Seattle music explosion Music lovers here know Chicago as the home of great blues artists but not as home base for Liz Phair or Veruca Salt In the Valley over the past four years rock has maintained radio silence But with a new rock radio station in town fans may not have to miss the next big scene Rock roll aficionados thirsty for three chord knee pounding music are lining up at the track records as the two highest rated ft sy nd it died dramas in television history the prospect of yet another sequel sei icjtj seems like business as usual for Paramount and Trek producer gurus Rick Berman and Michael Piller Co created ith Nest Generation veteran Jeri Taylor Star Trek: oyager has all the earmarks of a sci fi hit: Creative minds attractive stars a big bankroll and a built in audience cultivated over nearly 30 years You would think this new show would get immediate clearance all across the country and the local stations would have trouble free aycess to such an attractive program You would think A phone call or 10 to Julian Adame the hard working program director for KRGV TV Channel 5 established otherw ise Although KRGV has carried Star TrTk in all its various forms (Classic Nest Generation and Deep Space Nine) for many years Paramount seemed to be playing a game of "keep away" ith Voyager This is because Paramount has started its own ad hoc of independent stations (United Paramount Network) committed to carrying two nights of prime time programming every week nationwide Star Trek: Voyager is thejr flagship program of this new network (or "web" in industry speak) Since KRGV is already signed up with its own well established network (ABC of course) Paramount was reluctant to let KRGV have Voyager alone despite the fact that no independent outlet exists in this market and (unlike Warner Bros" new network venture) they had no desire to hook up via cable which is less attractive to i advertisers In the end reason prevailed and Adame informed me just before deadline that Star Trek: Voyager's two hour premiere is scheduled tor broadcast on his station at 1 1 pm riday with the regular series starting at 1 1 pm Monday Jan 23 The scenario is tlius: A demilitarized zone between the ederation and the alien Cardassian empire has been set up in the wake of a devastating years long war In the process a large number ol small ederation colonies located in the badly to hear the negative and to gossip 1 just don't understand it wish they yould be more creative in what they say about me" he said Then be paused and thought back to the story he had just mentioned "Actually that sperm one was pretty good" Pitt 29 likes to downplay his reputation See PITT Page 4E the new mission: Play loud jangling familiar rock music and nothing but Program director Alan Sells architect of the station's changeover is firmly entrenched in his job Computerizing playlists analyzing demographics and charting the course all fall under his purview Aside from his job as program director Sells a 20 year veteran of album oriented radio and part of a morning drive team assumes control of the microphone in the 3 to 7 pm drive time shift Those craving the offspring bands of Neil Young and Van Morrison get their share of air time Sells has no ambition to turn 945 into an oldies station See ROCK page 2E iiiBiiii oft Called Life Ittie Associated ASIjlNGTQN ederal regulators took af firststep Thursday toward bringing a new' form oTnews and entertainment to people a lot of time in their cars: radio rStaiidM that'tfiVd ederal Communications Conpynsjipnagreed tqselasjdea portion of the public airwaves for a' proposed service that would bea vailable nationwide transmitted by qhellfte ux The action marks a victory tar four companies with plans before the agency to provide the service It comes after four years ofbattling with the broadcast radio industry which fears the new competition will hurt local stations" iJi CC Commissioner Rachelle Chong said she viewed the idea as "a complement to existing broadcasting not as a I rv The proposed service which will target national or regional markets i not likely divert enough listeners to jeopardise local stations CC officials said' 1 But CC officials said they will look at this more closely when they develop rules later this year to license and regulate flic service i f' All photos by Carlos MorenoThe Monitor Q945 switches from country to rock format starting to annoy him know what I read about myself the other Pitt who stars with 7 fbr'seJonghe sbetild start wearing a Baskin Robbins uniform He has been one of hottest actors on the verge of stardom since his celebrated albeit brief breakthrough role three years ago in Thelma Louise There were the inevitable James whispers A River Runs Through was supposed to be the star making velycle that drove him to his destiny His fans said he was terrific in the role and the film was a ilervr hit hut nnt enouch of a hit to shine 1 nr1 out of mv mouth People want so rill JMATinC WMIUkbJ UUrtUivvivoumi II Cool World kill his career) Johnny badly to twist things People want so Suede was another potential starmaker our nobody saw it Surely i( seemed interview With The Vampire would take care of that stardom thing As it turned out Tom Cruise and the gore quotient got all the press Still Pitt has received his fair share of publicity and hefty salary increases at the same time as his career continues its climb hi fact he says some of the trappings of almost stardom already are fighting for ts own BGAILSHISTER Knight Ridder Newspapers PASADENA Calif Is My So Called Life dead or alive? Talk to us Ted Harbert Reports of the acclaimed new cancellation premature 4 and the ABC Entertainment boss told TV Critics gathered here Wednesday one of my favorite showsWell continue to promote the hell out of it trying to get an Si audience I the good news The bad news Harbert says Is that which ends its 19 episode run 1 Jan 26 has $bown almost no growth at 7 pan Thursdays and contmurs io be a Nielsen nightmare for t(e rated network ABCfwill decide in i May whetiw to renewjr fertile 1 I of stardom (again) By BARRY KOLTNOW Orange County Register Brad Pitt has been the flavor of the Vfib a 'X'Z' til Mj wslW WWIf iW IMl It Unr 11 1 I I SOI SflKE JI ie t4 7 "teSlBgla MMsps1 mtm 'W JTaa rak While ptssknafely embraced by many adolescots Le has yet tdr TLPageMi 2 1 ST a rw 'vzwy a' vaa a a r'r" 7s a 'V' 11 it 4 LA ft a 1 TheMonitor.