Channel 12's time travel shows are big winners

Once a year, the weekly Channel 12 roundtable Colorado Inside Out takes a trip back to the past on a time-machine show, with the panelists (of which I am one) all playing historic figures taking about the events of the day. And not only are these shows big favorites with viewers, they're racking up media awards, too.

"Circa 1959," which first aired in July 2009, won this year's Heartland Regional Emmy for Best Interview Discussion Program. It was a repeat victory for Channel 12, which tied for first place the year before with the 1858 show.

Today, talk-show host Craig Silverman will celebrate the 1959 installment on his KHOW radio show at 630 AM at 4 p.m. I'll be there (I played Miss Colorado 1959, an homage to hometown Marilyn Van Derbur, who'd taken the Miss America crown the year before); so will David Kopel, and a cast of characters involved in the production -- co-produced by Dominic Dezzutti and Larry Patchett -- will be calling in.

You can watch the piece here -- and see if you don't agree that the cigarette smoke should get Best Supporting Actor honors.