Hawaii
Walking on air
over radio saleSMALL wonder that Bob Longwell had a smile on his face as he dined with wife Eleni and KSSK radio execs Jamie Hartnett and Tamara Micelli Friday night. They'd just come from celebrating a successful UH homecoming celebration on Kamakee Street and decided to top off the evening at Brew Moon. He could be excused if he enjoyed a few brews, too, as Clear Channel Communications Inc. had just agreed to buy his station (and six others he runs here) along with its parent company, AMFM Inc., in a stock swap that will result in an 18 percent increase in his stock's worth ... Speaking of KSSK, that station's Larry Price still gets red when he thinks about Shannon O'Keefe, lead dancer in "The Playboy Show," set to open Oct. 14 in a new showroom at the Ilikai. When the Playboy crew guested with him and Michael W. Perry at their Hanohano Room show Saturday, O'Keefe announced to the assembled audience, "I'll take the big guy on the left," and proceeded to flirt with him and tousle his hair until he blushed bright red, much to the delight of the audience ... The "Playboy Show" owner, Yair Hasson held a hastily arranged cocktail reception at the Ilikai's Penthouse Suite, which moved writer John Berger to ask, "What is Playboy doing in the Penthouse Suite?" He suggested they rename it "The Playboy Suite." ... By the way, the two "Playmates" who'll star in the local show, Rebecca Scott (Miss August '99) and Jami Ferrell (Miss January '97) arrived yesterday to begin rehearsals ...
Something's Cooke-ing
THE word is out that Dan Cooke will be seeing in the millennium on another station, his former home at KITV. That means the long rumored and always denied report that Howard Dashefsky would be leaving may have had credence after all. Channel 4 had previously parted company with co-anchor Tina Shelton who chose to be a reporter again at Channel 2. And KHNL had waved goodbye to its co-anchor, Lee Cataluna, who moved to L.A. and left broadcasting completely. Losing Cooke will create an opening that KHNL's new owners will fill, and don't be surprised if they turn to a former Hawaii resident looking to return. No, it won't be Bob Sevey! Television remains a volatile workplace - just ask Mike O'Malley, whose much ballyhooed new NBC show was canceled after just two episodes had aired. Stay tuned for more channel crossings ...THERE may be something of a traffic jam on Alakea Street early Saturday morning, and I mean early! The annual Michigan/Michigan State football game gets underway at 6 a.m. and Players (at Alakea and Beretania) will be open in time for the kickoff. Fans of both teams regularly visit Players for the game and to root on their side. This year's game should be a classic, since both teams are 5-0 and each beat Notre Dame ...
No Bugs, M'lady
WHERE to see in the millennium? How about Club Malibu on Dillingham, which has changed its name to Y2K? I can hear the ads now: "Experience Y2K at the stroke of midnight." Many people will choose to spend the last several hours of this millennium under the clock at Aloha Tower. There'll be toasts every hour from 7 p.m. (when the East Coast celebrates) right across the time zones to midnight in Hawaii. And for the first time since 1981, Cecilio & Kapono and Kalapana will headline a show on the same stage beginning at 8 p.m. ...
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: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com