The Left Lane
'Pearl' gem

While "Pearl Harbor" was drawing in theaters, the subject was hot on TV. Advertiser library photo

Nielsen Media Research reports that on May 26, when the History Channel presented "Tora, Tora, Tora: The Real Story of 'Pearl Harbor,'" the program posted the channel's largest ratings ever, drawing 2.6 percent of the national audience, 1,854,000 households (especially impressive considering that the cable channel isn't available in all markets).

Other World War II-related programming that weekend: a 1.5 rating (1,098,000 households) for "Unsung Heroes of Pearl Harbor" and 1.3 rating (918,000 households) for "Black Sheep Squadron Marathon."

Aloha Bugs!

The Warner Bros. Studio Store, and the rest of the 100 or so stores in the chain, are scheduled to close. A Warner Bros. spokeswoman said that decision was made in January, following the merger of America Online with Time Warner. The new corporate strategy, she said, no longer includes such "brick-and-mortar" retail businesses. The Isle outlet's D-day is under discussion, said Dwight Yoshimura, the shopping center's general manager.

As a result, sales are final for a lot of the higher-end gewgaws sold there. On the up side, maybe a closeout sale is imminent, before Porky waves you off with a sad "That's all, folks!"

'Chickenman' returns

"What?!," you exclaim. "You mean, Benton Harbor, mild-mannered shoe salesman of Midland City — AND The Most Fantastic Crime Fighter the World Has Ever Known — is back?"

Wel-l-l-l-l! You must be one of the folks KGU morning jock Mike Buck is betting will tune in at 7:40, starting today, when "Chickenman" comes back to the KGU (760 AM) airwaves.

The comedy series, born in Chicago in 1966 to spoof the just-launched "Batman" show, still plays in reruns throughout America. But "Chickenman," a mainstay on the late Hal "Aku" Lewis' morning show, hasn't been heard locally since Buck reprised it briefly in 1986.

Of course, fan sites are all over the Internet. And every fan remembers the watchwords. Buck tried it out at his dentist's office.

"I said, 'Buk-buk-buk-BUKKKK!' And this lady in the back said, 'He's everywhere, he's everywhere!' "