In a different reality, the show would have been called “Maine Street” and you’d never have heard of “207.” “Maine Street” was the working title for the half-hour news magazine program set to debut on this station in the fall of 2003, and the hope was it would be broadcast from a new studio with large windows overlooking Congress Square in downtown Portland, not unlike the “Today” show studio that faces Rockefeller Plaza.
It didn’t work out that way. Not long before the show’s premiere, we decided we liked the name “207” and that’s what we went with. As for the glass-encased studio looking out on the world, that idea soon died. Too expensive…too impractical…couldn’t get the space…maybe all of the above.
On the first night of “207” and for several weeks to follow, the first three minutes of the program consisted of a recap of the day’s news anchored by Pat Callaghan. Then came two and a half minutes of weather with Joe Cupo. Only then did “207” as you now know it—a mix of feature stories, interviews, music, cooking and more--begin.
As one who was present at the creation, I could not be more delighted that “207” is now celebrating its 15th anniversary. From the start we were extraordinarily lucky to have smart, talented and hard-working people working on the show; it never would have survived without them.
But the biggest thank you goes to you, our viewers, who have supported the program for some—yikes—3,800 episodes. The 7:00 o’clock weeknight time slot is a tough neighborhood in the world of television, and all of us who work on “207” are deeply grateful that you’ve been watching. So we’ll say it again: Thank you. Here’s hoping we keep getting together for many years to come.
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When you’ve got some 1,700 hours of programming to choose from, how do you decide what to put in a 15th anniversary special? We had enough memorable moments to fill a month’s worth of shows, but this is what we ended up selecting and what you’ll find here.
--Part 1. A look back at our first night on the air, the first ten years, and the last five years.
--Part 2. The return of Caroline Cornish!
--Part 3. A sampling of musicians from Maine and around the world who’ve performed for us.
--Part 4. A look back with Rob Nesbitt and Peggy Keyser, and a final word.