By Fred Stabbert III
FORESTBURGH — December 28, 2004 – Watch out, world, Sullivan County is starting to get a lot of airtime on TV.
First there was the Hudes brothers — Lance and Marshall — who tried to conquer CBS’ ‘The Amazing Race,” only to pull up lame somewhere near Timbucktu. The Monticello natives gave it their all as their proud parents, Dr. Marc and Judy Hudes looked on excitedly.
Then The Learning Channel (TLC) pulled into Jeffersonville to film the premiere of “Town Haul,” a new reality-TV series about remodeling entire towns and how the townsfolk respond. That will officially start rolling on January 22, 2005.
And now, Forestburgh’s famous fisherman, Ken Schultz, will be appearing each week on ESPN2’s new show, “BassCenter,” beginning with the show’s debut on Saturday, January 1, 2005.
“I’ll be doing a one-and-a-half-minute segment each week called ‘Reel Speak,’ Schultz said yesterday morning. “It will be an Andy Rooney-style commentary about the world of bass fishing.
“Some will be humorous, some serious and some fun and entertaining,” he said. “We’ve already filmed a bunch, and they are all filmed outside the studio.”
The show will air every Saturday at 7 a.m. and repeat at 11 a.m.
Schultz said four other commentators would have segments, and the show would have an anchor who covers major bass news, including bass fishing tournaments across the U.S.
“Outdoor programs play well on TV,” Schultz, a former long-time fishing editor for Field & Stream, said. “People like to watch hunting and fishing programs on TV.”
A prolific author, Schultz has penned 16 books on sportsfishing, including the award-winning 1,916-page “Ken Schultz’s Fishing Encyclopedia & Worldwide Angling Guide,” which incorporates information on catching nearly every sportfish in the world, both fresh and saltwater.
“After a long run with Field & Stream [he left the magazine in August] I’m now doing book work and writing for ESPN’s website, ESPNOutdoors.com,” he said. “It’s the most popular sports website in the world and the most highly trafficked hunting and fishing website.”
In his spare time, Ken is also a Town of Forestburgh councilman.