Tracy Gest - Victorious Return to the Stimmung Stunde!

Just got the good word on the phone moments ago. Our new Miss Wisconsin, Tracy Gest, will be coming back to the program on July 23rd. She will be promoting the Diabetes Walk which will be held at German Fest this year--how about that?

Be sure to tune in!

Miss USA 2005
June 30, 2005

Photo Shoot & Phone Interview
New York, NY

Today Chelsea will participate in a photo shoot with famed New York photographer, Fadil Barisha. This evening she will participate in a phone interview for a radio station.

Can you guess what radio station this might be for?

Miss New Berlin wins Miss Wisconsin title: "Miss New Berlin wins Miss Wisconsin title
Gest prepares for Atlantic City, year of touring state

By KELLY GILBERT - GM Today Staff


June 28, 2005

MENOMONEE FALLS - Miss New Berlin Tracy Gest learned dreams do come true when she was crowned Miss Wisconsin 2005 on Saturday night.

'It was very much a surprise,' she said. 'I do remember standing there with Alex (Kealey) and the contestants behind us were saying ‘breathe.’ It’s hard to explain.'

Gest, 19, is from Menomonee Falls and also won the preliminary swimsuit competition Friday night and the Spirit of Miss America Award, which is an award that the contestants vote on to select a winner.

She is a junior at Carroll College, majoring in communications with a public relations emphasis and hopes to use her title to help promote diabetes awareness.

'There is such a rise with diabetes, I want to go into schools in Wisconsin and address the kids,' she said. 'It’s a lifestyle of proper nutrition and exercise.'

Gest is passionate about diabetes prevention and finding a cure because her father, Ed, suffers from the disease.

'My husband always gets choked up with this,' said her mother, Tammy. 'Ed has been a diabetic for 38 years and Tracy has always done a lot of volunteer work and she had looked at Ed and said ... ‘Dad, after reading about all of this and how diabetes Type 2 can be prevented with proper diet and exercise ... I want to be part of a team that will find a cure for you.’'

Gest already volunteers for the American Diabetes Association and while she used her musical talents to perform a classical piece for the competition, she has also created a CD of piano music titled 'Keys to a Cure' where all proceeds are donated to the American Diabetes Association.

Gest will now prepare to compete in the Miss America pageant this fall and is taking a year off from school.

...more...

The Schaefers!

Marta Kretschmann records IDs with one of Germany's most exciting recording superstars--the Schaefers! Remember you can see the Schaefers right here in Milwaukee July 29-31st at German Fest and the German Fest Showcase!

AP Wire | 06/26/2005 | Miss New Berlin crowned to represent Badger State: "Miss New Berlin crowned to represent Badger State

Associated Press

OSHKOSH, Wis. - Miss New Berlin, Tracy Gest, played a piece by Chopin on the piano and won the swimsuit competition to win the crown as Miss Wisconsin 2005.

Gest, 20, a communications major at Carroll College, will receive a $10,000 scholarship and a trip to compete in the 2005 Miss America pageant this fall in Atlantic City, N.J. after winning the statewide contest Saturday night.

'It's just unbelievable to live this dream,' she said Sunday. 'My childhood dream came true.'

She plans to promote diabetes awareness during her yearlong position. Her father has suffered from juvenile diabetes for 38 years, she said.

Gest succeeds Molly Jean McGrath, 23, of Wisconsin Rapids.

Alexandra Kealey, Miss Wisconsin West, was named first runner-up and Miss St. Francis, Michelle Smukowski, was named second runner-up.

Contestants vied for several awards over four days of event in Oshkosh, including a downtown parade.

Gest said the year spent as a state representative will give her important real-world experience to prepare her for a career in public relations.

'This is perfect timing,' said Gest. 'Winning is really going to put me out there and will give me a better outlook about how to be a PR person. I believe in hands on experience.'

ON THE NET

Miss Wisconsin pageant: http://www.misswisconsin.com"

Beloit Daily News: "Miss Beloit glad to be back home after competition
Posted: Monday, Jun 27, 2005 - 11:30:10 am CDT
By Hillary Wundrow
Daily News staff writer

...more...

Oshkosh Northwestern - Miss New Berlin claims 2005 crown: "Posted June 26, 2005


Laura May/of The Northwestern
Contestants in the Miss Wisconsin Scholarship Pageant dance to the song 'Shop Around' in the opening number Saturday night at Alberta Kimball Auditorium in Oshkosh.

Miss New Berlin claims 2005 crown

By Jeff Bollier
of The Northwestern

Tracy Gest, Meghan Marie Coffey, Angela Zanon, Alexandra Kealey and Michelle Smukowski shared one last, heartfelt group hug before the winner of the 2005 Miss Wisconsin competition was announced.

The five women represented the finalists for the crown and cheered for each other as the runners-up were announced.

The crowd erupted in screams of applause as Gest, Miss New Berlin, was named Miss Wisconsin to cap a week of exciting competition at the Alberta Kimball Auditorium Saturday night.

Gest, 20, succeeds Molly Jean McGrath, 23, of Wisconsin Rapids, as Miss Wisconsin with a platform of diabetes awareness. She will receive a $10,000 scholarship.

Kealey, Miss Wisconsin West, was named first runner-up. Smukowski, Miss St. Francis, was named second runner-up. Zanon, Miss Southern Wisconsin, was named third runner-up and Coffey, Miss Milwaukee, was named fourth runner-up.

The competition stretched over four days as contestants vied for several awards. The festivities began Wednesday with a downtown parade and then went into preliminary competitions Thursday.

Coffey won the preliminary swimsuit award when she edged out Miss Southern Wisconsin, Angela Marie Zanon, Thursday.

Gest won the swimsuit award and Miss West Allis, Marci Gallo, won the talent award for her classical piano performance Friday.

Jeff Bollier: (920) 426-6688 or jbollier@thenorthwestern.com "

CMT AND MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION REACH MULTI-YEAR DEAL FOR TELECAST RIGHTS TO "MISS AMERICA PAGEANT"

First Pageant To Air On CMT In January 2006

VH1 To Air Supportive Programming Leading Up To Pageant's Debut

NASHVILLE, TN and ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - June 27, 2005 - And the winner is...CMT! The Miss America Organization has found a home at CMT as the two have reached a multi-year agreement to telecast the prestigious "Miss America Pageant" on CMT in January 2006, it was announced today by Brian Graden, president, entertainment, MTV Music Group and president, Logo; Art McMaster, president and CEO of the Miss America Organization; and Brian Philips, executive vice president and general manager, CMT. CMT will retain telecast rights through 2007, with options through 2011.

CMT plans a multi-million dollar promotional push behind the "Miss America Pageant," engaging all of its resources within CMT and across MTV Networks. As such, VH1 will air "Miss America"-supportive programming leading up to the premiere of the pageant on CMT in January, providing valuable exposure for the pageant to VH1's largely unduplicated audience.

"We're thrilled to be in business with the Miss America Organization," said Graden. "This partnership presents a tremendous opportunity for CMT and MTV Networks, and we look forward to celebrating this American institution across a variety of platforms."

"After thorough discussions and negotiations, we are confident that Miss America has found the perfect match in CMT and MTV Networks," said McMaster. "Miss America's move to cable will give it the proper promotion and attention it deserves. Our brand is rich in both philanthropy and history, and this new multiplatform partnership not only will preserve this institution, but in fact build the Miss America Organization as we begin this new chapter."

"'Miss America' very much appeals to the heartland of America and is a logical extension for CMT, which beyond just the music, specializes in honest, authentic storytelling," said Philips. "We are passionate about taking this iconic brand and making it a signature event for CMT."

Paul Villadolid, vice president of programming and development, CMT, will oversee the format and creative direction of the pageant. Villadolid added: "'Miss America' is one of this country's great enduring institutions, and creatively we are introducing new ways to honor the pageant's rich tradition while also exploring some of the great behind-the-scenes stories that our audience will be able to experience for the first time."

In addition to cross channel, print, radio, online and affiliate promotion, the network will utilize its extensive relationships with CMT Radio and cmt.com, America's No. 1 country music website which ranks in the top 10 of all music sites and has enjoyed double digit growth every year since its launch in 1997. CMT also plans to launch a massive grassroots marketing campaign related to the pageant.

Over the past two years, CMT has experienced record growth with 2005 poised to surpass last year as CMT's most-watched year ever. Known for its dedication to music, CMT is America's most popular country music network reaching more than 77 million households. In addition to world premiere videos, live concerts and events by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, CMT also produces original entertainment programming and specials. CMT is owned and operated by MTV Networks.

The Miss America Pageant - and the scholarship program itself - is among the most enduring endeavors in modern American history. >From its humble beginnings as a "bathing beauty'" contest in the 1920s, the Miss America Organization today is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance, helping young women all across the country to reach their dreams and goals. For more information, go to www.missamerica.org.

Congratulations--once more--to Tracy Gest, Miss Wisconsin 2005!

Miss Wisconsin is Tracy Gest!

Tracy Gest, a friend of the show, has been crowned Miss Wisconsin 2005. Tracy appeared on the program on May 7th (and we're already counting the days until we can have her back on the show) and stunned us with her grace, charm and enthusiasm for her platform of Diabetes Awareness.


We wish Tracy all the best in her year as Miss Wisconsin and we hope it leads to her ultimate goal and dream of being Miss America.

Congratulations to the newly crowned Miss Wisconsin 2005, Tracy Gest! You'll be a great representative for our state all year long! 

JS Online: We made the Journal/Sentinel AGAIN!: "One of the members of the German musical group The Schaefers will be interviewed in both German and English on the 'Stimmung Stunde' radio show at 10 a.m. Saturday on WJYI-AM (1340). The group is scheduled to perform at German Fest, which kicks off its four-day run at the Summerfest grounds on July 28"

Good Luck at Miss Wisconsin!

The Stimmung Stunde would like to wish all the best to the contestants in Oshkosh for the Miss Wisconsin competition.

Past guests of the show now competing include:



Miss New Berlin - Tracy Gest



Miss Southern Wisconsin - Angela Zanon



Miss West Allis - Marci Gallo

All the best to these young ladies!

Miss America Is All Dressed Up With No Place to Go

84-Year-Old Pageant Dumped by TV Network Because of Low Ratings
By JOHN CURRAN, AP

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (June 19) - In any other year, Miss Delaware Becky Bledsoe would be making her travel plans. The folks at Fischer Florists would know when they have to deliver all the corsages and bouquets. Boardwalk Hall would have a two-week period blocked out for pageant rehearsals, preliminary competitions and the crowning of the new Miss America.

But this is not any other year. Miss America doesn't have a date, and the uncertainty has her world in a tizzy.

With three months to go before its traditional start, the beauty pageant is still without a TV contract and has yet to establish a date for the crowning, which traditionally is held in early September.

"It is, candidly, looking more and more like September's out of the picture,'' said Bob Arnhym, executive director of the Miss California Scholarship Pageant. "Logistically, there's an awful lot of detail that has to be attended to.''

Dropped by ABC last fall because of record-low viewership, the Miss America pageant has been searching for a new television outlet to carry the 84-year-old pageant.

Art McMaster, CEO of the Miss America Organization, has declined repeated requests for an interview about the pageant's hunt for a new TV outlet. Spokeswoman Jenni Glenn said Friday the pageant is in "final negotiations with interested networks'' and will have an announcement within two weeks.

Keeping the pageant on the air is a necessity - both for visibility's sake and because the Miss America Organization has historically depended on TV revenue to run the show and pay for the scholarships awarded to contestants. In 2003, $5.6 million of its $6.9 million in revenue came from ABC, according to its tax return.

The delay in setting a date has left state pageants, their contestants, Miss America vendors and the operators of Boardwalk Hall - where Miss America is named each year - in limbo.

"I'm asked all the time, 'Hey, what's going on with Miss America?''' said Jeffrey Vasser, executive director of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority. "Art McMaster assures me there will be a pageant this year. They do have a couple opportunities on the table, but he wouldn't tell me what they are.''

Pageant officials have said they are considering a shift away from the tired formula of the telecast - which drew only 9.8 million viewers last year - in favor of something more in line with reality TV shows.

After being cast off by ABC, they hired talent agency William Morris and are said to be aggressively pursuing cable networks, with McMaster proposing to "open up the sacred doors of Miss America,'' as he told an interviewer in April.

Instead of a once-a-year special that struggles to interest viewers, McMaster has pitched the idea of Miss America as a show aired over several nights, with viewers getting to know the contestants as they do on "American Idol'' and other reality shows.

Whatever it is, Miss America's next TV outlet will likely scotch the saccharine speeches about world peace in favor of televised backbiting among the women vying for the crown.

"I don't think there's an audience for squeaky clean,'' said Shari Anne Brill, director of programming for ad-buying firm Carat. "It has to be modernized in the way we've all been fed such reality. You need to see the tears, the drama, the makeup, the mascara, the crisis of finding out you have a zit.''

Meanwhile, the Miss America world waits.

"I'm getting impatient. I want to know,'' said Leah Summers, who runs the Miss West Virginia Scholarship Pageant.

"Every year, we end the show with a line like 'Congratulations to the new Miss West Virginia, Suzie Q, and please join us as we watch her compete in Atlantic City on September 19th.' We can't say that this year. We can't say where or when.''

---- check out the poll at:http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050619151909990002&ncid=NWS00010000000001

Results when I last checked were:

Do you care if the Miss America pageant gets canceled?
No 64%
Yes 36%

Should the beauty contest be turned into a reality TV series?
No 83%
Yes 17%

Total Votes: 86,776

Congratulations to Jackie Hart, Miss Galaxy 2006! 

Chelsea Cooley, of Charlotte, North Carolina as she reacts to winning the title of Miss USA 2005 at the conclusion of the live NBC Telecast from The Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland April 11, 2005. ho/Miss Universe L.P., LLLP. 

Chelsea will be on the Stimmung Stunde in August. Stay tuned for details!

Happy 39th birthday to Marta Kretschmann! 

JS Online: Verne Meisner wrote, played polkas like no other: "Verne Meisner wrote, played polkas like no other"

Verne Meisner passed away this past Friday. He was 66 years old. Entire story linked above.

Downloading German Songs from iTunes
Now you can download German music in the popular iTunes program. Learn more at the article indicated above.