Season 2 of MS Congeniality TV launched in February 2020 on two TV stations — WXXV-TV in Gulfport, MS and WGNO-TV in New Orleans. We produced a total of 15 (30 minute) episodes including our finale awards show. It was probably the most difficult season ever because the corona virus pandemic began in the middle of production.
Let me tell you a little about season 2. Before COVID-19 happened, we were rolling on a high. WGNO-tv picked up the show, and we were trying to find more content to cover over in the BIG EASY to introduce the program to the New Orleans market.
We chose to begin our season with a personal interview with New Orleans queen and reality TV star Tamica Lee. Tamica was so warm and welcoming and gave us beauty secrets I’m still using. Because of her, I began intermittent fasting and got my first treatment of botox.
Our next few shows were a bit more down home if you know what I mean. We interviewed my dog trainer Kathleen Markey to get some puppy training tips. (She’s also the only person I’ve ever met who jumped off of a cruise ship. Y’all… that’s crazy!)
One of our major sponsors for the season was the Gulf of Mexico Alliance and MS Coast National Heritage Area. They were promoting the Embrace the Gulf 2020 campaign and asked me to produce a few shows highlighting water-related activities. I’m so glad they did because we experienced some neat adventures because of it!
First, we learned about off-bottom oyster farming in the Gulf with the French Hermit Oyster Company. Then we kayaked on the longest un-damned river in the U.S…. the Pascagoula River… and I may or may not have fallen in the river. We learned to sail with captain Pete and his band of merry sailors on the Ole Biloxi Schooner. Towards the end of the season we went on a legit charter fishing tour in the Biloxi marsh with Good Ole Boys Charters (my husband) and discovered exactly what happens when you’re stuck on a boat with a handful of people for the day.
No season of shows could be complete without a cultural visit to something on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Mardi Gras is about the most known annual event, and a friend of mine — Cheli strumlia with the Krewe of Salacia invited us to be apart of her krewe for a look at carnival on the other side. So fun and so real!
Russia was the adventure of the season. I flew into Moscow and Siberia and shot two shows with my friend Sofya Artamonova and her family there. We experienced Russian vodka, a Russian Banya, and much much more of Russian culture. It was the highlight of my spring… that is… until I came home and went right into quarantine!
Not gonna lie.. I almost quit the show entirely, but instead decided to stick it out through the tough times by produce a few episodes with as few people as possible and about topics more close to home — gardening. We built a vegetable garden and an herb garden and learned to compost. We also met my mother on the Mother’s Day surprise picnic show.
Other highlights of the season include… the popular V-Steam segment with the one and only Sheena Myles, a fabulous Brazilian Blowout segment with our team spirit award winner and hair sponsor Mike Frost, the spontaneous tour of the Christopher Columbus replica ship docked in Biloxi, and the incredible Face Jug Pottery segment at the Ohr-Okeefe Museum of art.
Truth be told… this season changed me. I reached deep inside for the will to continue doing my work even when funds were low and my spirit was dying. I’m so glad I didn’t quit. Not only are some of the last shows some of my all time favorites (ok — now you’ve probably understood that everything is my favorite.) But I met tons of new friends, tried tons of new things, and alas I found a brand new hobby — pottery.
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MS Congeniality TV Awards
Season 2
- Sheena Myles – Most Popular Segment
- Karen Ball – Green Goddess
- Sofya Artamonova – Most Courageous
- Valerie McMillan – COVID Memories
- Mike Frost (Michael Vincent Salon) – Team Spirit
