University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

Page 29 text:

SCU PAYS TRIB TE To ITS TV MAjoRS Original music, professional television productions, glitter, entertaining performers, and champagne. All these and more could be found at the Eighth Annual Golden Johnnies Television Awards Ceremony. The John- nies, as they were lovingly referred to, recognized the outstanding effort and time put into each show produced by San- ta Clara television stu- dents. The Johnnies were also an opportuni- ty for students in the television, Drama and dance programs to work together in a combined effort. Many of the John- nies' performers were relatively new to the SCU stage, but the fo- cus of the night was on tribute, not acting technique. The show touched on different interpretations of tele- vision, and was high- lighted by a well-per- formed jab at American TV watchers entitled Couch Potato. While the cast bopped around stage in pajamas and bunny slippers, the lyr- ics complained of the malaise of the TV viewer, and the need for snacks during com- mercials. Kristin Kusanovich, a Johnnies performer, felt the most successful part of the show was its exaggerated por- trayal of the 80s soci- ety completely depen- dent on TV. The rea- son the show worked was that it was easy to poke fun at TV and the people who watch it, said Kristin. The audi- ence could relate to the jokes, and that's why the show was a success. The main success, however, was that of the winning students themselves. Awards were given for best public service an- nouncement, best slide interlude, best perfor- mance by talent, best documentary and over- all best show. The time students spent produc- ing programs often Went unnoticed, but a Golden Johnnie made it all worthwhile for the winners. Best PSA winner Dorio Bar- bieri felt the late night edits paid off. I'm thrilled that I won and it was really a sur- prise, said Dorio. The competition was tough, but the extra time was worth it. Dorio's tal- ent, Joe Alvarnas, was thrilled as well. I nev- er thought four hours of work for thirty sec- onds of air time would be worth it until the show won the award. The final result proves that the TV program can perform miracles with a small budget, said Joe. With the advent of a communication major, the Johnnies promised to be one of the factors that would keep the television program in contact with the drama and dance programs. The show's success was summed up by the comments of junior television major Pete Coglianese. The cul- mination of weeks of preparation was a show of shows, said Pete. by Richard Hendricks There is nothing better than a pillow, box of crackers and late night television. Karen Fredrickson extoles the virtues of American society in the song skit 'Couch Potato. .. 0 .: w .2 u. .2 n. nu SCU Pays Tribute To Its TV Majors 1m .Min-.aw fi .ir ,,,,. ff.- , 'W' ' 'MM . .7