Neal Justin: Vascellaro praises Shelby as he eases into WCCO's anchor seat

Drinking Bloody Marys with Tom Barnard. Playing Scrabble against Julie Nelson. Bowling alongside Cyndy Brucato.

Fulfilling these fantasies is part of the reason we're rededicating ourselves to covering local media.

Oh, it's also kind of important.

Our anchors and radio personalities are more than the closest thing we have to show-biz stars. They're the gatekeepers to our community chatter, whether it's Paul Douglas interrupting "CSI" to warn us that killer tornadoes are on the way or Lynne Rosetto Kasper telling us how to freshen up our Sunday-night leftovers.

Every Monday, we'll share notes and nuggets from the Twin Cities scene, and what better way to kick things off than with WCCO's Frank Vascellaro, whom many consider to be Don Shelby's heir apparent.

The comparisons started last year when Shelby stepped aside from the 6 p.m. newscast so that Vascellaro could join the CBS team and spend a little more quality time with his wife, co-anchor Amelia Santaniello. The comparisons magnified more recently when Vascellaro added the 5 p.m. show to his workload.

"I guess I'll have to start beekeeping," he joked last week, referring to one of Shelby's 4,512 hobbies.

Beyond that, Vascellaro waved off the tag, especially since Shelby shows no signs of heading for the hills anytime soon. He did point out that his colleague's generosity and his willingness to look down the road is a rare act.

"Usually people in this business want more airtime, so for Don to look at the big picture, I have huge respect for him for doing that," he said. "It's almost unprecedented."

The long Hall

Shelby will get more accolades from his peers Oct. 27, when he'll be inducted into the Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame along with 10 other Minnesota groundbreakers: Omni Broadcasting founder Lou Buron, Northfield radio favorite Wayne Eddy, MPR interviewer Gary Eichten, wrestling giant Verne Gagne, late-night legend Franklin Hobbs, KSTP photojournalist Brad Jacobs, perfect pitchman Mel Jass, WCCO radio exec Clayton Kaufman, sportscaster Ray Scott and small-market operator Dean Sorenson.

It might be the most star-studded lineup the event has boasted in years.

"We've got a few more inductees than usual, and that means a lot of extra work," said Steve Raymer, managing director at the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting, which oversees the Metropolitan Ballroom event. "It makes us sound like a bunch of old fogies, but it's important to commemorate those broadcasters with some values."

More in the winner's circle

After four years of being nominated for a Marconi award, radio's equivalent of an Oscar, top 40 station KS95 finally took home the big prize this month as it was named large-market station of the year. "We were starting to feel like the Susan Lucci of radio," said general manager Dave Bestler, who attended the event in Charlotte, N.C. In April, the station took home a Crystal, given for outstanding community service, the only station in the country to win both this year.

The 1994 documentary "Hoop Dreams," which was financed in part by Twin Cities Public Television, was named the greatest documentary of all time by the International Documentary Association, beating out such classics as "The Thin Blue Line,"Roger & Me" and "Don't Look Back."It's an incredible honor," said co-executive producer Catherine Allan, who resides in the area. "This thing will keep winning awards long after I'm gone."

njustin@startribune.com • 612-673-7431