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Chris Fennimore

As WQED Multimedia's Director of Programming and host of 'QED Cooks, Chris Fennimore wears many hats (and occasionally an apron) at the station. Since 1991, the Brooklyn native who joined WQED Pittsburgh in 1985 as Director of National Programming , has served as Director of Programming.

In his current position, Chris is responsible for selecting and scheduling all television programs that air on WQED tv13. He also serves as a food columnist for Pittsburgh magazine and writes a Sunday feature column for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

In August 1993, Chris incorporated his own love for cooking with his responsibility for providing quality television programs -- and inaugurated the cooking marathon format with "Zucchini Cheesecake."

Since then, he has produced -- and hosted -- more than 45 live cooking marathons, ranging from "A is for Appetizers" to "S is for Seafood." Public television stations across the nation now copy this extremely successful fund-raising formula.

He launched 'QED Cooks in 1996 as a half-hour series featuring segments from the cooking marathons. Chris began his career in public broadcasting in 1973 at WNET/New York and has been involved in the development of national projects including "Seasons of Life," "Democracy," "Children of Darkness," and "Big Band Bash.

After studying under Marshall McCluhan at Fordham University, he went on to receive a graduate degree in Film and Television from the City University of New York.

Chris lives in Regent Square with his wife Laura and their son Joseph. He is a member of the Pittsburgh Banjo Club and performs occasionally with a dixieland band.

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Rick Sebak

Rick Sebak makes unusual television programs.

His slightly wacky documentaries celebrate various aspects of modern American life and the unexpected charms of Pittsburgh. Audiences have learned to recognize his friendly narrative style and the unusual topics that he obviously loves.

His latest project, a documentary titled A PROGRAM ABOUT UNUSUAL BUILDINGS & OTHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS, premieres on PBS stations July 11, 2004 at 8:00 p.m. (although it's always best to check your local TV schedule), while his most recent Pittsburgh program called THINGS WE'VE MADE is airing on public TV stations across the country in summer of 2004.

He’s done an hour about hot dogs and hot dog shops across the United States. Another hour on flea markets. Ninety minutes about Pittsburgh’s great commercial neighborhood called the Strip. You can catch can his “Sandwiches That You Will Like” on public television or on DVD. He’s put together programs about pre-Disney amusement parks, really good ice cream places, “Stuff That’s Gone” in western Pennsylvania, and, in a special called “Shore Things,” he documented some of the non-environmental reasons why people like to go to the beach.

Rick’s programs may make you want to travel. The New York Daily News has said, “Rick Sebak is not a filmmaker. He’s a brainwasher. He’s a brainwasher because you can’t watch one of his effervescent films without having a very strong urge to follow in his footsteps and experience firsthand the places he presents so compellingly.”

He has put together seventeen individual special programs that make up what is called the Pittsburgh History Series, including “North Side Story,” a very popular 1988 program titled “Kennywood Memories” about the wonderful old amusement park near Pittsburgh, a show called “Pittsburgh A To Z” and a much imitated documentary titled “Things That Aren’t There Anymore.”

After his statewide special on “Pennsylvania Diners And Other Roadside Restaurants” aired on PBS stations across the country in 1994, earning good ratings without any significant promotional campaign, Rick began making national documentaries including “An Ice Cream Show,” “Great Old Amusement Parks,” and “A Flea Market Documentary.”

He has a way of quickly capturing the essence of a place and its people. His documentary, Sandwiches That You Will Like, delighted viewers, tempted their taste buds and, in the process, convinced them to contribute to public television.

PBS stations around the country often rebroadcast Rick’s programs because audiences respond so favorably to the quirky blend of Americana, places and personalities.

In 1990, Rick converted one of his local specials into a national program for PBS: "Our Neighbor Fred Rogers." In 2003, after the death of Mister Rogers, Rick rewrote the documentary which was reedited with new narration by Michael Keaton, and the resulting program titled “Fred Rogers: America’s Favorite Neighbor” has aired on PBS stations nationwide.

Before coming to WQED in Pittsburgh, Rick worked for 11 years at the South Carolina Educational Television Network in Columbia, South Carolina. His work there included the award-winning documentaries "Shag," about the official state dance of South Carolina, and "The Slightly Wacky Aussie Doco," a travelogue about Australia.

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