Sneak Peek

Each year, television critics across the country go to industry-sponsored sessions where they sample forthcoming shows and interview the people who made them. In contrast, attendees at Rocky Mountain PBS's Backstage Pass With PBS Producers, which takes place tonight, won't be professional couch potatoes. Rather, they'll be station members and...

By Michael Roberts

August 23, 2007

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Each year, television critics across the country go to industry-sponsored sessions where they sample forthcoming shows and interview the people who made them. In contrast, attendees at Rocky Mountain PBS's Backstage Pass With PBS Producers, which takes place tonight, won't be professional couch potatoes. Rather, they'll be station members and regular folks.

"This is our second year of having producers in our studio to talk to viewers," says Channel 6 spokeswoman Allison Inman. "It's a great chance for people to mingle with producers and talk to other fans of our programs."

Several behind-the-scenes big shots are jetting in for the occasion, including Lois Vossen, producer of the documentary series Independent Lens; she plans to give Channel 6 types a taste of features such as Please Vote for Me, a film about eight-year-olds in China learning about democracy through a campaign for their school's next hall monitor. Vossen will be joined by Fred Kaufman, executive producer of the PBS staple Nature, and Les Crystal, president and former executive producer of The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer. Local programs will receive the spotlight treatment, too — among them Colorado War Stories, a series of interviews with World War II veterans inspired by The War, Ken Burns's latest mega-doc, which will also be previewed. "That's one I know a lot of people are looking forward to," Inman notes.

Backstage Pass begins at 6:30 p.m. at Channel 6, 1089 Bannock Street. Tickets are $25, and Rocky Mountain PBS members receive two complimentary passes (RSVP required). For information, call 303-892-6666 or visit www.rmpbs.org.
Thu., Aug. 23, 6:30 p.m.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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