HOINEWS.com Has a Blog Directory

It's about time that a television station dedicated a page to local blogs and discussion outlets and I'm part of the community site.

HOINEWS.com now has a Heart of Illinois Blog Directory page and I'm located under the Television & Radio page.

Laura Michels "You've Got Heart"

Oh... how I love this idea from HOI 19.

The station is beginning a new segment called "You've Got Heart", which seems to perhaps look like a "Hometown Heroes" type segment the station is trying out.

It's okay for 19 to take from 25... 25 took from 19, remember the "One Class at a Time"/"Golden Apple" debacle from blogs past???

Anyways, Laura Michels is taking the lead on this one it seems... she is asking for nominees to drop the station a line at the special "You've Got Heart" page.

Love this idea though... let's bring the "Heart" back to 19!!!

Okay Kim, I'll Chat More About Gretchen

I watch HOI 19 News Daybreak and I indeed realize that Gretchen Wirtz is starring in the theatre production of "High School Musical" playing at the "Corn Stock Theatre" throughout April I believe.

It's an awesome gig for Gretchen and I know she will do a great job. If I'm not mistaken, she's playing a teacher, correct?

Could this be a lanching pad for our 19's Gretchen Wirtz. First local theatre, then perhaps broadway... and then maybe starring in a sitcom or drama with dare I say, David Duchovny???

The New Set... Atleast it Looks Better!!!

So it's here.

The new set.

Well, is it new? Or is it just a replica of the old time WHOI-TV set, with a desk and a cityscape of Peoria???

Anyways, the new set gets my vote. It's about time the station tried something to look better, and I think they accomplished it with this new set.

I like it, really I do... but I'm wondering if I like it because it's just different than the old set?

The brick motife, along with the window looking out to the Peoria cityscape and the brighter colors are welcoming.

I'm wondering now if WHOI-TV is still working on a different look to Ric, Gretchen, and Jessica's weather center.

The only thing that is the same is that... it's only obvious they just spruced it up with giving it sort of a den paneled front.

Also, the automated cameras are cheap, and it shows... during the Monday night broadcast, poor Jim Mattson's "Jim Dandy" piece was overshadowed when the automated camera came in to shot.

The station is working on the kinks though. Tonight's HOI NEWS AT 5pm and 6pm looked a heck of lot better.

Jeff's now wondering if perhaps new theme music and a new graphics package might be added in the coming weeks as Jen Christensen returns from maternity leave???

That would be more welcoming news for the #1 TV station in the "Heart of Illinois".