It’s disgusting and fascinating, all at the same time.
KUSA-Channel 9 Thursday night unveiled the first in a week-long series of reports on its 10 o’clock news called “Predators @ Your Door,” an unflinching look at men who prey on young girls on the Internet.
For two days, the station followed an operation in March by eight metro-area police departments, who had officers pose as a 14-year-old girl on the Net. The response was immediate and overwhelming. More than 200 men responded, so many that incoming lines were jammed.
The dialogue is unbelievably slimy at times. To its credit, Channel 9 doesn’t blink in the series, led by executive producer Nicole Vap.
The men are old and young, ones you see every day on the street: a window installer, an auto-parts salesman, even a substitute teacher. They all have one thing in common: a lust for teenage girls.
Fourteen of the men showed up at “her” door less than two hours after making contact with the fake 14-year-old online. They were promptly arrested.
Investigative reporter Paula Woodward does what she does best – ask pointed questions of the accused men. Some will find the reports and an hour-long special, “Predators @ Your Door: The House on Flower Lane” (8 p.m. Saturday) offensive.
News director Patti Dennis is aware they’re treading on shaky ground but believes it’s worth it. “We can’t just show people the problem. The question is, how do we educate people? We have to come away with something tangible. We wanted to have information for the parents. It’s a new danger for their kids.”
Parents need to watch, with their children.
Weekend highlights
Today
Actress Keri Russell guests on “The Late Show With David Letterman.” Musical guest is rock ‘n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, back from wherever he’s been, with a new album (10:35 p.m., KCNC-Channel 4).
Saturday
Donald Trump’s ex-, Ivana, hosts a new reality show, “Ivana Young Man,” helping a socialite find a younger man of her dreams (6 p.m., Oxygen, Comcast cable channel 70).
Sunday
“Mystery!” begins its 26th season with a tale set against social unrest in 1950s Britain (9 p.m., KRMA-Channel 6).
Around the dial
Local radio veteran Davin Fesmire back on the air with the 7 p.m. to midnight shift on KALC 105.9-FM (“Alice”) … Bid now: Rocky Mountain PBS holding its fundraising auction today through Sunday (8 p.m. today, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, KRMA-Channel 6) … The Bud Poindexter Trio kicks off the “5 Points Jazz” weekend with a live performance (11 a.m. Saturday, KUVO-89.3). The all-day festival takes place at various sites in Five Points … Quotable: “I was stunned.” Paula Woodward.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or
