The premise of the show was that the national feed would present a story and the local hosts could present a take on the story that would appeal to those in their markets as well. For example, if the day's show nationally dealt with food, the local hosts would go a local restaurant for some good humored fun and information.
In 1982, Skip Jacobson left the show to pursue an acting career in Hollywood. This left Paula Sands in search of her next co-host. The logical choice to go to was Mr. Ernie Mims! Ernie brought to the show a little pizzaz that was missing before his arrival on the scene. Legendary WOC engineer Jon Book shows that in an advertisment dated 2/24/1983, Ernie Mims Joins Paula Gillette.
 |
Here we find Ernie with a three foot tall glass of tasty brew. This was a St. Pattys day celebration at a Moline pub. It was taken a few days before St. Pats Day as we did not do these features live. So this one was actually taped a few days early and then played on St. Pats day. - Ernie |
| Another shot shows Ernie having fun while telling the story of designer decorated toilet bowls!We were doing a story which included designer toilet bowls. This was at K&K hardware. On PM Magazine I would not follow the script too close, I would inject things and this was one of them. - Ernie |
 |
 | Ernie finds a way to participate by showing what it takes to be a housekeeper in the Quad Cities. |
| In what was most likely the greatest PM Magazine segment of them all, Ernie dies his hair red and blue and becomes a punk! |  |
 | Marlon Brando, eat your heart out! Ernie does his best punk Elvis imitation. |
| HEYYY its the Fonz? Nope just Ernie! |
 |
| Another episode reveals fit and trim Ernie warming up on the exercise bicycle. |  |
 | Ernie taking a well deserved PM Magazine break with his shoes off during airing of the show! |
| Patty-cake patty-cake baker Ernie? |  |
 | As mentioned, Ernie could not resist breaking into Captain Ernie mode causing chaos on the set! |
 | One of Quad City's PM Magazine's most famous episodes. Ernie chatting with a local autograph collector. The one with the autograph collector is the one I remember the most. That was the one that went all over the nation. Every PM Magazine carried this story. My Aunt was watching her station's version of it and she called me and said "there I was sitting watching the tv and I go 'HEY STAN, LOOK ITS ERNIE!!!'" That was pretty amusing, they were able to say hey, the guy really made it, he is on tv! - Ernie |
Ernie later left the show to become a salesman for WOC!
Special thanks to Diana Memos for providing this clip advertising Ernie's joining Paula Sands on PM Magazine!
The final PM Magazine piece presented by legendary woc engineer Jon Book. A PM Magazine napkin which appeared on the final show!
Click here to go to Captain Ernie's Showboat Website!