May 3: Fresh Focus

Today should be a nice day for filming. As in filming TV shows here in Broward County. There's a lot of it going on these days. I'm not sure where the cameras may be rolling just now, but I drove by a foamy emerald ocean this morning and then on past Port Everglades, which looked lovely with a Royal Caribbean ship waiting to load passengers for its next cruise. All of this under a warm and totally gorgeous sun. Yep, it's a most excellent day to tape, say, an episode of "The Glades." The cast and crew of that new A&E Network program are running all over Broward County as they put together this cop drama for a July debut.

A little farther afield, out in western Broward's Everglades, another program also is being filmed. This one's a reality show called "Swamp Men," which premieres tonight at 10 p.m. on the National Geographic network, Nat Geo Wild. Together, these two series should highlight some of this area's beauty, both natural and manmade - and again prove why Greater Fort Lauderdale is such a terrific place for TV and film productions.

It's always fun to host these folks. I think most South Floridians enjoy bumping into a location set, all the lights and cameras and microphones spread out somewhere on our streets. Or in our parks. Or even in our Everglades, for those who visit Billie Swamp Safari. This wildlife park is operated by the Seminole Tribe, with more than 2,000 acres and more than 1,500 wild creatures. Alligators, panthers, bison, venomous snakes and lots of other critters ... oh my! As you'll see tonight if you watch, "Swamp Men" will focus on the park director and his staff as they cope with ornery gators and ill-tempered wild hogs and whatever else feels like giving them a hard time out in the boonies. As for "The Glades," this program features Aussie actor Matt Passmore as a former Chicago homicide cop who was wrongly accused of misconduct. Is there any other kind? Seriously, the show takes place in a fictional town - but actually takes place right here. They'll be filming in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, on our piers and county parks and basically all around Broward. I'm looking forward to catching them somewhere nearby as they tape a new scene. And oh, by the way, in case any casting directors for the series are reading this blog. If you happen to need a dapper-looking writer for an episode, well, I'm definitely ready for my close-up.