“Just Between Us!” Named Finalist Twice for 2nd Consecutive Year

The ACM’s Western Region annually awards outstanding public access television programs in various categories. Finalists are announced in September; the 2012 winners will be announced on October 20 at a ceremony in San Jose, CA .

In 2009, when Lorrie Smithers’ co-host on Channel 17’s “Alive After 65” became incapacitated, the show’s producer asked Bill to sign on. He did, and soon after the couple renamed the program.

Mr. Smithers has had a 40-year acting career in theater, film, television and radio, including the films “Attack!” and “Papillon”; the television series “Peyton Place,” “Executive Suite” and “Dallas”. For his Broadway debut as Tybalt in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” starring Olivia DeHavilland, he received a Theatre World Award. From 2003 – 2005 he produced and directed the Santa Barbara Theatre of the Air, a radio drama series, for UCSB’s radio station KCSB, broadcasting works of classic and contemporary playwrights.

Ms. Hull is an acting teacher, practicing in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. She is also author of Strasberg’s Method: As Taught by Lorrie Hull. and is featured on the acting-training videos “The Method” and “The Method II.”

In recent broadcast history, “Just Between Us!” is the only Channel 17 television program to receive two finalist nominations in each of two consecutive years.