Couch potatoes
may return to lifeFOOTBALL "widows" are about to toss off the all-consuming season of TV football and get their husbands back. That, in a sexist nutshell, is the way of the world in many households. Only tonight's Fiesta Bowl remains on the college calendar and then a couple more weeks of the pros and the hypnotically footballed out viewer can return to a normal life ... All four of the "wildcard games" in the NFL were good ones, but you can bet the yelps of "We wuz robbed" are still echoing in Green Bay. Late in the Packers' Sunday game in San Francisco, officials ruled that Jerry Rice had not fumbled after catching his first pass of the contest. Replays showed that clearly, he had, and the Packers had recovered. That would have been that and the Pack would be visiting Atlanta next week instead of the 49ers. The Zebras have the final say, however, but you can bet there'll be one more vote in favor of reviving "instant replay" next year ...
IT seemed as if 1998 was the year that refused to end, but end it has and now we're all looking forward to what's ahead in '99. David Paul Johnson, for example, is preparing to feature renowned chef and author John Ash in a class and luncheon as the first guest chef of '99 at David Paul's Diamond Head Grill's Center for Culinary Excellence. Ash, who's written many books on food, will prepare lunch and hold court for those who ante up $45 at David Paul's on Jan. 15 at noon ...
Black Wednesday
LAST week the folks at McHale Video filmed their last commercial before closing down for good. The staff gathered on the set for the shooting of a Sedona TV spot, and everyone wore black except for one man: Adman Gib Black. He was dressed, characteristically, in the white shirts he favors, but was provided with a black arm band by those who knew white is Black's color of choice. As for the TV spot, the McHale gang didn't let their feelings of regret get in the way of doing their job as usual, and many opined they'd saved their best for last ...AND another award-winning exit: PrimeCo Hawaii, which is being acquired by Sprint Hawaii, has won a Laulima Award from the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The 2-year-old company was cited for its open internal communications and for its employee growth and empowerment program. It's with the spirit of "laulima" -- working together -- that PrimeCo's team vows to continue in business and the community as a part of Sprint Hawaii ...
AMONG year-end visitors to Hawaii were film exec Chris Lee and Tia Carrere, who both stopped by pal Emme Tomimbang's house over the holidays. Lee also managed to squeeze in dinner at Alan Wong's with actor Mark Dacoscos ... Actor Nick Nolte was lying low at the Ihilani Resort as was actress Vicki Lewis and baseball ironman Cal Ripken Jr. Now the resort is gearing up for the arrival of Pro Bowl players, since it's the official hotel of the NFL during the week leading up to the Pro Bowl Feb. 7 ...
Art of hula
IT was a grand year's end for Alan Houghton, the photographic artist of the ancient hula. His "Heartbeat of Hawaii" calendar for 1999 sold out for the second year in a row, and he's already at work on a third for the Year 2000 -- the series is destined to become a perennial favorite. Not only was his calendar a success, but Houghton's coffee table book, "Heartbeat of Hawai'i," has sold out its first printing. The book is a photographic collection of 44 images of the ancient hula ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.