Stabins' TV show canceled

It appears County Commissioner Jeff Stabins' future as a TV star could be short-lived.

And it wasn't ratings that did him in. Stabins' Government Broadcasting show, "Memory Lane" has yet to be broadcast over Channel 622.

But Commission Chairman Jim Adkins said the board approved a "one-and-done" TV deal.

"As far as I'm concerned, that's it," Adkins said.

The chairman admits he hasn't seen the show yet and there is a slim chance he may change his mind.

But he doubts it.

"If it's better than sliced bread, I may rethink it," he said.

Stabins said he is disappointed with Adkins' and believes the chairman is premature in calling for his show's cancellation before a single episode airs.

"I think he ought to at least watch the darn thing before pulling the plug," Stabins said.

Last week, after taping the 30-minute show, Stabins, Community Relations Coordinator Brenda Frazier and Video Production Manager Rick Foti critiqued the show and decided it wasn't quite ready for prime time.

Translation: it needed a little more pizzazz and some editing.

Adkins said Tuesday they can edit it as much as they want but the one-show edict the board gave him last week stands.

Stabins' guests on the first show included Chuck Smith, former county commissioner and state legislator and longtime Spring Hill resident Grace Bouma.

Stabins said he originally went along with government broadcasting staffers who suggested a retaping of the show.

Now, he believes the public deserves to see the raw, unedited version - warts and all.

"Memory Lane," he said, is an informative, entertaining program designed to educate residents about the history of Hernando County.

"I won't give up without a fight," Stabins said. "The public deserves the right to see it once before Adkins cancels it."

County Commissioner John Druzbick said his concerns today are the same as last week when he reluctantly gave Stabins permission to do the show and that is taking staff away from other duties.

"(Frazier and Foti) do a lot of shows as it is now and with the budget cuts, how effective is this show going to be?" Druzbick asked.

Druzbick said the board can discuss future "Memory Lane" programs when it meets next at its regular business meeting July 19.

"They never put a final product together for review and until I get some explanation for staff time and what the product looks like, I will make a decision then," Druzbick said. "But I have a major concern about using staff."