“Colorado State of Mind,” Rocky Mountain PBS’s weekly political hot-potato show, this week takes on panhandlers and what to do about them.
Host Greg Dobbs and four panelists discuss the prohibitions and limitations on those with their hands, and cardboard signs, out (7:30 tonight, KRMA-Channel 6).
Panelists are Jim Spencer, Denver Post columnist; John Parvensky, president, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless; Vera Ortegon, member, Board of Water Works, Pueblo, and Katy Atkinson, Republican political consultant.
Street-savvy hard-liner Bob Cote of Step 13 is not among the panelists. He was not invited, he says. “They don’t want to hear my stuff.”
Weekend highlights
Today
TV keeps dipping into to its archival well so we shouldn’t be surprised that “Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again” pops up on CBS, including Michele Lee and Ted Shackleford, who were on for the series’ entire run 1979 to 1993 (8 p.m., KCNC-Channel 4).
Saturday
“The Academy of Country Music’s 40th Anniversary Celebration” brings together Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood and a sackful of other country stars to sing songs by their favorite performers (8 p.m., Channel 4).
Sunday
After a bit of a slump, “Desperate Housewives” is heating up again with Bree (Marcia Cross) saying farewell to the murderous George and the return of troubled young folks Zach and Andrew (8 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7).
Around the dial
Longtime Denver deejay Dave Otto looking for work. “They didn’t renew my contract,” says Otto of his bosses at KDJM 92.5-FM (“Jammin”‘). On the air here at one station or another for 18 years, he wants to stay in Denver, maybe do an entertainment-related FM talk show. Dec. 16 is his last day at Jammin’. … Low ratings forcing liberal Air America Radio to shake up its morning roster. Gone as of Jan. 2 is “Morning Sedition” to be replaced by “The Mark Riley Show” (3-5 a.m. in Denver on KKZN 760-AM) and “The Rachel Maddow Show” (5-6 a.m., followed by “The Jay Marvin Show,”). “Historically, AAR hasn’t done as well in mornings as other dayparts,” says Danny Goldberg, chief executive for AAR. …
Boulder runners Len Houle, Mike Sandrock and Marty Kibiloski premiere “Running Today” with the last interview given by late New Zealand coach Arthur Lydiard (7:30 a.m. Saturday, Altitude). … Olympic skier Bode Miller does his radio show from Beaver Creek (5 p.m. today, Sirius Radio channel 28). … Quotable: “You can spend the money on new housing for poor people and the homeless, or you can spend it on a football stadium or a golf course.” Jello Biafra
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
