Channel 88 was a small time TV station in northern Wisconsin. There had never been a huge audience because the transmission range was only about 100 miles. In 1982, cable TV was still not as well-known as it would be. Larger cities had it, but far flung areas would not see it for a few years and small stations like this filled the void. Programming was sporadic and sketchy which made it more interesting. Advertising revenue relied heavily on local merchants, many of them, hell, MOST of them small businesses. A perfect example being JOE'S BIG TIME ARCADE in Bensonville. They boasted 100 games, both video and pinball as well as over 20 Skee Ball games. Not a huge source of revenue, but it helped pay the bills.
Channel 88 DID have a news department. The majority of the stories were REAL local stories in and around Bensonville. They did have access to national and international news stories and aired them though the, reporters were from the wire services. The anchors were, especially for 1982, very diverse, keeping in mind it was Northern Wisconsin.
The evening and 10 O'clock news was anchored by Chuck Boylston who was 90% English and 10% Polish and Al Gonzales who was 90% Polish and 10% Puerto Rican.
The morning news and noon, the CREAM of the station, was covered by Jeff Jones who was 1/3 Native American and Liz Bellingham who was 3/4 Irish and 1/4 Canadian.
Everyone adored Liz. She was funny, intelligent, and easy going. She delivered her stories with absolute professionalism and yet, never let her personality be stifled. She and Jeff had a great chemistry and truly enjoyed each other, which made the morning news somewhat FUN for the viewers. Doom and Gloom was tempered by a bit of lightheartedness. It was a formula that worked and in years hence, other stations would follow. The only catch, in the views of SOME at the station, was that Liz was a SLAM PIG.
Liz was a lovely person. No matter what, no one could find fault with Liz. The whole Slam Pig label came about from her penchant for showing up in the morning looking, as some liked to say, well worn. She unquestionably liked her off time and her recreational pursuits and most praised her for it. How could any same person condemn a woman for enjoying her intimate pleasures to the fullest and not be considered a complete hypocrite. Liz knew how to live life in an unconventional manner.
Edmund Furstenberg had been one of the associate producers of the news and informative programming for three years. Informative programming essentially consisted of a locally produced magazine program called "Bensonville and Beyond" as well as a fifteen minute segment on Thursdays called "WHAT???" which covered VERY local events, such as Joe Linden's Lemonade Stand Pro-America Rally on Saturday the 10th. What many would consider nonsense, the locals considered GREAT STUFF.
Edmund had his issues with Liz. He was a devoted Baptist who hated the whole idea of SLAM PIG and tried to get Liz to tone down her lifestyle. Liz, to her credit made it very clear that her lifestyle was OFF camera. Edmund made the point that her appearance on air in the morning would pretty much reflect her off air persona. She blew him off. He mentioned that she was well known within her circle of co-workers as a slam-pig and a pillow biter. Liz waved him off. What her co-workers knew and the viewers knew were totally separate issues and since she had constantly received VERY positive feedback from the viewers, she did not, and COULD not see any issues. She was well loved by everyone and it could not have been more clear.
With the field of battle clearly laid out; with the armed camps clearly established, nothing changed even once Edmund became the top dog of producing at Ch. 88.
A story came up about a local hotel that had rented rooms to underage teens for sexual purposes. It was decided that Liz would be the anchor to relate it to the viewers. Doug Lincoln would be the reporter in the field, but Liz would be the lead. Liz knew that hotel but Edmund wanted to keep her INSIDE. It was complicated.
Liz began, "At a local hotel, it's been reported that underage teens had been renting rooms for sexual adventures and lustful shenanigans. Stories of fornication and oral copulation, and Roman orgies galore, have been circulating for weeks. Our man in the field, Doug Lincoln is on the scene."