We’re kicking off the 8th annual RTV 6 Toy Drive this week. And a new tradition we started last year is back…anchors singing!

This year Trisha Shepherd is joined by Good Morning, Indiana’s Grace Trahan and the rest of the 6 NEWS anchor team for a rendition of “I Saw Three Ships.”

RTV 6 Producer/Director Ken Scheidler and his wife Karen did the arrangement. And the anchors did the rest!

Check it out in the YouTube clip.

The video goes fast. In addition to Trisha and Grace, you’ll see and hear Kevin Gregory, Dave Furst, Todd Wallace, Dan Spehler, Tom Davis, Paul Poteet, Stacia Matthews, Crystal Wicker, Erica Flye, Brad Brown and Rafael Sanchez.

Okay, full disclosure. Rafael actually doesn’t sing…he just directs.

Enjoy the video!

You can see the much higher quality version airing on RTV 6 and 6 NEWS 24/7 beginning November 26 through the holiday season.

And of course, make a donation to the RTV 6 Toy Drive. You can drop off toys at The Circle of Lights on Friday night, next Wednesday at Ashley Furniture Home Store in Greenwood, or any AAA Service Center or FedEx location (previously Kinkos.)

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Monday evening opportunity came knocking for a southside family…and they took home prizes for it. And good for them since they were able to take the prizes right into their home! Because “Opportunity Knocks” literally came to their front yard!

The Miller family with Kevin Gregory

The new ABC primetime game show called “Opportunity Knocks” will debut in just a couple weeks on Tuesday, September 23 at 8PM.

The show is produced by actor Ashton Kutcher (who knew this guy could be so prolific as a TV producer) and stars everyday families competing for fabulous prizes.

The game is all based on the premise of how well you know your own family. For example, does Dad remember what day of the week his kids were born? Does Mom know how many girlfriends her young son has? Do the kids know how their parents met? Simple but personal questions, right? If the family members know the answers, they get prizes, culminating in a really big prize.

The Miller Family from Southport found out just how hard it could be.

A traveling, promotional version of the game show, the “Opportunity Knocks” Tour made a stop in Indiana

Tom Davis and Paul Poteet play the game

 on Monday evening. They set up a large truck/stage on the cul-de-sac in front of the Miller home.

Mike and Becki Miller and their kids were selected from hundreds of families that applied to ABC through RTV 6 and TheIndyChannel.com.

Before the Millers played, 6 NEWS GOOD MORNING INDIANA’s Paul Poteet and Tom Davis played a celebrity version of the game, answering questions about each other in front of the hundred plus neighbors gathered to watch.

Paul and Tom played for a couple of lucky audience members winning special ABC give-a-ways. Did you know Tom Davis’ car has over 290,000 miles on it? (Paul did!) And that Paul’s second job when he was starting out as a weatherman at Channel 4 was as a USA Today paper boy/guy? (Tom knew that and that Channel 4 obviously didn’t pay very well!)

When the Millers did get to play their son got his question right, winning a $100 Visa gift card.

But their daughter, Mom and Dad all got their questions WRONG!

Over 100 enjoyed the game

Fortunately they got one last question…Mom knew what kind of fruit are featured in a picture in their dining room (grapes) and the family took home an IPOD Nano and $100 I-Tunes gift card, a $250 ABC gift basket, a Blu-Ray Disc Player and a 46 inch Samsung Plasma TV! A nice little haul for letting your friends and neighbors and a TV show visit!

I was surprised how much fun it would be watching the family dynamics at work when the pressure is on. And I think Hoosiers are going to love this show.

Look for the premiere on Tuesday, September 23 at 8PM on ABC and RTV 6!

On Tuesday morning the Lafayette, Indiana eighth grader took the “To Bee or Not to Bee Challenge” on “LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY” (and of course soundly beat the affable talk show hosts.)

This Thursday night, he’ll be back in primetime with an appearance on a special edition of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” airing before the NBA Finals on ABC and RTV 6. Sameer is a personable young man and is representing Indiana proudly. Be sure to check out the Kimmel appearance at 8PM Thursday night. (And then stay and watch the Celtics and Lakers slug it out in Game One!)

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Okay, I love weddings.

But here’s the weird wedding story of the week. George Takei, the man who portrayed Mr. Sulu on the original “Star Trek” series is planning to get married to his partner of twenty plus years. It’s due in part to California finally allowing gay couples to marry. 

Now for the weird part.

Co-stars Walter Koenig, who portrayed Mr. Chekov and Nichele Nichols who portrayed Lt. Uhura will be Best Man and Maid of Honor at the wedding. Supposedly even Leonard ”Mr. Spock” Nimoy is invited to participate. But the AP reports William “Capt. Kirk” Shatner is specifically NOT invited.

Takei has been a vocal critic of Shatner from his “Star Trek” days. Shatner admits he wasn’t the nicest guy but seems geniunely surprised at his co-stars bitterness.

I’m sure “Trekkies” are geeking out about the wedding plans. Me? Forty years later, I wish Sulu could forgive the Captain and “get a life.”

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Chief Meteorologist Kevin Gregory is becoming a primetime player!

WIth recent weather like we’ve been seeing, who cares about summer repeats?

Severe weather and tornado warnings are blowing away regular primetime programming and delivering plenty of weather drama (and impressive ratings) here in Indiana.

Last Friday night and then again Tuesday night, the radar maps were dancing with plenty of orange, scarlet and purple radar echoes of severe weather.

RTV 6 has been receiving plenty of complimentary e-mails for the entire news and weather team for their reporting. Most impressive have been the viewers calling in with their eyewitness reports, stunning pics and dramatic video.

Hopefully this series of weather “specials” is going to be over for a while.