Michael Newman, James Blackburn and Melinda Frame just might have the coolest jobs in New Mexico.
The trio comprises the crew that is New Mexico True Television, a series focused on seeking out and experiencing what different cities in New Mexico have to offer.
True TV was in Artesia last week filming for their show after being invited by Alayna Guidry and her seventh-grade history students at Zia Intermediate School. Last fall, the students wrote 79 letters that included their favorite restaurants and places to shop in Artesia, and, of course, information on world-famous Bulldog Bowl.
“Ms. Guidry had contacted us and told us she uses segments of our show in her class. She asked if her students could write us letters and we of course said yes,” said Frame. “The kids covered the full spectrum of things they were passionate about, and they sold us.”
As soon as their schedule allowed it, the three packed their bags and made their way from Albuquerque to the Pecos Valley. According to Newman, the host of New Mexico True Television, his favorite part of the trip was Bulldog Bowl, as well as the Bulldog pride Artesians carry with them.
“The fact that a city of this size has such a large and beautiful stadium, and not to mention the pride that everyone takes in it, is incredible,” said Newman. “Everywhere you go, you see orange. Everyone collaborating on this one particular facet of the town was one of the most beautiful things I experienced.”
Other favorite stops in Artesia included the Peter Hurd mural at the Artesia Public Library and the bronze statues sprinkled throughout the downtown area.
“They’ve been raving and raving about that mural, and it definitely lived up to the expectation,” said Frame, one of the two camera operators. “A lot of towns would envy the incredible art that represents your history here.”
All three agreed Artesia is one of the friendliest places they have visited in New Mexico.
“I’ve never been called ‘sir’ more times in my life than I have this week,” said Blackburn, the second camera operator. “Everybody seems like they all pitch in and care for the town. I don’t smile 24 hours a day usually, but I have been since I’ve been here, and my face is starting to hurt.”
The trio also enjoyed dining at local restaurants, including Adobe Rose, Piccolino, The Wellhead Restaurant & Brewpub, and La Herradura.
“The diversity of cuisine was surprising,” said Newman. “The problem was there weren’t enough meals in the time we were here to give everyone a fair shot, but we went to La Herradura and that was some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever had.”
The group would like to thank Guidry, her students, the employees of Hotel Artesia, the Chamber of Commerce, and all the people they met during their visit.
The Artesia-themed episode of New Mexico True Television will air next spring or summer, giving the crew time to film other cities and towns, then edit the segments down into 30-minute episodes.
In the next few months, the crew plans to travel to Cloudcroft, Las Cruces, and other areas in southern New Mexico.
New Mexico True Television airs each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KOB Channel 4, and archived episodes can be viewed at www.newmexico.org/nmtruetv. To see pictures of the crew’s trip to Artesia, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NewMexicoTrueTelevisionCrew.
