Fargo is once again getting national exposure thanks to the Fargo Theatre.
And it may get a little more.
A video submitted by theater executive director Margie Bailly is among 15 finalists for a contest that will send "The View" to a U.S. city for an on-location live show.
In the contest, "The View From Your Hometown," cities were invited to send in a video showing why the ABC network show should broadcast from there.
The show is hosted by Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Star Jones and Meredith Vieira. It has won 16 daytime Emmys.
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Fargo's entry was announced Tuesday on the program, which also showed a few seconds of Bailly's video. "The video is called 'The Ultimate Survivor,' " Bailly said. "I'm portraying the Fargo Theatre and the city of Fargo as the ultimate survivors."
It includes footage of the 1997 flood, the party held at the theater on Oscar night 1997, when the film "Fargo" was up for seven awards and won two, and from the 1998-99 remodeling project at the theater.
"I have no idea how we stayed in the running," Bailly said with a laugh.
The contest's winner also will receive a $25,000 prize, which Bailly says would be used to continue restoration work on the theater.
Most of what was shown Tuesday had Bailly speaking. "They should have showed more of the video part than my mug," she said.
Fargo was the 13th finalist named in the contest. The others are Boise, Idaho; Austin, Texas; Charleston, S.C.; Edmond, Okla.; Springfield, Mo.; Runnemede, N.J.; Seneca Falls, N.Y.; Norfolk, Va.; Stevensville, Md.; Detroit; West Chester, Pa.; and Owosso, Mich. Two more will be named this week.
The top four finalists will be broadcast Monday, with the winner announced Oct. 31. The broadcast from the winning town will occur Nov. 10.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Tom Pantera at (701) 241-5541
