The Mountain Times

200 weeks that were

LUDLOW - The longest-running show on public access channel LPCTV reached a milestone this week when the local public affairs program "That Was the Week That Was" taped its 200th episode.

Co-hosted by Ludlow resident Ralph Pace and Chester resident Leo Graham, the show first aired in 2007. This March will mark its fifth anniversary.

"Dick van Dyke ran for five years, but we're funnier," Graham said.

The program had its genesis when both Pace and Graham worked for a local weekly newspaper and thought a video equivalent would attract readers. When they left the paper, however, they decided to keep the show going.

"Five years ago, the local dailies pretty much fled the scene," Graham said. "Some wealthy skier would have to be shot at Okemo before the Rutland Herald or the Eagle Times would pay attention. So we decided to do the show because in a small town it's possible to pay attention to local news in a way that's not possible in a big city. If you want to be a player in your town, you can be."

Ludlow municipal manager Frank Heald is a recurring guest, and attended the taping.

"It's been a fun 200 episodes," he said. "The show has provided a forum, certainly for me, on a number of occasions."

The usual format is Pace and Graham in a studio (lately, the town hall conference room) often by themselves, or chatting with a guest. But sometimes they take a camera out into the field.

"My favorite episode," said frequent guest Kevin Kuntz, "was the one where I practice my avocation. I'll fool around with economics, but I love working in my garden."

Tropical Storm Irene provided a great deal of news. Ludlow sustained severe flood damage: one resident died, the ball field was flooded out, and roads were impassable. Nonetheless, the community pulled together to repair the damage as quickly as possible.

"All facets of the community came together and got it done," Heald said.

Neither Pace nor Graham does much to prepare for each week's show. Pace usually prepares a short list of possible talking points, which gets discarded as often as not.

"When we start taping, neither one of us knows what he's going to say," said Pace. "We're never going to be at a loss for words."

Graham said he was surprised at viewer reaction to the show.

"People actually watch this," he said. "I can be standing around in an aisle in Shaw's, and someone I've never seen before will accost me and say, 'Now, Leo,' and then have their say. It cracks me up!"

The program usually tapes in mid-afternoon on Thursdays, but "we might go back to taping later in the day," said Graham. "We've hardly gotten a phone call lately."

Both Pace and Graham commended LPCTV, and in particular its executive director, Patrick Cody, for supporting the show.

"If Patrick didn't calm us down, we'd never know when to stop," Graham said.

"They're really fun shows," Cody said. "I don't mind going the extra mile on field trips. The show is quirky, and Ralph and Leo have fun with it. Other shows come and go, but this one has some regularity and that's allowed it to evolve."

"That was the Week that Was" can be seen in Ludlow, Plymouth and Cavendish, and can also be seen on SAPA, Springfield's cable station. Listings can be found at LPCTV's Web site, lpctv.org.

Tagged: That Was the Week That Was, Ralph Pace, Leo Graham, LPCTV