June 30th, 2009 
joel WJET-TV’s Mike Gallagher has nearly “moved in” to Clara Ward’s new home at the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build here in Erie. He’s getting major access to what is essentially a “closed set” because he is producing a behind-the-scenes documentary for both JET-TV and the builder on the job, Maleno Development.
During our live blog from the build Monday morning, I sat down with Mike to talk about the stories he is discovering from this project in Erie’s inner-city.
Posted in Television 
Tags: ABC, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Maleno Development, Mike Gallagher, WJET 
12 Comments » June 29th, 2009 joel 
Julius Genachowski, FCC Chair
YourErie.com and WSEE’s Jacqueline Policastro are reporting that the new FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski, will join Vice President Joe Biden in Erie on Wednesday.
Biden, Genachowski, along with Cabinet members Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke will reportedly appear at Seneca High School at 12 noon Wednesday, discussing a national rural broadband initiative that is part of the economic stimulus package.
Tickets to attend the event at Seneca will be available at the Seneca High School library beginning at 4 PM Tuesday on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Posted in From The Editor Tags: FCC, Gary Locke, Jacqueline Policastro, Joe Biden, Julius Genachowski, Seneca High School, Tom Vilsack, WSEE, YourErie.com 4 Comments » June 28th, 2009 joel On Saturday morning, June 27th, P&T was able to witness the Braveheart Rush leading up to the demolition of Clara Ward’s old home on Erie’s east side. This podcast lets you hear from some of the volunteers, the Erie media covering the event, and actual audio instructions given to the children and talent involved in Saturday morning’s shooting of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build in Erie.
Download The Press and Tower Podcast for June 28, 2009 or listen below.
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Posted in Podcasts Tags: Erie, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Jeremy Beecher, Kristen Kane, media, WICU, WJET, WSEE No Comments » June 27th, 2009 joel UPDATE: Spectators can now park at Bayfront and State Streets by the Erie Maritime Museum. An EMTA shuttle will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to take spectators to the site to watch the build. Spectators may take canned goods and books for the “Reed and Feed” drive on the shuttle and drop them off at the site.
Demolition of Clara Ward’s east Erie home by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was slated for midday on Saturday. In preparation is what’s called the Braveheart Rush, and for the first time, the rush was led by dozens of children, many of whom have benefited from Clara’s ministry to the neighborhood kids.
Here’s some quick pictures behind the scenes from this morning, along with a YouTube video of Steadicam Operator Bob Berg, who excelled in his craft in the middle of an onslaught of excited children led by Ty Pennington.
A podcast of interviews with volunteers and Erie media will be coming tomorrow. Spectators are welcome at the site after the demolition is completed this afternoon until 8 PM, then 8 to 8 daily.
Posted in Television Tags: ABC, Erie, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, media, Ty Pennington 1 Comment » June 25th, 2009 joel 
Do you remember hearing “ABC” by the Jackson 5 on WJET radio in the 60’s? How about the haunting theme song to the movie “Ben”? Or his first moonwalk on the Motown 25th Anniversary special? The countdown to the debut of the “Thriller” video? The bewilderment at his apprearance on a Barbara Walters special?
What is your memory of Michael Jackson?
Two of mine: When I was in high school, I used to DJ dances after the basketball games. My friend Sam Cohen and I were the S & S Express-the Dynamic Duo of Disco (my nickname at the time was snarkily “Slim”). One of the songs that got the most reaction was “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” from Michael’s first solo album “Off The Wall.” It’s hard to believe that at the time, there was skeptism that a Jackson could get back on the charts as the popularity of the Jackson 5 had been in demise for a few years. “Off The Wall” was a solid R&B, fully danceable record and totally launched MJ into his own.
The second is remembering when MTV came to Erie in the early 1980’s. Michael’s video’s were the most produced of any on the video channel. But nothing matched the buildup for the “Thriller” video. According to Wikipedia, the video was released on Dec. 2, 1983, smack in the middle of my senior year at Gannon, where we were all abuzz at the media phenomenon, and the budget of $500,000! As it turned out, we all absolutely loved it.
Posted in From The Editor Tags: Gannon University, Michael Jackson, MTV, Wikipedia, WJET 4 Comments »
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Deep Background for June 28-July 4, 2009
Like the newspaper headline screamed, “Erie’s going to Extremes!” The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build of Clara Ward’s new home on East 21st Street has every old and new media outlet buzzing. We will be posting every day this week through the reveal, giving you behind the scenes glances on what it takes to pull off an hour-long TV show, build a 2-3,000 square foot house, and change the course of a family’s and neighborhood’s reality.
If you have a comment to share, but it’s not appropriate to just “blurt out” e-mail me at joel@nataliemedia.com or tweet @pressandtower.
Embrace the Extreme Chaos!