By Martha Woodward

The East Tennessee Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists is gearing up to host the annual Front Page Follies on Saturday, July 19, at the Knoxville Convention Center. The Follies is a way for the media who report on all local stories to step back and poke fun at some of the most outrageous stories of the last year.

The Director and accompanist for the production is Carol Zinavage whose “real job” is with the Knoxville Symphony. Emily Schoen, with the Halls Shopper News, is serving as the percussionist. Jean Ashe (no relation to Victor) has been selling tickets and finding donations for the silent auction and other fund-raising, while Dorothy Bowles, UT Professor, rounds out the committee who is taking care of the numerous details required for such an event.

A group of volunteers will entertain using song parodies and skits. The “Bloggy Mountain Boys” are planning to sing a song called, “Mayor of Constant Sorrow” to the tune of the song “Man of Constant Sorrow” from the movie “Oh, Brother where art thou?"

The first verse says: He—ee is a Mayor of constant sorrow, Scandal, misfortune on his watch. The Devil in the details was those damn P-cards, Could not control what his staff bought. (Could not control what his staff bought.)
Another parody which will be sure to become a smash hit, is The Lumpy Lambert (tune: The Locomotion)
Everybody’s doing’ a brand new dance now:
Come on, baby, do The Lumpy Lambert.
You know you can’t avoid it,
So just give it a chance, now.
Come on, baby, do The Lumpy Lambert.

The evening gets underway with open bar and reception around the silent auction tables at 6 pm.  Dinner is served at 7, followed by a live auction and then the show at 8 pm. Tickets are $100 and all money goes to benefit journalism students. etspj.communications@gmail.com. Call Jean Ash for more information (865) 691- 2606.