Mpt

Thanks to Maryland Public Television for scheduling the airing of "Under our Skin" ("MPT airing deeply flawed film about Lyme disease," June 19). A controversy in medicine is not a new thing, and the push to stop the airing of this film is quite telling. It's great to know that MPT is still in the business of free speech. Bravo. K. Meyer, Vienna, Va.

Our words weren't exactly, "Let's put on a show," but they could have been. Maryland Public Television is forever grateful to PBS, the "Great Performances" series and our colleagues at WNET in New York for responding to our 2012 invitation to join us in putting on a show to celebrate the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner in Baltimore in 2014. For two hours last Saturday night and with the tremendous support of the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, Dick Clark Productions, Pier Six , Star-Spangled 200, Inc., The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Fort McHenry, the National Park Service and others, we were pleased to present "Star-Spangled Spectacular: Bicentennial of Our National Anthem" as a national MPT production for the PBS system.

A majority of callers to SUNDIAL has no objection to Maryland Public Television broadcasting reruns of commercial network programs. MPT plans to air NBC's old ''St. Elsewhere'' series nightly at 11 p.m. beginning June 1.Of 292 callers, 156, or 53 percent, said MPT should show the reruns. And 74 percent felt the station should carry programs other than news and public affairs at 11 p.m., the traditional time for late news on the commercial networks."It's Your Call" represents a sampling of opinions from certain segments of the community, but it is not balanced demographically as would be done in a scientific public opinion poll.

The only statewide broadcast of the four Republican candidates for governor debating will air Friday night at 7 on Maryland Public Television. Harford County Executive David R. Craig, Del. Ron George of Anne Arundel County, former Ehrlich administration official Larry Hogan and Charles County conservative activist Charles Lollar taped the 60-minute debate Monday at the MPT studios. The four previously debated last Saturday in Salisbury, but that encounter was televised only on the Eastern Shore.

The only statewide broadcast of the four Republican candidates for governor debating will air Friday night at 7 on Maryland Public Television. Harford County Executive David R. Craig, Del. Ron George of Anne Arundel County, former Ehrlich administration official Larry Hogan and Charles County conservative activist Charles Lollar taped the 60-minute debate Monday at the MPT studios. The four previously debated last Saturday in Salisbury, but that encounter was televised only on the Eastern Shore.

With regard to the piece on state-run public TV, David Zurawik gets to the heart of the matter when he says, "the community-based formula, as practiced at WETA in Washington, is vastly superior in terms of guaranteeing editorial independence and community access. " ("Chris Christie's take on state-run public TV outlets — like MPT," July 5.) While Gov. Martin O'Malley may be completely blameless, the door is wide open for the abuse of power by less-then-honorable officials.

"The Maryland Harvest," a new documentary exploring the partnership between Maryland farmers and chefs, debuts Tuesday night at 9 p.m. on Maryland Public Television. You can watch a teaser for the documentary here . Produced by Hoopla, Inc. and hosted by Al Spoler, "The Maryland Harvest" follows the seasons as it chronicles several chef-farmer partnerships. Among the chefs are Spike Gjerde (Woodberry Kitchen), Cindy Wolf (Charleston) and David McCallum (Tilghman Island Inn)

Our words weren't exactly, "Let's put on a show," but they could have been. Maryland Public Television is forever grateful to PBS, the "Great Performances" series and our colleagues at WNET in New York for responding to our 2012 invitation to join us in putting on a show to celebrate the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner in Baltimore in 2014. For two hours last Saturday night and with the tremendous support of the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, Dick Clark Productions, Pier Six , Star-Spangled 200, Inc., The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Fort McHenry, the National Park Service and others, we were pleased to present "Star-Spangled Spectacular: Bicentennial of Our National Anthem" as a national MPT production for the PBS system.

Last week, I thought Lt. Governor Anthony Brown was the loser among Democratic candidates for not showing up at WBFF's TV debate. And he was. But he was an even bigger loser Monday in showing up for the debate on Maryland Public Television. No wonder he doesn't want to do these TV debates. It's not just incumbency; he's terrible on television. His answers are just this side of bureaucratic doublespeak - exactly the rhetoric of Washington and Annapolis unaccountability that makes some voters want to scream.

Maryland Public Television said Wednesday that Steven J. Schupak, its senior vice president, has been named chief content officer. Schupak, who joined MPT in 2003, oversees the development, production, licensing and national distribution of the station's programs, among other responsibilities. Schupak is responsible for the station's local productions, including "Outdoors Maryland" and "State Circle. " During his tenure, MPT has earned 26 Emmy Awards and other industry honors for its productions.

The three Democratic candidates for governor will all meet for their second televised debate Monday night on Maryland Public Television and WBAL-TV, giving voters their final opportunity to see them confront each other on television. Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and Del. Heather R. Mizeur will go on at 7 p.m. in a debate hosted by MPT's Jeff Salkin. The three met last month in a televised debate at the University of Maryland College Park in an exchange that included lively confrontations between Brown and Gansler while Mizeur largely stayed above the fray.

Last week, I thought Lt. Governor Anthony Brown was the loser among Democratic candidates for not showing up at WBFF's TV debate. And he was. But he was an even bigger loser Monday in showing up for the debate on Maryland Public Television. No wonder he doesn't want to do these TV debates. It's not just incumbency; he's terrible on television. His answers are just this side of bureaucratic doublespeak - exactly the rhetoric of Washington and Annapolis unaccountability that makes some voters want to scream.

What a sorry state of affairs I discovered last week when I started reporting the TV aspect of the first Democratic gubernatorial debate. I quickly came to understand that Baltimoreans would not be seeing the event, which will be staged Wednesday at the University of Maryland, College Park and produced by WRC-TV, the NBC-owned station in Washington. But how could that be, especially with three candidates hardly known in the city: Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and Del. Heather R. Mizeur?

Maryland Public Television Wednesday afternoon changed its mind and decided it would carry the May 7 Democratic gubernatorial candidates debate. The Sun reported Tuesday on this blog that Baltimore viewers were not scheduled to be able to see the debate even though it was being staged at a state-owned university. MPT's decision today means the debate among  Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and Del. Heather R. Mizeur will now be seen in Baltimore -- and in an over-the-air venue that makes it accessible to the largest possible audience.

Even though next week's first gubernatorial debate is being co-hosted by two taxpayer-funded state universities, Baltimore viewers are not scheduled to be able to see it. The event featuring Democratic candidates Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and Del. Heather R. Mizeur is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 7 at the University of Maryland, College Park and will be broadcast live on Washington's NBC-owned station, WRC-TV (Channel...

In a precursor to summer, Maryland Public Television will take beach lovers on a behind-the-scenes tour of Ocean City with its new documentary “Downee Ocean, Hon!” The one-hour program premieres April 21 at 9 p.m. during the station's Chesapeake Bay Week. “Downee Ocean, Hon” peeks into Ocean City's rich family traditions and town history. From the sunset on the bay and salt water taffy to the small town's vivid nightlife, the documentary captures it all. “We count a lot of different small stories," says Mike English, producer of "Downee Ocean, Hon. " "We look at life on the boardwalk, we look at beach life, we look at some of the interesting characters that ocean city is known for…what we're trying to do is strike a chord with our viewers.” English says he was inspired by the beach town's memories and reputation as a family fun spot.

The Federal Communication Commission's Media Bureau has proposed a $20,000 fine against Maryland Public Television for alleged violations of the agency's equal opportunity employment rules and "false" reporting to the FCC about the alleged infractions. The FCC action, formally known as Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, charges that MPT failed to inform a Columbia-based broadcasting school of job openings and then provided what the communications law publication "Antenna" characterized as "false" information to the FCC when questioned about it. The FCC action was first reported in the January issue of "Antenna.

Maryland Public Television is overwhelmed by the success of a children's show, "Barney and Friends," on which it is basing a new fund-raising effort. After airing six hours of the show last Sunday, pledges totaling $40,000 poured in. That's $10,000 more than MPT received the final night of the acclaimed Civil War series a few years back.Barney is a show about a big, imaginary purple dinosaur. The character has become so popular so fast it has eclipsed the internationally recognized Big Bird in popularity; "Barney" marched in the presidential inaugural parade and kindergartners trapped in the World Trade Center last month sang his theme song while awaiting rescuers.

Tonight Maryland Public Television will their new documentary "Marvin Mandel: A Complicated Life," taking a look at our 56th governor. I received an advanced copy from MPT and watched it over the weekend and can tell you that it is certainly worth waching.   The piece takes a look at Mandel's rise, from a young man who wanted to be a major league ballplayer, through law school and his selection to be a part of Baltimore's Democratic machine, and then his ascension as governor.

The Federal Communication Commission's Media Bureau has proposed a $20,000 fine against Maryland Public Television for alleged violations of the agency's equal opportunity employment rules and "false" reporting to the FCC about the alleged infractions. The FCC action, formally known as Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, charges that MPT failed to inform a Columbia-based broadcasting school of job openings and then provided what the communications law publication "Antenna" characterized as "false" information to the FCC when questioned about it. The FCC action was first reported in the January issue of "Antenna.