Backstage at Finland Calling

Posted: 12.31.2008 at 2:21 PM

Read more: Local, Finland Calling, Finnish, Suomi Kutsuu, Carl Pellonpaa, TV6, Foreign Program

Finland Calling host Carl Pellonpaa is still keeping it fresh after almost five decades on the air.

NEGAUNEE -- Every Sunday, viewers can count on Carl Pellonpaa for their source to all things Finnish in the U.P.

"My mother and my father were both born there,” explained the longtime host of Finland Calling. “I've travelled to Finland about 32 or 33 times. I've interviewed presidents of Finland, ambassadors…it’s been fun!"

His enthusiasm for Scandinavian culture has made his show, Finland Calling, the longest running foreign program in the U.S. at 46 years old. That’s a long time for a show that started off as little more than an advertisement.

"The owner of a travel agency, Tom Quayle, convinced John Borgen, the general manager at the time, that a Finnish program would induce all kinds of people to travel to Finland,” Pellonpaa laughed.

And viewers loved it. Since then, Finland Calling has organized 26 tours to the country and has also hosted a number of Finnish visitors to the U.P.

“Viewers tell me that they enjoy the music,” Pellonpaa said. “They enjoy the scenery. So, we've continued with the same format as it has been from the beginning."

Pellonpaa is delighted to have helped foster such a strong relationship with Finland and plans to continue for as long as he can, but in a new time slot. Starting Sunday, January 4, fans will see Finland Calling a half an hour earlier at 10:30 a.m. ET, 9:30 a.m. CT.