'The Baristas,' a new Web series set in Pittsburgh, goes online

RX for cabin fever: pour a cup of your favorite caffeinated beverage, fire up the laptop or smartphone and enjoy the premiere of a new Web series set in Pittsburgh.

"The Baristas" centers on a group of people -- played by a cast of Pittsburgh-based actors -- who work in a coffee shop. It's a spinoff of "Something to be Desired," another Pittsburgh Web series that ran from 2003-09. Some of the characters carry over into the new series.

Like "STBD," it's a serialized sitcom that revolves around a group of 20-year-olds. The dialogue between them is sharp and funny, and the end result is somewhere between "Clerks" and "The Office."

The series is set in and filmed at a local coffee shop -- Affogato in Bellevue. The ensemble features a core group of baristas played by Pittsburgh-based actors: Dierdre (Lacey Fleming), the sarcastic manager, who reprises her "STBD" character here; Ben (Will McMahon), whose impending wedding plans are threatened when he loses his job and ends up working part time at the coffee shop; Sam (Shaun Starke), another carryover from "STBD"; Gary (Joel Ambrose) and Madison (Jillian Vitko). A large cast of coffee shop patrons includes some new faces and some familiar "STBD" characters.

There's a "Baristas" Twitter feed, where the show's characters tweet as themselves, adding another dimension to the series and giving viewers their takes both on what's happening in the show and in the real world.

Series creator Justin Kownacki plans to make about 100 episodes but may do more if the series becomes popular.

"Baristas" can be watched on Blip.tv, iTunes and YouTube. The Blip.tv version has short advertising spots that generate a small amount of revenue based on viewership. See also thebaristas.com

"STBD" fans and supporters donated $3,000 to help launch "Baristas" through Kickstarter, a website that helps people raise money for creative projects.

Two episodes are online now. New ones will post Mondays at 10 a.m.

Former WAMO program director Ron Atkins has launched The Power of Gospel, a local online gospel radio station.

Mr. Atkins also produces 101 The Blaze, an online urban format that debuted in 2009.

The Power of Gospel features Brother Marlon Martin, who hosted a weekly gospel program on the former WAMO and also worked there as a morning show host under the name Sean Richards. He now hosts a weekly gospel program 8 p.m. Saturdays on Christian station WORD-FM (101.5).

The site features videos of gospel artists and local gospel events listings.

Mr. Atkins and Mr. Martin will co-host a morning show starting Feb. 21. "Power in the Morning -- with Brother Marlon and Ron" will feature gospel music, along with news and entertainment features. It will stream on the gospel channel site weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

www.pittsburghspowerofgospel.com

First published on February 13, 2011 at 12:00 am