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Southern Grad, Family in FX's "Black. White."

Posted on: Monday, 6 March 2006, 18:00 CST

By Judy Bergeron

Southern grad, family in FX's "Black. White."

A former Baton Rouge man and his family are featured in an unusual documentary which debuts this week on FX.

In Black.White., two families, one African-American and one white, change races for six weeks, undergoing the transformation at the hands of Hollywood make-up effects artist Ketih VanderLaan, who worked on the film The Passion of the Christ. Each day for the six weeks, the families make-up process took three to five hours. The families shared a house in Tarzana, Calif., and lived their lives as members of the others race.

The African-American Sparks family father Brian, wife Rene and son Nick live in Georgia. Brian, a 41-year-old contractor, is a graduate of Southern University. His wife is a 38-year-old office manager with a degree from Georgia Perimeter College. Son Nick, 17, is a high school student. According to a release from the show, Brian applied to be a part of Black.White. after he saw an online posting seeking an African-American family for the six-part program.

The Wurgel family lives in California. Bruno is a 47-year-old teacher, his wife Carmen a 48-year-old location scout and daughter Rose, 18, a college student. The Wurgels said a friend encouraged them to apply to be on the show.

The families said the experience challenged their beliefs and core values in ways they could never have imagined.

The show premieres at 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, on FX (cable Channel 25).

Worth a look

Miracle Workers: 9 p.m. Monday, March 6, ABC (cable Channel 5). The new reality series deals with two seriously-ill patients per episode, who beat the odds medically thanks to a team of doctors and others who give them the medical treatment they need, including cutting-edge surgery they might otherwise be unable to afford.

Beach Patrol: Mission Katrina: 10 pm. Monday, March 6, Court TV (cable Channel 51). First-responders during Hurricane Katrina included members of the San Diego Lifeguard Service, the subjects of the networks show, Beach Patrol. Here, viewers can see New Orleans in chaos through the eyes of the team, shot with hand-held cameras during the first days after the storm. An encore, 30-minute version of NOPD: After Katrina airs at 10:30 p.m.

World Poker Tour: 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, Travel Channel (cable Channel 67). Its the debut of the fourth season, and follows an 11-tournament series, as newcomers and veteran players compete for $100 million in prize money.

NASCAR Driven to Win: 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, Biography Channel (digital cable Channel 264). The new series gives an up close-and-personal look into some of the racing circuits most popular young drivers, on and off the track. Up first are Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch.

Warrior Queen Boudica: 7 p.m. Friday, March 10, History Channel (cable Channel 47). The story of the wife, mother, queen and savage warrior is retold with fresh information. The piece, shot on location in Romania, chronicles how Boudica, a Braveheart, united the tribes of Briton against the Romans, terrorizing Roman cities and burning London to the ground.

I Shouldnt Be Alive: 8 p.m. Friday March 10, Discovery Channel (cable Channel 46). The second season opens with the episode Trapped by a Boulder, and is part of Survival Weekend, featuring primetime programs about survival all weekend.

Battlestar Gallactica: 9 p.m. Friday, March 10, Sci Fi Channel (cable Channel 59). Season two comes to a close, as Laura must choose between stealing the election and letting Baltar win.Television stations with news about on-air reporters or personalities should send the information to: Judy Bergeron, television editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge LA 70821; fax to (225) 388-0351 or e-mail to jbergeron@theadvocate.com.

Source: Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.

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