12 The Daily Collegian
Talking heads
Morning show duo spins
By MATT VOLPI
Collegian Arts Writer
It's dark. It's cold. The streets
are empty, bathed in the yellow
and red glow of blinking traffic
lights.
It's time for the Wenck and
Biddle Show.
But the dynamic duo of FM in
the a.m. doesn't mind the early
hours required for the 6 a.m. to
10 a.m. time slot on WQWK-FM
(97QWK).
"I love it," Steve Biddle said.
"It's the most fun I've had on the
radio in years."
Biddle, a 39-year-old radio
journeyman, has done everything
from straight news to disc jock
eying in places as exotic as
Hawaii. Biddle was working part
time at WQWK-FM's sister sta
tion, WRSC-AM, before he filled
in on 97QWK's morning show.
When Ed Wenck arrived from
Syracuse, they seemed to click,
and Biddle stayed on as both a
sidekick and a news reporter.
"I kind of wing it and react to
what he does," Biddle said. "I
don't consider myself a broadcast
journalist ... I used to be."
"I ruined that," Wenck said.
On one of their frequent smoke
breaks, free from the cramped
broadcast booth, Biddle
between puffs from his Alpine
said he uses major news stories
in news segments, in addition to
pieces about unusual topics such
as brassiere bridges across the
Grand Canyon. Both also like to
add their own commentary to the
day's headlines.
"The news isn't entirely void of
editorial comment," said Biddle,
sporting the L.L. Bean mountain
man look with a turtleneck and
sweater complementing his
medium-length locks and brown
beard.
Although news may be Biddle's
specialty, Wenck is the desig-
At Tatoo, salsa is more than a dip
By MELANIE COX
Collegian Arts Writer
Among plates of nachos, Latin
rhythms straight out of Beetlejuice
and bilingual men and women,
Julie Lemmon is forgetting that
her boyfriend yelled at her during
dinner for making the broccoli
wrong at home.
Instead of letting icky green
veggies ruin her day, the 46-year
old Avon lady dissed the picky
eater and went Latin dancing.
"I had a bad day and the music
makes me happy," Lemmon said.
Lemmon learned how to lamba
da, meringue and salsa last month
during Tatoo's Latin dancing
nights and hasn't stopped talking
about it. She swears Tuesday
nights when Tatoo has its Latin
dancing night are therapeutic.
Tatoo, 620 E. College Ave., began
Latin night for over-21 crowds in
October, offering traditional Latin
American drinks, a Spanish buffet
included in the cover charge and
salsa lessons from 9 to 11 p.m.
before the dancing starts.
Leslie Vasquez (graduate-agri
cultural education), who does the
public relations for Latin night,
said she became interested in Lat
in dancing after living in Venezu
ela. Vasquez said Tatoo agreed to
the program because it helps erase
the negative stereotype of Latin
Americans. She sees Latin Ameri
nated funny man, a seasoned
veteran of the stand-up circuit
who hasn't forgotten his old
tricks. The 30-year-old has a
repertoire of characters who
make appearances on the show.
During this particular
Christmas season show, when, in
Wenck's words, the "yuletide's
just stickin' with you like a wet
pair of shorts," Polly Nauga
hynde visited. Wenck took on a
raspy woman's voice and pre
sented her holiday shopping
guide. Her suggestions ranged
from fashion tips to gift-gather
ing in a Best Western.
"Lime green stretch pants will
flatter any woman," Naugahynde
said.
But not all of the characters
appearing on the show are
Wenck's. Some listeners have
made up their own, such as a
veterinarian who plays Homer
Bucksnart Yarnell.
As a mysterious top ten list of
elf pick-up lines was faxed into
the office, both Wenck and Bid
dle said listener response is an
integral part of the show.
"We have quite a number of
people who call us up on a regu
lar basis," Wenck said.
"We like regularity in our lis
teners," Biddle chimed in.
One listener called to thank
them for helping him shoot a
deer during hunting season
because he saw the deer when he
turned up the volume.
"This show affects people in
ways they don't even know,"
Wenck said.
"Wait until you see what we
can do for you during spring
gobbler season," Biddle added.
The show's off-beat style is a
welcome change to some who
tune in.
"I appreciate their humor,"
said Scott Slutter of State Col
lege.
But one other listener isn't
Steve Biddle
radio sidekick and straight man
"The music is very tasty. I say tasty, I mean you
are watching and you start getting the beat."
can cultural experiences lacking in
State College.
"There's Mexican restaurants
but that's the only type of Latin
American influence in the city of
State College," Vasquez said.
Lemmon agreed she has learned
a lot about other cultures through
dancing, but added that she also
likes the people she meets, includ
ing Ramon Torres, one of Tatoo's
Latin dance instructors.
"Rarndn is so easy to follow,"
she said. "If you never did this
type of dancing before, you'll know
it in no time."
Torres has been living in the
United States since he moved here
from Puerto Rico seven years ago.
In addition to his position as the
male instructor, Torres works as a
full-time orderly at Centre Com
munity Hospital.
He was the percussionist and the
lead singer in two different mer
ingue and salsa Puerto Rican
orchestras. As if that weren't
enough, he is also a bodybuilder
who is working on a book of poetry
about Puerto Rican culture.
Working alongside Torres is
FATI'M
its un-PC charm
happy about 97QWK's switch to
Wenck and Biddle from the old
team of Tom Regan and Karen
Pingar.
"They're not the same pair as
Tom and Karen they lack the
local flair," said David Letterman
of State College. "You don't have
much choice with the different
radio stations if you like that kind
of music."
Listener response aside, the
team's good nature carries over
into the station. A.J., the
graveyard shift disc jockey on
97QWK, said Wenck and Biddle
make her life easier.
"I like working with them
'cause they're not stiff, they're
not prude," A.J. said. "If there's a
problem, they don't get all bent
out of shape."
That good nature and humor
are not the only ingredients of
the duo's morning routine
Wenck's song parodies are also
an integral part of the show.
Having developed the skill dur
ing his five-year stand-up career,
such yuletide tunes as "Cheap
Christmas" and "Death Metal
Christmas" are bits Wenck
develops easily.
"(I) just sit down and fart
around with a guitar," Wenck
said. "I used a guitar in my act so
it's something that comes pretty
naturally to me."
Although Wenck who pulls
his curly black ponytail back
under a County Jail baseball cap
puts in 10 hours a day at the
station producing and preparing,
he doesn't spend any time decid
ing the play list, which ranged
from "chick rock" such as Jour
ney to the Top 40-minded Gin
Blossoms.
"(It) is determined through a
long statistical process known as
hiring a consultant," he said.
The Wenck and Biddle Show
Ram6n Torres
instructor
Carina Giusti from Argentina, who
has been Latin dancing for 10
years. Giusti (graduate-agricultu
ral education) learned the mering
ue and salsa in Venezuela and the
lambada in Brazil because there is
no Latin dancing in Argentina.
Although Torres only gestures
with his palm a few feet from the
floor to demonstrate how long he
has been dancing, both he and
Giusti insist Latin dancing isn't
that tall of an order.
"In America, they just get the
feeling of how to move their feet,"
Giusti said, demonstrating her
words with dance steps as she
talks, "and by the end of the night,
they have the feeling correct."
That feeling is what both new
comers and veterans alike say is
the attraction behind Latin danc
ing.
"The music is very tasty,"
Torres said. "I say tasty, I mean
you are watching and you start
getting the beat."
The ease with which beginners
pick up the steps is evident as
Torres and Lemmon salsa on the
Ed Wenck
designated funny man
has drummed up a bit of contro
versy in the age of political cor
rectness, but both deny they are
out to offend anyone.
"We have no sacred cows,"
Wenck said. "If you don't have a
sense of humor, you shouldn't
listen to our program."
Biddle, who slipped out during
the broadcast to wake up his
wife, agreed.
"When we make fun of stereo
types, it's not with the intention
of hurting anyone," he said.
Both also respect the king of
radio controversy, Howard Stern.
"My favorite thing about How
ard Stern is his attitude," Wenck
said. "He did so much for open
ing up this medium."
On the air, Wenck embraces
the show's reputation.
"Politically incorrect and
proud," Wenck said. "Gimme the
remote control and a side of beef
and I'm a happy man."
Although the show may occa
sionally insult people, Biddle said
the most memorable stunt didn't
involve stereotypes but it
wasn't authorized by the station
either.
"The day Ed took off with the
van, grabbed those prizes and
gave away $1,000," Biddle said.
"We had a lot of people with their
knickers in a twist about that."
So what is the secret of success
for a pair who call "The Simp
sons" a "Zen state of mind?"
"Fizzies," Biddle said. "No,
they don't make those anymore."
On a more serious note, Biddle
said mutual respect and instinct
mold their relationship.
"We don't compete with each
other," Biddle said. "We balance
each other."
But despite all the hassle, both
are happy with the results.
"This is our show," Wenck said.
"And nobody can have it,"
Biddle replied.
Linda Gonzalez and instructor Ramon Torres trip the light fantastic to Latin beats. The two were dancing
as part of the Tuesday Latin dance nights at Tato°, 620 E. College Ave.
fairly crowded main stage of they dance with more ease, looking "I wish there were more days in
Tatoo. Among the already Latines- at each other and laughing. the week to learn different types
que decor of stools in hues of red For Lemmon, Latin dancing is of dancing," she said. "A lot of
and green, they begin slowly and just another way to escape the real people tell me I'm dancing my life
patiently, but as they continue, world. away, but what a way to go."
Our critics
1993's film
By JAMES DOOLITTLE
and MATT VOLPI
Collegian Arts Writers
In the fast-paced year in film
that was 1993, Hollywood on the
whole had its eyes fixed on the
rear-view mirror. Unfortunately,
the films were farther than they
appeared, ideas and budgets lost in
the passing lane.
Hollywood recycled every pos
sible genre, motif and character
type this year in its continual
quest for the almighty dollar. Box
office records were broken while
careers seemed terminated at
least until their next film.
Many critics looked back on 1993
as a golden year for movies, the
first, perhaps, since the '7os. The
fall/winter movie season turned up
its share of aces, including The
Piano and Six Degrees of Separa
tion, but let's not forget the dismal
spring and summer seasons, full of
such classics as Body of Evidence
and Made in America.
As usual, the box office was a
cruel place for some while others
reaped the rewards of a loyal
audience. Arnold Schwarzeneg
ger's spoof (The Last Action Hero)
was spoiled while Harrison Ford
had a runaway hit (The Fugitive).
Dinosaurs and whales replaced
good scripts while upstaging their
human counterparts. Locations
were key as we got sappy in
Seattle, murdered in Manhattan
and Lost in Yonkers literally.
But through the bad, as always,
the good emerged. Two veterans
continued their hot streaks. Clint
Eastwood was primed while Rob
ert Altman took some Short Cuts to
produce his best work yet. Woody
Allen shook off the media, Quentin
Tarantino got some and Steven
Spielberg covered prehistoric
beasts as well as modern ones.
So here are the best films of
Clinton's first year, say us:
■ Addams Family Values The
cast returns and outdoes its origi
nal Addams Family performance.
The tongue-in-cheek humor and
puns are hilarious and Christina
Ricci steals the show as Wednes
day. Her malcontent recreation of
Pocahontas is unbelievable, while
the abstract Addams' interests
never stop rolling. (M.V.)
■ Dave Kevin Kline assumes yet
another great role and gets a pile
o' laughs with a dash of sentiment.
Dave's innocence in the otherwise
evil White House is truly refresh
ing and offers a glimmer of hope
underneath its chuckling exte
rior. (M.V.)
■ Dazed and Confused Brilliant
look at high school life, circa 1976.
Director Richard Linklater, who
has the best ear for teen dialogue
this side of Cameron Crowe, places
us so firmly into this world that we
find ourselves caught up with
every incident that takes place on
the last day of school. Funny, poi
gnant and oh so relatable I know
every character in this film. As the
stoned out Slater, Rory Cochrane
gives one of the year's funniest
performances. (J.D.)
■ Fearless The most powerful
role Jeff Bridges has ever under
taken, this film offers a new per
spective on post-trauma
experiences. The drama is intense
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 1994
but not indulgent as Rosil Perez
and Bridges piece their lives
together after a plane crash.
Gripping close-ups and emotional
dialogue package the revealing
character study. (M.V.)
■ The Fugitive Yeah, it's a chase
flick, but it's still really good.
Edge-of-your seat suspense over
shadows the predictable ending as
Harrison Ford runs away from the
misinformed long arm of the law,
saving lives along the way. The
mutual respect between fugitive
Ford and cop Tommy Lee Jones
holds together an otherwise shaky
feature-length premise. (M.V.)
■ Man Bites Dog The year's best
foreign film is a dark sendup of
documentary filmmaking. A novice
film crew follows the exploits of a
poetry-reciting, piano-playing seri
al killer who boxes on the side. As
the killer, Benoit Poelvoorde
emerges as a major star a
wacked-out cross between Robert
DeNiro and James Woods. It's
Spinal Tap crossed with The
Silence of the Lambs, a blistering
commentary on the infatuation we
have with violence that is as dark
as it is funny. (J.D.)
■ Manhattan Murder Mystery
Yeeha! Woody Allen is back, and
he brought his sense of humor with
him. He stays away from the
morbid sides of middle age and
fulfills one of his cinematic
dreams. It's straight-out silly and
reunites Alen th former co-star
and love interest Diane Keaton.
Alan Alda and Anjelica Huston
enter the scene to egg on Keaton's
delusions and raise the kookiness
factor. (M.V.)
■ Menace II Society Uncompro
mising film dealing with growing
up amid the violence of South
Central. An explosive directorial
debut by the Hughes Brothers,
who, with one swift stroke, easily
squash the hopefulness of John
Singleton's films. The triumph of
the film is that we don't see the
violent youths as heartless thugs
but rather as average kids caught
up in the guns and drugs around
them. (J.D.)
■ Schindler's List Steven Spiel
berg's masterpiece hit me so hard
on a gut emotional level that it left
me speechless. The film follows
the story of Oskar Schindler, a
swarmy German industrialist who
saved the lives of numerous Jews
during the Holocaust. Unlike many
of his earlier films that carried his
trademark warmth, Spielberg
unexpectedly hammers us with
violent and disturbing images that
bring home the horrors of the
Nazis. Liam Neeson is wonderful
as Schindler while Ralph Fiennes,
portraying a vile Nazi officer, is
the acting find of the year. (J.D.)
■ Short Cuts Director Robert
Altman constructs a three hour
plus film that captures the chaotic
nature of modern life in Los
Angeles. In following the lives of
more than 20 major characters,
Altman returns to a structure
reminiscent of his great mid-'7os
work, Nashville. The great ensem
ble cast including Lily Tomlin,
Tim Robbins, Andie McDowell,
Tom Waits and Jack Lemmon
does wonders. A film, like life
itself, that you treasure the more
you reflect on it. (J.D.)
cite
feats