Rick Sebak celebrates the season
in a new special production titled
‘ HAPPY HOLIDAYS IN PITTSBURGH’

PITTSBURGH – Rick Sebak is a native Pittsburgher who’s had lots of experience with the winter holidays in Pittsburgh. “I’ve spent all but one of my forty-nine Christmases in Pittsburgh,” he explains. “In 1973, I was studying in Europe and didn’t get home, but all the other years, even when I lived in South Carolina for eleven years, I always came here for Christmas.” Then in 2001, Rick and his WQED crew spent most of December videotaping events, attractions and religious ceremonies for a documentary about things that people in Western Pennsylvania do to brighten the long nights of winter.

That program, “Happy Holidays In Pittsburgh,” like many of Rick’s programs (including such PBS offerings as “Sandwiches That You Will Like,” “A Hot Dog Program” and “An Ice Cream Show”), celebrates people, places and some of the surprising charms of western Pennsylvania. It doesn’t matter if you have never visited Pittsburgh or if you have no family here, but if you’ve ever considered jumping in an icy river on New Year’s Day, you may find lots to like in this new production.

It’s the fifteenth documentary Rick has made for the Pittsburgh History Series at WQED. His popular past productions include “Pittsburgh A To Z” (October 2001), “Something About Oakland” (December 2000), “Things That Are Still Here” (December 1999), “South Side” (December 1998) and “North Side Story” (December 1997). “The first hour-long documentary I made at WQED was ‘The Mon The Al & The O’ back in the spring of 1988,” says Rick, “but I think people really started paying attention when we put together ‘Kennywood Memories’ later that same year.” Several of Rick’s local programs have been offered nationally by PBS, including “Pittsburgh A to Z,” “The Strip Show,” “North Side Story” and “Pennsylvania Diners.”

Rick has received critical attention and acclaim for these distinctive documentaries. In 2001, Daily Variety wrote:
With “A Flea Market Documentary” producer-writer-narrator Rick Sebak once again captures a small piece of Americana and turns it into an elaborate and entertaining production. It’s a real gift to divine the essence of the eccentric.”

The New York Daily News wrote:
“ Sebak produces, writes and narrates some of the most clever and lighthearted documentaries around.”

USA Today commented:
Serving as his own narrator, Sebak is an enthusiastic, affectionate collector of American eccentricities.

And the Pittsburgh Post Gazette has noticed:
As usual, it’s virtually impossible to find fault with Sebak’s work, which has his signature stamps of warmth and enthusiastic discovery.

Seattle’s News Tribune wrote this about A HOT DOG PROGRAM:
At last we have a television show for people who eat hot dogs for breakfast. …A spectacularly special show.

And TV Guide raved about the same show:
I don’t expect to come across a tastier special all summer than A Hot Dog Program, the new cultural and culinary travelogue from writer-narrator Rick Sebak. …This serving of Americana never fails to amuse and surprise.

Now, the amusing, surprising and often beautiful new program titled “Happy Holidays In Pittsburgh” will air (day and date) at (time) on (your local PBS station). It could become a holiday tradition.

Rick's programs are available on home video as part of WQED's PITTSBURGH HOME VIDEO COLLECTION, by calling 1-800-274-1307 or by visiting www.wqed.org and clicking on Shop WQED.