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CLEAR Temp: 60 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Sunday, September 1, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend August 13, 2002 Shelby Young and Greg Robbins act in a scene from "Pastor Greg" in the foyer of the Merlin Community Baptist Church. The Christian TV show is set to debut on the Total Living Network in the fall. Click the photo to see a larger (35k) version. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Life with ‘Pastor Greg’ Merlin’s Baptist church serves as TV pilot set for a local actor and writer’s Christian situation comedy due to air in the fall By SANNE SPECHT for the Mail Tribune MERLIN — Local writer and actor Greg Robbins is hoping to reclaim the soul of television with a new Christian situation comedy called "Pastor Greg." "Pastor Greg" takes place in a small-town church. Robbins is centering his show on what he hopes will be a likable character — a former playboy turned pastor. He said he hopes to portray the young minister with humor and a strong Christian ethic. "I’ve been on a quest for clean television for such a long time," Robbins said during a break in filming Monday at the Merlin Community Baptist Church. "I think television belongs to the devil right now. I think the success of the Ozzy Osborne show is a perfect example of that. "Well, I’m here to get it back." Robbins said he wrote the first episode of the sitcom in 1996 and has been waiting for the right opportunity to present the show to television management. With other Christian message-based shows such as "Seventh Heaven" scoring well in Nielsen ratings and Emmy nominations, now may be the perfect time. Cable station Total Living Network (TLN) will debut the show in its fall lineup, Robbins said. Robbins has written four episodes and has plots for two years’ worth of scripts. Each week, the new pastor and his staff will face challenges Robbins said are typical of most congregations — all viewed through the prism of Christianity mixed with humor. "With ‘Pastor Greg,’ you’re gonna laugh," said Robbins. "I take one word and write a whole script around that word. This first word is ‘impression.’ The congregation will be meeting me and I don’t look like a typical pastor." As the creator, writer and star of the new series, Robbins, 43, admits he’s heavily invested in the show. Finding the right cast and crew is paramount to the success of any show. Robbins feels he is on track with his choices. "I’ve had remarkable luck with casting. There is an incredible amount of talent in this area," said Robbins. Friend and director Calvin Kennedy agreed that the local talent pool is deep. Of the cast and crew, all but two production members are local. He says new production techniques have opened up opportunities for local companies to create and sell shows nationally and internationally. "It’s really good for the valley," said Kennedy. "This show is a comedy, but it’s more about this cast of characters. It’s a pleasure to be working with them." Local actor Shelby Young is playing the show’s female lead. A 19-year veteran with Covenant Players, Young said the birth of her daughter made it time to quit the traveling group of evangelical actors and find something closer to home. Young said the opportunity to play Lori, the church secretary, was heaven-sent. She said she is enjoying getting to know what makes her character tick. "Lori likes to know what’s going on every minute in every situation. I’m like that," said Young. "But I think she can relax and kick back better than I can. I’m working on that. Basically, I see Lori as very nurturing." Even the music on "Pastor Greg" is coming from local musicians. Robbins said members of local Christian rock band Fools Forgiven have written two songs for the show and will perform on the pilot. He said there will be a CD available soon. Robbins wrote more than 17 versions of the show’s potential theme song and liked none of them. After stating his frustrations to real-life youth pastor Flo Hiltz, Robbins said Hiltz wrote the winning theme in one evening. "It’s a ‘Welcome Back Kotter-ish’ style. They’ll record it next week in Medford," said Robbins. The show’s pilot is being produced in the Merlin Community Baptist Church, but future shows will be taped on sets at Landmine Studios in Medford. Sanne Specht is a free-lance writer living in Rogue River. Reach her at [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S