Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: Friday Night Fever

A long standing tradition with a rich history: Friday Night Fever.

Friday Night Fever has many differing connotations.

First and foremost, FNF consists of wkyc's high school football coverage every Friday night during high school football season.

It usually kicks off in the end of August and goes deep into October with high school football playoffs and championships.

Our zany cast of "Predictors" share their choices during our 6pm news show.

Back in the day before television news and sports began changing, FNF was in its hey-day!

A time when you had to tune into the television sports shows each weekend to get your sports highlights and final scores.

Well, even with cell phones and video cameras, each school having their own multi-media department or television station, skype, highlights on Facebook or even Twitter, wkyc's Friday Night Fever reigns supreme.

The Channel 3 News crews shoot the clearest, crispest video in town.....shoot from down in the mix with the action, and oftentimes becoming part of the action when the teams barrel into their close proximity.

The sports department works closely with the news assignment desk and the crews in order to efficiently cover as many games as possible and offer our viewers multiple highlights from around Northeast Ohio and sometimes beyond!

At the end of the evening, each crew sends all of their highlights to wkyc.com so our customers can view highlights over and over again....as well as Donovan or Chudowsky's entire Friday Night Fever show.

But, wait. There's more.

The 2nd half of FNF consists of the fun, frivolity, and feeling of family back in the newsroom. It has become tradition on this end as well.

Regardless of how many people are working or how many games we are able to shoot, we do it up right.

Pizza, Chicken, Pasta or Sub Sandwiches....coupled with chips and pretzels, cheese and crackers, soda pop and juice, caramel apples, fruit or salads....whatever people dream up, we'll take it!

The star of FNF--drum roll please--Pat Woodside's con queso dip and any cookie he chooses to whip up!

In the olden days, we had the "Chuckie Doll" out covering the Big Game...we had high school bands live on set....we had huge blow up characters outside the station and Mr. Fever covering Akron Sports.

We've managed to adapt to the changing times as we continue putting our superior sports stamp on Friday Night Fever lead by Sports Anchor Jim Donovan, Dave Chudowsky, and Lynn Olszowy....and then wrap it up with a nice bow chomping on a Pat Woodside Reese's Peanut Butter cookie!

Tune into Friday Night Fever every Friday evening during High School Football, and you too, will see why it is this week's Hidden Gem!!

The show must go on

Though the 11pm show must go on, that does not mean we can not get 'festive' for the Fiesta Bowl!

I've learned over the years that each shift in a Newsroom has its ups and downs. When you work in the news business, 'sacrifice' is no stranger, it's a part of life.

The night shift seems to take a few more bumps and bruises, though.

Let's face it, the dayside folks can still hit happy hour, have dinner with their families, go to parent-teacher conferences or band concerts, enjoy a LeBron James dunk or sit in the Company Loge at an Indians game, attend a wake, or jam to a Rock and Roll Concert. Folks may be a little groggy the next morning, but the daylong daze, well worth it!

The overnight folks can do all of the above as well. They, too, may be dragging a bit as they head straight into work from their shindig, but at least, they can enjoy their affair!

The night shift is pretty much shut out from any function after 2pm. In order to attend a 2 and a half hour concert, an entire vacation day must be wasted. You can not serve on any boards which meet at night ....can not adequately participate in any church events or on any committees.....attend Choir practice...have band rehearsals....or engage in 80 percent of life's activities!!!

That's life.

Just because the show must go on, does not mean life must stop as we know it.

The OSU Buckeyes are playing Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. The night shift knows how to throw a kickin' par-tay!! Why should tonight be any different! After a few calls, an impromptu soiree sprung to life!

Betsy's crab dip to die for.....Matt kept it healthy with a wonderful fruit platter.....P. Woodside--always the over achiever!! He made his famous conqueso dip, meat balls and double chocolate cookies! Toss in my kielbasi and homemade sauerkraut, baby smoked sausage in a special raspberry sauce, spinach dip, cheese and crackers, cookies and candy galore...lots of holiday 'left overs!' Overall, a smashing success.

Now, as of this writing, I hope that the OSU outcome mirrors the carnival atmosphere in the newsroom!

Go Bucks!

Producer Dan --as you can see, spittin' image of Coach Tressel!!! And both of them produce successful programs!!!!