Doug Whitehead thought he’d seen it all until he came across Mom’s Kitchen Cafe in Otis, Colo.
Yes, there really is such a place. If it’s out there, Whitehead, beginning his 14th season as producer for “Colorado Getaways” (6:30 p.m. Saturday, KCNC-Channel 4) will find it.
“Sounds like a cliché kind of place,” admits Whitehead. He swears it’s real. “It used to be run by a lady who everyone in town knew as ‘Mom.’ Her daughter is still the main cook.” He recommends we drive there (U.S. 34, 46 miles east of Fort Morgan) for the fried-chicken dinner, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.
“Mom’s” is part of the first show of the 20th season of “Getaways,” a tribute to the staying power of the show and to management at Channel 4, which continues to back it. News director Tim Wieland says, “It’s got a real loyal following. That we’ve been able to do this for 20 years and not repeat a destination says a lot about Colorado.”
The focus of the first show is Grand County and two old-line cross-country ski areas, Snow Mountain Ranch and Devil’s Thumb. They’re old but they’re new, says Whitehead.
“They’ve been around for decades but they’ve got new stuff. They’re changing. I’m always looking for new stuff.”
Weekend highlights
Today
“The Bernie Mac Show” hits its 100th episode when Jordan plays with a new neighbor boy and gets swept up in the bar- mitzvah social scene (7 p.m., KDVR-Channel 31).
Saturday
Gather the kiddies around the warm glow of the TV, go take a nap while they watch “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” the 2001 smash movie about witches and wizardry (7 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7).
Sunday
Stick around after the post-post-Super Bowl shows to catch a worthwhile “It’s the End of the World” episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” when a medical case threatens the lives of everyone in the O.R. (approximately 8:30 p.m., Channel 7).
Around the dial
The return of Alan Gionet as weekend anchor at Channel 4 has been postponed until March 8 because his Florida employer wants him to stay on the job there through “sweeps” month … The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble takes center stage on “Spirit of Colorado” (7:30 p.m. Saturday, KRMA-Channel 6) … “Blues Divas,” featuring Deborah Coleman, Mavis Staples, Irma Thomas, Bettye Lavette, Odetta, Denise LaSalle and Renee Austin, filmed in Clarksdale, Miss., premieres Sunday (6 p.m., Starz InBlack Channel, Comcast digital cable channel 537) … KKCS 104.5-FM in Colorado Springs named the medium-market station of the year at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, Tenn. … Quotable: “I went to a restaurant that serves ‘breakfast at any time.’ So I ordered French toast during the Renaissance.” Steven Wright
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
