Tivo alert...

This is quick reminder that if you missed last Sunday's premiere of A League of Ordinary Gentlemen, a documentary that explores the attempts to reinvigorate professional bowling, you should set your Tivos for the encore at 10 tonight.

You can still check out the Be more Tuned In interview with bowler and film subject Walter Ray Williams Jr. by clicking here.

No business like cat show business...

WPT is going to the cats with tonight's presentation of The Standard of Perfection "Show Cats" at 7. Cat lovers who enjoy seeing kitties of all shapes and sizes getting the highest level of attention from their owners, won't want to miss this glimpse into the world of big-time cat shows. Even folks who aren't so fond of cats should get a kick out of watching these pampered pets as their owners groom them and spoil them with homemade gourmet meals.

The people featured in "Show Cats" are focused on winning and take their felines' breeding, behavior and temperament seriously. They need to - if they are going to be judged strongly in any of the shows that occur on a national level throughout each year.

If you think your own kitty has what it takes to hang with the grand champions, take some time to learn what you need to do to take them to the big time. Or, if you simply think the kitties are cute and you have room for a new family member in your house, there are thousands of animals looking for a good home at a shelter near you.

If you miss Wednesday's airing, set your Tivos for an encore Friday night at 9 on WPT.

Where no man has gone before...

You know that WPT is the place to turn to learn new and exciting things. From outer space to the depths of the ocean, WPT and PBS's extensive programming has always taken their viewers to the most exciting places in the universe.

Just when you thought there was no place that you haven't been, PBS takes you to the cows. And, not just to the cows - actually on the cows! In anticipation of next week's four-part premiere of Texas Ranch House, MooTube offers a chance for bovine wannabes to jump right on for a cow's-eye view of life.

The simple tag line for the site is, "We took a camera and put it on a cow." It just doesn't get any more straightforward than that. So, settle back at your desk, click on your choice of three cows (Little Star is our cow of choice) and get moooo-ving. By this time next week, you'll be begging for the human side of cattle ranch, just in time for the first installment of Texas Ranch House at 8 p.m. Monday, May 1.

Bowling is anything but ordinary...

A WPT exclusive interview with professional bowler Walter Ray Williams, Jr.

For many non-fans, the term "professional bowling" carries very distinct stereotypical visual images, including polyester bowling shirts, smoky lanes and a polite crowd of older folks applauding a well-thrown ball on a late-Sunday afternoon television program. Those staid visions have now become misconceptions as the Professional Bowling Association (PBA) Tour has tried to revamp its image since a financial near-collapse earlier this decade.

The new PBA Tour is rowdier, faster-paced and louder as television finals have become more glossily produced and larger crowds have been pushed to hoot and holler vociferously for their favorite bowlers.

It is this revitalization of the PBA Tour that drew filmmakers to document a year on the pro circuit. The resulting film, A League of Ordinary Gentlemen - premiering on WPT at 6 p.m. Sunday - takes a fun look at how life changed for the men who make their living on the tour and how the tour's changes mirror American pop culture.

Walter Ray Williams, Jr. is one part of the Tour that didn't change along with the PBA. Despite his objections to some of the new rules, Williams has remained one of the most successful - and unique - bowlers on tour. Calling from his Florida home at the end of the 2005-2006 tour, Williams chats with Be more Tuned In about the film, his outlook on the sport and his affinity for horseshoes.

Since he first earned $641 in 1980 (the first year he played in a professional tournament), Williams has risen meteorically to become one of the greatest bowlers of all time. At 46 years old, Williams recently won the Denny's World Championship, one of bowling's Major tournaments, assuring him four more years on the tour - if he wants to continue. Armed with a physics degree and a spot in the National Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame, Williams approaches bowling quite differently than many of his fellow bowlers. His unique approach, along with his long-standing success as a pro bowler made him a prime subject for the documentary.

"I was pretty pleased with the outcome of the film," Williams says. "It did a good job at showing both the highs and lows of life on the tour, while showing the interactions between the bowlers that people don't often get to see. There is a lot more to this sport than people realize. (Continued...)

"Fans always want to come and see the TV finals at the end of the tournament, but I always suggest they come out for the rest of the tournament, because there is so much more going on."

Unlike many pro bowlers who grew up around bowling centers, Williams followed a different path through the world of horseshoe pitching to get to his spot in the hierarchy of bowling lore.

"There are quite a few similarities between the two sports," he explains. "The underhand tossing is the main similarity. Myself, I was playing horseshoes well before I ever started bowling. So, I got better at bowling a lot later than others.

"I never had a chance to play for hours and hours each day. The most I ever practiced was 15 to 20 games per week and soon most of my playing was in tournaments, which is the best way to practice for me anyway."

Taking a logical and intellectual approach to the game, Williams soon found himself excelling on tour. By 1986, he had started earning more than $100,000 most years on tour.

"(Having a physics degree) gives me a much different insight into the game," Williams explains. "I'm not much into the superstitions that others are. Some guys think that if they don't wear their lucky shirt, they're not going to strike. That's just not true.

"I look at bowling as a statistical thing. It's a numbers game. I know that if you throw a ball in a certain spot, you're not going to strike every time, but you'll find more success in that spot than somewhere else."

That statistical approach has led to a consistent career that has made Williams a top earner for years. His 41 career titles tie the record for most wins. And, the detailed reports that he keeps for each tournament on his Web site are extensive. Fans of the bowler have christened him "Dead-eye."

A League of Ordinary Gentlemen documents Williams and his wife Paige at home and on the tour along with three other bowlers trying to make their way on the circuit during the 2002-2003 season - one of the first seasons with the new ramped-up profile and new rules for the tournament format - many of which Williams disagreed with.

"The new set-up was frustrating, mostly because it didn't necessarily reward good bowling," Williams says about a format that made it easy for certain bowlers to win a tournament without necessarily having consistent performances throughout.

"I was one of the more vocal players against the changes, and the odd part was that I went ahead and had one of my best years with their format.

"I haven't always agreed with the league's decisions," he adds, but sometimes it takes certain actions to get new people to tune in and get excited I just have to go out and do the best I can under their circumstances."

Doing their best on a weekly basis is of utmost importance for pro bowlers, as their performance on the lanes determines their income for the year. Some players sport lucrative contracts to use and endorse certain equipment (Williams has one such contract with Dexter shoes), but unlike team sports, bowlers don't have a guaranteed income. Add that to the pressure that comes from securing a tour spot through winning a tournament or a Major and bowlers find themselves responsible for how the ball rolls.

Williams admits he's been lucky to play at a high level for a long time. This past season he earned $183,500 as the fourth-highest earner on the tour. And as he looks toward at least a few more years on the tour, he envisions a time when he will be able to transition to the senior tour along with a group of bowlers who will elevate that league, too. In the mean time, he says he plans to keep playing as long as he can remain competitive.

"During the past 24 years, I've been able to make a lot of money," he says. "This game keeps us on our toes, and I'll keep on as long as I can keep playing well and as long as I'm having fun doing it."

A League of Ordinary Gentlemen will encore at 10 p.m. Friday, April 28. Click here to catch a trailer in preview of the film. Explore the filmmakers' Web site here.

Jazz in the afternoon...

A digital television heads-up...

In June, WPT will begin airing Legends of Jazz With Ramsey Lewis, a spectacular showcase of some of the best Jazz musicians performing today and a celebration of the legendary performers that built the bedrock of the genre.

But, if you already have access to digital television services in your home, you can get a preview of the program in high definition on WPT HD. The show, which is hosted by Lewis - an accomplished performer in his own right - airs each weekday on WPT HD at 5 p.m. If you like your Jazz in the wee hours of the morning, you can also catch it at 2 a.m. Each episode is repeated for a week, when it is replaced by a new show.

Performers on current and upcoming performances include George Duke, David Sanborn and Dave Brubeck.

An aardvark milestone...

Everybody should take a chance to wish their child's favorite aardvark a "happy birthday," as Arthur is turning 30 this year. During the past three decades, author Marc Brown has penned more than 100 books about Arthur and his pals. Since 1996, Arthur has also been a part of the PBS Kids family, with an animated series that captures children's attention with recognizable story lines and a place for real kids to appear in each episode. There were 125 episodes of Arthur in the first nine seasons, and more are being readied as you read this.

There is no need to fear that the middle-aged Arthur will soon be entertaining any midlife crises, as Brown recently told the Associated Press that Arthur will always be 8 "and he'll never have to take the SATs."

So, as a birthday present to the bespectacled aardvark, the rest of the his family and all of his animal friends, take some time to tune into Arthur on WPT Kids any weekday at 7 a.m., followed by Postcards From Buster at 7:30. And maybe make an Arthur birthday cake, too. Because, who doesn't love cake?

It's getting dimmer out here...

We've all heard plenty about global warming. In fact, the discussion of its effects has been so overused in popular culture that it is not unusual to hear the term flippantly tossed about in casual conversation. Unseasonably warm? "We sure have to love global warming!" Ridiculously cold? "Where is this global warming everyone's been threatening?"

Well, according to some scientists, including Dr. David Travis at UW-Whitewater, that global warming we've all been threatened with could be here already - even more so than we could have imagined. One possible reason that we might not be feeling the effects yet of the advanced damage done to our environment is an effect called global dimming. And, a major factor for that dimming is the contrails from airplanes that litter America's skies. (Make sure you run your mouse over the top image on the previous link.)

Tuesday night's Nova, "Dimming the Sun," explores the effects of global dimming while discussing the possibilities for its reversal with experts like Travis and other scientists from around the world. The program, which airs at 7 on WPT, interestingly explores the rare opportunity presented by the grounding of domestic air flight in the days after Sept. 11, 2001 for scientists to experiment with the lack of aircraft contrails and the striking findings that occurred.

Tivo Alert ...

If you missed the second part of Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Adventures "Voyage to Kure" Wednesday night, make sure you set your Tivo, DVR or - if you still use those antique VHS tapes - VCR for tonight's re-airing at 10. The show is rife with lush underwater imagery as well as information about the ways that the world's waterways interact as a cohesive unit, affecting everybody equally.

Cousteau spoke about the program in an online chat with the Washington Post yesterday. Also, don't miss the series' podcasts.

It's a very, very, very fine house ...

New programs and specials usually get most of the attention from television stations. But, at WPT, we are lucky to have a strong foundation of trademark programs on which the network and much of public television nationwide is built.

For 27 seasons, This Old House (airing Thursdays at 8 p.m.) has steadily built its own foundation as one of public television's important programs as it has invited viewers into a collection of full-scale revitalizations of homes across the United States. The show has also spawned Ask This Old House (airing Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.), a program for folks whose homes don't need a massive overhaul, but might just need to learn how to install an exhaust fan in their bathroom or kitchen. Norm Abram's overly stocked and power tool-outfitted New Yankee Workshop (Sundays at 3:30 p.m.) has made wannabe woodworkers drool for years.

Yes, This Old House's projects have become more extravagant over the years and some of the program hosts have changed, but all of the shows still strive to give homeowners an opportunity to expand their own visions as they work toward turning their own houses into homes.

As the shows have evolved, so have their online companion resources. For folks who want to get their own hands dirty and are looking for further information beyond what they see on television, the Web is a great place to learn how to make simple home fixes, chat with other home renovators or, if you're in a procrastinating mood, check in on Norm in real time via this Web cam. For resources closer to home, the UW-Extension offers numerous downloadable publications with tips for homeowners - both old and new.

You could be a television star...

Antiques Roadshow is the most popular program on WPT. If you love to put on your make-believe appraisal hat each Monday night, or if you've ever wondered if that ugly, old rocking chair from Grandma's house is worth millions, there is a rare chance for you to experience the show in person this summer in Milwaukee. Admission is free, but the tickets are very limited, so the time to start applying for admission is now! There are less than four weeks left to request tickets via the Web site and only two weeks to have postcard requests postmarked.

These will be hot tickets this summer and the only way to obtain them is via the random lottery run by the program's producers. That means act quickly! The applications need to be submitted online by May 6 or postcards need to be postmarked by April 26 in order to be considered for one of the pairs of general admission tickets.

If you are one of the lucky ticket lottery winners, you and a companion will be able to bring one item each of your choosing to be appraised by the same folks you see on T.V. each week when the Roadshow will roll into the state July 29 and will take residence at the Midwest Airlines Center for a daylong taping that will result in three full episodes that will air during the 2006-2007 season. Your item most likely won't be worth millions, but the chance to be a part of the Roadshow will be undoubtedly priceless.

To prepare for the event, take some time to learn some antique-related terms and watch a time-lapse video of a recent Roadshow visit to see how the show is made.

The Pythons return...

This is just a quick reminder that Monty Python's Flying Circus returns to WPT Saturday night at 10 and 11:30. Don't miss the chance to relive the zany comedy of Britain's groundbreaking troupe.

Also, if you're new to Be more Tuned In, don't miss the previosly posted interview with Terry Jones, where he discusses life after Python and why the show has stood up against the test of time.

How to live in a digital realm ...

Digital broadcasting and its multicasting possibilities have been a promise for the future of television for years. Now, at WPT those possibilities are a reality. With the recent launch of WPT3, Wisconsin has a statewide multicasting network, which - in addition to WPT's high definition feed (WPT2) - offers choices to viewers whose homes are equipped with digital over-the-air receivers. And soon, cable providers across the state will begin carrying the full WPT digital spectrum to all of their digital subscribers.

The new WPT3 channel is a special programming collection called "Create." The feed offers 24-hour how-to and informational programming from all of the best public television shows, including Sewing With Nancy, Rick Steves' Europe and New Yankee Workshop.

Find the complete schedule for "Create" on WPT3 here. For more information about the "Create" network and its new weekend marathons, including this Saturday's block of shows designed to help viewers prepare for spring in their yards, kitchens and homes, visit their homepage.

For all the information you could want about digital television and its prospects, head over to WPT's digital television information source.

Spring has sprung ...

The weather is getting warmer. Strange plants are starting to pop up from beneath the ground. Birds are again foraging through yards to find an early spring meal. And people all over Wisconsin are getting an itch to venture outside after a long, cold and snowy winter. Thursday night's In Wisconsin helps Wisconsinites remember the best part of the state's outdoor wonders with a video postcard capturing the changing of the seasons at Governor Dodge State Park in Iowa County. The program airs at 7 p.m.

Governor Dodge is one of 95 state parks, trails and other recreation areas that are open for use by anyone. Each location is unique - some with sharp, majestic cliffs, rolling hills or natural prairies and all with recreation like swimming, hiking and camping. With nominal daily entry fees or a reasonable $25 charge for an annual pass to all of the state parks, these areas are like Wisconsin's own natural country club. And the warm days of spring are a great time to take advantage of these parks in relative solitude before the influx of crowds of campers in the summer.

Park photo borrowed from the Wisconsin State Park System.

Under the sea ...

The premiere of Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures at 7 Wednesday night is as timely as they come. In "The Voyage to Kure - Part 1", which finds the son of the legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau following in his father's footsteps, viewers are taken to an archipelago off of the Hawaiian Islands. From a distance, the white sand beaches and glistening blue waters look like a perfect paradise, but when Cousteau takes a closer look, the island is littered with garbage. Broken toys, fast food containers, medical waste and other rubbish that has floated in from around the world is now threatening these habitats and the animals that live there. Both above and below the sea, the pollution is causing harrowing effects to some of the last untouched wilderness areas on Earth.

This program comes on the heels of reports last week that vast numbers of ancient coral reefs in the Caribbean are suddenly dying off due to the increased water temperatures that the region has experienced due to global warming. This unprecedented sudden die-off has killed some coral that took hundreds of years to grow. The damage not only hurts the animals themselves, but also trickles down to other plants and animals that rely on the reef for food and protection, as well as the islanders who rely on the tourism that snorkeling and diving in the reefs brings in each year.

While there are undoubtedly huge challenges for the world to overcome in order to reverse or slow these trends, there are still some simple things that each individual can do on their own to do their part to make the Earth a more livable world.

Watch the second part of this program at 7 p.m. next Wednesday, April 12.

The spies have arrived ...

Even if you missed the first two episodes, it's not too late to dive into the world of British spies on WPT Tuesday night. Spy!, which airs at 8 p.m., is a series that originated on the BBC. The program takes reality TV to a new level as contestants train and compete for a job with MI5 - the British Secret Service.

Yes, one the first obvious question that comes to mind is: how effective can a spy be after appearing on a television series for numerous weeks? Well, in the first two episodes, the contestants have learned how to be a part of a large group without being noticed. This week, they will begin to tackle the art of going undercover. The ten-part series runs weekly through its finale on May 23.

If you think you personally have what it takes to be a spy, the BBC created an online game to test your abilities for the comfort of your own home. After you've succeeded in that task, you might choose to pack your bags for jolly, old England, because it looks like MI5 is hiring.