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photography courtesy of KSDK-TV, pixel press, Rookies
Stay Tuned
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photography courtesy of KSDK-TV, pixel press, Rookies
Anne Allred
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Jim Diaz
Pixel Press
TV Anchor
Anne Allred
When Anne Allred (below) left a morning-show job in Boston to become an anchor and reporter at KSDK-TV in her hometown, local viewers were flattered. Then they got to know the Villa Duchesne grad and fell in love with her talent; she’s equally deft at reporting hard news and delivering fluffy features. Whether she’s anchoring an Olympic pregame show or pulling back the curtain on sugar daddies, Allred is a welcome addition—and improvement—to St. Louis’ news landscape. http://ksdk.com.
News Program
Stay Tuned
Unlike typical TV debate shows that pit partisans against one another in shouting matches, KETC-TV’s Stay Tuned bills itself as a “conversation,” “bringing more light—less heat—to the issues that matter.” Host Casey Nolan guides the 60-minute episodes, which air at 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Impressive panels of politicians, academics, and journalists share their perspectives on a specific topic each week, while viewers chime in through social media. Want to learn about the region’s intricacies? Stay tuned. staytuned.ninenet.org.
Reimagined Childhood Favorite
Rookies
In years gone by, kids would spend countless hours collecting baseball cards, dreaming of having their own faces on them one day. From Matt Sebek, the funny man behind JoeSportsFan (joesportsfan.com), comes an iOS (and soon, Android) app that fulfills that desire by letting you make your own personalized baseball cards, even if you never made it to the majors. The Atlanta Humane Society also partnered with Rookies to print cards for adoptable cats and dogs, way cuter than even Matt Carpenter. rookiesapp.com.
Startup
Pixel Press
The best businesses tend to have straightforward concepts: Pixel Press gives you a way to turn drawings into video games. The company launched its first app for the iPad, Floors, this spring (iPhone and Android versions are in the works). A user can sketch run-and-jump video-game levels (think platformers like Mario Bros.) on special graph paper, snap a picture with a mobile device, customize the game with features like lava pits and enemies, then play and share it with friends. The app takes practice to master, but seeing your drawing come to life is a thrill worth the work. projectpixelpress.com.
Reason to Stay Awake
STL Up Late
A football coach asks his players to share something. One guy reveals that he’s gay, and his teammates hardly seem to notice. But when another player says he’s a stamp collector, he’s immediately shunned. This laugh-out-loud video short is just a taste of STL Up Late, a new variety show. Skits are paired with interviewees like Perennial’s Jenny Murphy and musical guests like Middle Class Fashion. The performance is live, not televised, meaning the jokes are uncensored. stluplate.com.
