Ron Zappolo is getting his wish, finally.
When he jumped from covering sports to news anchor at KDVR-Channel 31 seven years ago, his dream was to do an issues-related interview show. Starting April 7, he launches “Colorado 2031,” a weekly 30-minute program devoted to news that can’t be covered in 90 seconds.
“I’ve been on them for some time to do some sort of an interview show,” says Zappolo, who finally persuaded management. “They told me, ‘Do what you want. You can make it different every week.”‘
Zappolo’s vision is that the new show, with producer Serena Ung, will include one-on-one interviews, roundtable discussions, debates. It will be taped on Fridays to show at 5:30 p.m. Saturdays to keep it fresh.
He will continue to anchor the 9 p.m. news and host his other interview program, “Zappolo’s People.” “I took this job because I wanted to do interviews, so I’m kind of excited about this.”
Snow job
The Farmers’ Almanac never said any such thing, says its editor, Pete Geiger, responding to an item last week about a monster snowstorm rumored to be headed for Denver.
“The media tends to overhype storms. I can think of at least 10 that were called the ‘Storm of the Century’ in the past 10 years.”
Geiger says, “No one at the Farmers’ Almanac ever said there was going to be a 6-10-foot snowstorm in Denver. To say this has snowballed is an understatement.”
Speaking of weather, Becky Ditchfield, another entry in the local Beautiful Weatherwomen Pageant, joins KUSA-Channel 9 mornings on June 4, replacing the departed Nick O’Kelly. Channel 9’s weathercasts, by the way, were named most accurate in Denver by WeatherRate.
Weekend highlights
Today
“March of the Penguins,” the 2005 movie that made everybody fall in love with the little bipeds all over again, returns to TV (7 p.m., Hallmark Channel).
Saturday
Nicole Kidman, Queen Latifah and Will Ferrell among the stars joining the raucous fun on “Kids Choice Awards” (6 p.m., Nickelodeon).
Sunday
“Reno 911,” my favorite comedy that almost no one watches, returns with an episode on hot-pink squad cars and hot wings (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central).
Around the dial
Author Swanee Hunt talks about her new book and her late pop, H.L. Hunt, on “The Aaron Harber Show” (9 tonight, KBDI-Channel 12) … KOA bagged five regional Edward R. Murrow Awards … Quotable: “The greatest felony in the news business today is to be behind, or to miss a big story. So speed and quantity substitute for thoroughness and quality, for accuracy and context.” Carl Bernstein.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-954-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
