It is officially time to let the good times roll! Want
a special surprise during this Carnival season? Well WYES has it covered with a
special premiere!
It would not be Mardi Gras without honoring Mr. Mardi
Gras! So, WYES is announcing the premiere of a new documentary, Blaine
Kern: They Call Him Mr. Mardi Gras. The documentary narrates the life
of the legendary float builder, who died in 2020. He almost single-handedly
turned Mardi-Gras from a series of small exclusive parades into a
billion-dollar a year tourism juggernaut. He transformed Mardi Gras into
eye-popping, animated extravaganzas that drew millions of people to watch the
phenomenon by reimagining and reshaping Carnival parades.
The float-building business he established 75 years
ago launched Carnival to numerous people of all races and backgrounds to
continue building fabulous parades for krewes and clients in New Orleans and
around the world. Also, he founded and grew the largest float-building business
in New Orleans and the nation. Kern designed floats and parades for Disney,
Universal Studios, other parts of the country, as well as the world—including
China, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.
Retired WWL-TV anchor Dennis Woltering produced and narrated
the colorful life story of Blaine Kern, which will be premiering Monday, February
7 at 8 p.m. on WYES/Channel 12.
The documentary will also reair during these days and
times:
· Sunday,
February 13 at 10 a.m.
· Monday,
February 14 at 9 p.m.
· Saturday,
February 19 at 7 p.m.
· Saturday,
February 26 at 10 p.m.
· Sunday,
February 27 at 3:30 p.m.
According to a press release from WYES, some of the people
interviewed for Blaine Kern: They Call Him Mr. Mardi Gras include:
· Four
of Kern's children—Blaine Kern Jr., Barry Kern, Brian Kern, and Blainey Kern
· Kern's
widow, Holly Kern
· Carnival
and krewe historians Errol Laborde, Arthur Hardy, Henri Schindler, Dr. Stephen
Hales (Rex), Col. Clarence Becknell, Sr. (Zulu), and Al Robichaux, Jr. (Alla)
· Carnival
krewe captains Owen "Pip" Brennan, Jr. (Bacchus), Sonny Borey (Orpheus), Staci
Rosenberg (Muses), and Gwen Rainey (Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale)
· Longtime
friends Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser
WYES is also airing a special marathon of nine hours
of Mardi Gras programming on February 19 beginning at 3 p.m. with All on a
Mardi Gras Day and ongoing until midnight.
For all Carnival program details, go
to wyes.org/mardigras.
