Bye, Calypso: Cousteaus return to TV, though not on old vessel

By larry bonko
The Virginian-Pilot

THIS JUST IN ...

What did you do on your summer vacation? When they lived in Hampton Roads, Jacques Cousteau's grandchildren spent one summer cruising the Amazon aboard the Calypso.

Back when they were attending Norfolk Academy in the 1980s, Fabien and Celine Cousteau had a pretty good idea of what the future held for them. They would be explorers like their famous grandfather and their no-less-celebrated father, Jean-Michel.

"Sitting behind a desk was never an option for me," said Celine.

Said Fabien: "Growing up with the sea ignited a passion within me for educating people about the environment. It had a magical pull that I can't deny ."

Meet the new generation of Cousteau "oceanauts."

"Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures" premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. on PBS and continues April 12 at the same hour.

The message from the Cousteaus: The oceans have become the world's garbage cans. There is still time to clean them up, if we hurry.

"That should be today's priority," said Jean-Michel, who leads an expedition to the remote island of Kure in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands in the series premiere. Humans are threatening to destroy the ecosystem of these pristine islands, one of the last wild places on Earth, said Jean-Michel.

In upcoming shows, the Cousteau team, including Fabien and Celine, tracks sharks in Polynesia and South Africa and follows gray whales in the Bering Sea.

But not aboard the Calypso.

The converted minesweeper, seen frequently at the Norfolk waterfront in the early days of The Cousteau Society's presence in the city, has been out of service since 1992.

"After a fruitful life of more than 60 years, the Calypso is rotting away at a berth in France, in La Rochelle, Brittany," said Jean-Michel.

What are Celine's memories of the years between 8 and 13 spent in Hampton Roads? "I had a fabulous time riding horses."

And big brother Fabien? "The beaches. The humidity. Spending a lot of time in the car going places. I remember the area as one vast expanse of land." That's our delightful urban sprawl.

Didn't she used to be on TV? - Dick Lamb and LeAnne Raines, who were partners on Lamb's "Breakfast Bunch" on WWDE-FM (101.3), have been reunited on Lamb's new morning show on WVBW-FM (92.9).

Raines, formerly a strong presence in TV news at WAVY and WTKR, is expected to substitute for Jennifer Roberts until June. Roberts recently gave birth to a boy .

Lamb has awarded $1,000 to six listeners in the station's "Wave'n at Work" promotion. Why weren't these six folks toiling away like Dilberts instead of listening to the radio, waiting for The Wave to call?

Double standard - The buzz in TV is that Meredith Vieira at 52 is too old to replace Katie Couric on "Today" should Couric bolt to CBS. I never heard anyone say that a man who's 52 is too old to host a TV show.

Nice work, Karen - The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has cited Karen Parker-Chesson of "The All-Star Morning Show with Busta Brown, Karen and Aunt Pearl" on WVKL-FM (95.7) for promoting breast cancer awareness.

"She's done extraordinary things in her community to help in the fight against breast cancer," said the foundation, working in league with Yoplait and Self magazine.

Parker-Chesson, one of 25 national Yoplait Champions, including Kathy Cawthon of Hampton, pledged herself to help defeat breast cancer after her mother was diagnosed with the disease.

You're coming in a little fuzzy - The new UHF station in Virginia Beach, WHRE/Channel 21, is on the air, running tests in anticipation of broadcasting full time soon. "I'm delighted," said station owner Robert Copeland of the birth of the station, which will be affiliated with the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

Copeland asked Cox Communications to add WHRE to its cable lineup on Channel 20. HBO has Channel 21 wrapped up.

Readers forum - From Nancy Navarre, Amherst: "I am a Yamaniac, thrilled that Elliott Yamin decided to audition for 'American Idol.' His voice is unbelievable."

Comment: Yamin, a Richmonder who carries Virginia's hopes on "Idol," has a powerhouse voice but needs a charisma transplant. With that said, I expect him to survive tonight's cut on Fox at 8, and to be among the remaining nine challengers.