2001 UMD Alumnus Nate Perbix to Complete Award-Winning First Season TV production of "Nate on Drums"

Season Finale Episode, Sunday, March 6, 2005, at 11 pm, KSTC Channel 45

March 6, 2005 will see the season one finale (Episode 13) of "Nate on Drums," Minnesota's award-winning TV comedy/variety show, hosted by 2001 University of Minnesota Duluth alumnus, Nate Perbix. The half-hour program features locally-produced animation, sketch comedy and both soundtrack and in-studio performances by local musicians. Channel 45 has agreed to re-air the best six of the Season One episodes, continuing on the first Sunday of the month basis (April 2005 - September 2005). In addition, Channel 45 and "Nate on Drums" are negotiating for a Season Two with brand new episodes on a weekly basis, beginning in mid-September, 2005 for the fall TV lineup.

Since February 2004, the program has aired on the first Sunday of every month at 11 p.m. on Channel 45 (KSTC.TV), an independent broadcast television station owned and operated by Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. Channel 45, which reaches 1.4 million Minneapolis and St. Paul viewers, is also found on cable channel 12.

During its first season on Channel 45, "Nate on Drums" has featured the music of over 50 local musicians/groups, recorded 13 in-studio musical performances and won the 2004 Minnesota Music Academy's award for Best Audio-Visual Production.

" 'Nate on Drums' is a truly unique show that fits right in with Channel 45's philosophy of local programming," says Mike Smith, Programming Director for Channel 45 and sister station Channel 5 (KSTP-TV). "The show's local flavor, features, and upbeat comedy provide the metro area with its own youthful late-night comedy show format. We're excited to see it's continued success."

Nate on Drums is hosted by local musician, Nate Perbix. The program is produced by David Harris, David Gillette and Nate Perbix, and stars David Harris, Nate Perbix, Motion Price and Linnea Mohn. Prior to its affiliation with Channel 45, "Nate on Drums" was produced as a cable access program for the Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission, beginning in 2001.

Four UMD alumni wrote the show theme song: Chris Fahey '03, Andrew Bartelson '03, Rick Widen, '03 and Matt Peterson '04, who are in the band Sunny Wicked. All four were graduates of UMD's music program.

For information regarding "Nate on Drums," contact David Harris at (612) 281-5282, david@nateondrums.com, or see www.nateondrums.com. For information regarding KSTC.TV Channel 45, contact Heather Hugley at (651) 642-4374.

Photo above: (clockwise from top) '01 University of Minnesota alumnus David Harris, '01 UMD alumnus Nate Perbix, Motion Price and Linnea Mohn. The show producer David Gillette is also an '01 University of Minnesota alumnus.

Written by Cheryl Riana Reitan. Posted February 11, 2005