Wauwatosa in spotlight thanks to McGivern's new TV show

Don't expect a red carpet full of Hollywood stars wearing haute couture. The screening of the Wauwatosa episode of John McGivern's new television show "Around the Corner" will feature local celebrities including Cranky Al, former Wauwatosa Chamber of Commerce director Meg McKenna and restauranteur Joe Bartolotta.

Attendees of the chamber's annual meeting last week viewed a 3 1/2 -minute trailer for the show, which will air at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. But Wauwatosa residents can sneak an early peak of the full episode thanks to a free premiere showing at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rosebud Cinema, 6823 W. North Ave. McGivern will answer questions after the screening.

Each episode of the Milwaukee Public Television show features McGivern visiting a Milwaukee-area neighborhood and checking out what "working, living and playing is like in each of these communities," McGivern said. Each episode will have an introduction by historian John Gurda.

McGivern and producer/director Lois Maurer spent four September days filming in Wauwatosa, but they decided to return in October once the Wauwatosa Curling Club took to the ice at Hart Park.

Wauwatosa was one of 13 neighborhoods chosen for the show's first season, which started airing last week.