Barbara Walters was looking for a replacement for Debbie Matenopolous and in the process finds her show replaced by the up and coming April's Household Hints.  Barbara says:"I was only trying replace the youngest member of "The View" with a new face.  In the process of looking for the right person I discovered April Handshoe and April's Household Hints.  I thought I had found the perfect replacement for the show.  Imagine my horror when I discovered that the network went behind my back and signed a contract with April for her own show--and then cancelled my show.  I can't believe it-- and I discovered her....at least there's still 20/20..."

April's Household Hints was first seen as a column in Pastor Jeff's Neighborhood News. Her unusual ability to solve problems and give advice for a whole range of household problems has led to her success. Even Martha Stewart is rumored to have stolen hints from April's column to use on her show.

Joining April, for the show is co-host Anna Freelove.  Anna is known for being on the radical edge of fashion and will regularly contribute "fashion hints" for the show....often reporting from the fashion runways of Paris.

Jerry Springer is concerned that his ratings might plummet if he has to go to head to head with the new show and is lobbying stations that have his program not to air during the same time slot: "I'm afraid that even my freak show can't hold the attention of TV viewers once they see this amazing show."

Long Minnesota Winters are made a little more bearable each year by the annual Reindeer Festival in Walnut Grove.  The highlight of the week long event is the crowning of Ms Rudolph.  This year the winner was Ellen Thoma.  She won the crowd over during the talent portion of the contest when she sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with a unique set of hand motions that really brought the song to life.  She was accompanied by the Six Fat Dutchmen Polka Band along with their new leader Enoch Fakudze on Accordian.  As a special treat, guest artist Roy Syverson entered during the final verse of the song wearing a Santa Claus suit and playing "jingle bells" on a tuba.  The "Crown" (gold plated reindeer antlers) was presented by the evening's hosts Maynard (from Darfur Implement) and Emmit (from Brown County Implement) known for their incredible acting talents in local commercials.

The contest was such a success that it was aired on Mankato's Channel 12 in lieu of the "popular" Bandwagon show.

Pastor Jeff's Computer was abducted by Aliens... a bug-like species that rendered him unable to make the updates.  But in a relentless pursuit to find those aliens...and his computer.... Pastor Jeff called on his favorite super-heroes Jefferson and O'Brian to save the day.They determined that the best way to deal with alien computer abduction was to hijack the Enterprise and it's crew for a 7 week mission to go where no man has gone before....(particularly their service technicians) the upgrade/repair department at a local computer store with an apparent black hole. 

As the Enterprise entered the area where the computer was last seen, Lieutenant Uhura tried repeatedly to reach the supposed technician that was "working" on the computer without any success. Jefferson and O'Brian beamed down and entered the repair department with their phasers set on stun...but were themselves stunned by the lack of computer technicians and the number of computers that were waiting to be repaired....O'Brian turned on his scanner and pushing back the stacks of unrepaired computers, they found it... the CompUSA black hole.

The CompUSA black hole is a place in the repair department where computers and technicians mysteriously disappear rarely to be found again.  In scanning the CompUSA black hole's composition it was determined that there was a definite similarity to the VPOG of the MBTC Conspiracy fame. (Vast Puddle of Goo of the Man Behind the Curtain Conspiracy).  This may explain some of the confusion of the people answering the phone who can't seem to give a straight answer.

The search continues....but an alternate means of updating has been secured.  Jefferson and O'Brian are expecting to finish up this part of their adventure soon...hoping to return some normalcy to this rather abnormal neighborhood.  Don't you just love computer problems?

Zimbabwe, Dec. 2, 1998

Dr. Jason, who claims to be from Zimbabwe, has reportedly discovered the fountain of youth. The Doctor, best known for his ability to generate electricity through his ears by placing his finger in his mouth and blowing hard, claims to have discovered the fountain in the southwest corner of the African nation. While he isn't giving directions or details, he has sold the rights to the water to the famed Spiral Loop Labs, Inc. who intend to market a series of bath and beauty products utilizing water from the fountain. While the details could not be confirmed with certainty, it is thought that the Spiral Loop Labs paid at least 15 Billion Dollars for the rights to the Fountain.