An interview with Debi & Mark: 

CityVisions  
Public Access Review  
San Francisco Channel 53 Newsletter 

February 1996  

Producer Profile 

by Julia Terr 

Mark Enos and Debi Hertz formed Tweak-it  
Productions to produce their series  
mdTV: Adventures with Debi & Mark.  
It is a half hour show which airs monthly,  
the first Tuesdays of the month, at 10:00pm.  
In a phrase, the philosophy of their show is  
"Gay Fluff". They shoot all of their shows  
on location, in and around San Francisco. 

When asked what first brought them to  
CITYVISIONS Mark’s answer is,  
"Debi’s Moped…with the vision to do  
a Gay Wayne’s World, with better hair!"  
They worked together at a large  
international architectural design firm,  
and they were bored due to lack of work.  
They went to the Alta Plaza for martinis  
and began jotting down ideas on cocktail  
napkins. One idea led to another, and  
they found their way to CITYVISIONS.  
They had no experience before stepping  
foot into CITYVISIONS workshops. 

Their first show was created from  
practice videotaping. Debi shot Mark  
as he entered an on-line chat room.  
That became their first episode, entitled  
"CyberSex.". Mark says, "We then  
evolved into a Castro Street Interview. 
Show…asking people about "dates  
from hell", "why S.F.", "sex monogamy  
& virginity" and other like topics. They  
also covered the Folsom Street Fair. 

mdTV has grown to cablecast in Davis, 
CA, Manhattan, NY, & Los Angeles,  
CA. 

Debi and Mark estimate that they spend  
a mere 8 hours* in pre-production before  
a show, and about 16 hours*in post  
production. Their show only requires  
2 or 3 crew members. Cheryl Gleason,  
Debi’s girlfriend, acts as the Production  
Assistant. 

The primary elements that make a good  
show are, "good lighting, good sound,  
good hair, capturing spontaneity and  
a sense of humor," says Mark.  
Their advice for a fledging producer is,  
"Don’t be intimidated by what you think  
you don’t know. Don’t give up, you  
will learn as you go. Give viewers a  
way to communicate with you about  
your show." And last but not least - 
- "Don’t quit your day job...  
You’ll need office supplies". 

*Note: This number has grown by  
LEAPS & BOUNDS!! To provide better fluff! 

You can reach Mark by e-mail at: 
tweakit2@aol.com 
 
 Debi can be reached by e-mail at: 
tweakit@aol.com 
 
 
 

Debi behind the camera...  

Mark & the camera Dude! 

Mark double dating at the Folsom Street Fair 

Mark - 

Caught your show a couple of times. One about some leather thing in S.F. and one about embarrassing moments, first time, etc.. Cool! Keep up the good work. 

Best of luck - Doug 

Subj: mdtv 
Date: 96-09-11 00:24:46 EDT 
To: tweakit2@aol.com (Mark the Architect) 

Hey Mark 

Nice to run into you again and thanks for handing out the flyer at the car show-- the date from hell episode was pretty funny-- even though I had my doubts during the umbrella opening. 

-Brent 

Subj: Anniversary Show 
Date: Tue, Mar 12, 1996 2:31 AM ED 
To: Tweakit@aol.com, Tweakit2@aol.com 

This was your best show yet! Ya know, maybe you should consider multi-themed shows instead. There are obviously some great ideas (like the potato show) that can't fill a whole half-hour, but two or three of these shorter ideas could make more interesting shows. 

Mark finally, sorta took his shirt off in the potato piece. (Nice nips). 

Excellent photography on that segment, by the way. 

Ken      

Viewer E-mails we have received : 
 

  

Subj: WEHO NEEDS NEW SHOWS!!! 
Date: 97-07-29 16:27:48 EDT 
To: TWEAKIT2@AOL.COM 

Hi Debbie & Mark (Forgive me if I misspelled your names): 

My partner & I LOVE your show. However, it seems that West Hollywood Public Access has a limited number of episodes which they repeat constantly. I have seen the "Valentine's Day" show, the "Anniversary" show and the "Gay Frat" show so many times over the 
past two months that I could act in them. PLEASE send them some new 
episodes or some older ones as we look forward to watching you guys 
each week (How does the bay area survive on only one show the first 
Tuesday of each month???!!!). 

Also if you have anything to do with it, you should see if WEHO Public 
Access could switch MDTV to a new time period. Right now you are on 
Monday at 8:35P, right before The Paul Kent Show (MDTV is a great lead in). Nonetheless, this puts you right in the middle of Melrose Place 
(serious gay fluff) when the new fall season starts. 

Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know that we enjoy your show and we 
are eagerly anticipating some new fluff. 

Thanks! 

Craig 

Date: 95-12-10 23:31:15 EST 
To: Tweakit2@aol.com ('Tweakit2@aol.com') 

Mark, 

Just caught your show on public access. 
Cute. Very Cute. 
Oh, and the show was too. <g> 

Good luck with it! 

--Mark 

Subj: Loved Your Gay Car Show 
Date: Thu, Nov 21, 1996 5:47 PM EDT 
To: tweakit@aol.com 

Hi there, 
Just wanted to let you know that I just saw your gay 
car show episode here in Manhattan and loved it. 
It's cold and grey here and seeing sunny California made me long for summer. Are you guys on cable here all the time? 

Or was that a one shot deal? 

Drop me a line. 

Subj: No Subject 
Date: Wed, Jan 17, 1996 2:53 AM ED 
To: tweakit@aol.com 

i just got to see you folsom street fair episode of your show on dctv. 
i have to say that i have rarely paid as much attention to a local access show. 
it was, shall we say, cheeky. *ooh* sorry, i couldn't resist. me? 
i know you didn't ask. but i'm a bottom. 

mice r.r. 

Subj: mdTV 
Date: Mon, Jan 15, 1996 11:07 AM EDT 
To: tweakit@aol.com ('tweakit@aol.com Debi') 

I saw the show last night on Monogamy and Virginity. Very fun. 

I especially liked the editing--cutting back a few times to some of the people being interviewed. My favorites were the two lipstick lesbians where the girlfriend sort of took over the interview and started asking her lover the questions. 

Keep up the good work! 

: - ) JB 

Date: Thu, Dec 14, 1995 6:47 PM EDT 
Subj: gay tv show 
To: Tweakit 

Hi Debi, 

My name is Kris. My freind Shane and I met you and Mark on Castro Street last weekend. You might remember us because Shane is so tall (6'6"). 
You gave me a pink paper with your info on it. 

I was wondering if you would email me some info on the show that we 
might be on. And also, if you would let me know about the other shows you do. 

I would like to check them out. 

Subj: MDTV Date from Hell Show 
Date: 96-09-10 17:35:32 EDT 
To: tweakit2@aol.com (Mark Enos) 

Hi Mark! 

I did see the show. I thought it was hysterical! Great answers. I need 
to see it again. 

Ken 

Subj: Thanks 

Date: 96-10-19 16:55:20 EDT 
To: Tweakit2 

I was laying in the bed with my partner on this very rainy day here in NYC,flipping through the channel's, when we came across your wonderful show.It was an "On the Scene" segment interviewing people on the Castro regardingthe "worst dates". You and your female co-host were very funny as well as thepeople you were interviewing. 

My Partner and I were in San Francisco three years ago for our Honeymoon, and really enjoyed ourselves. 

We have friends in SF and plan to make another trip out there very soon, maybe we could meet you guys in person. 

Please keep us up to date with any information on your programs and any upcoming events/shows we should keep an eye out for. 

Keep up the good work and we wish you much success and please keep in touch, 

Jerome & Alfred 

Subj: Just say your show... 
Date: 96-09-08 23:38:34 EDT 
To: tweakit2@aol.com 

On the "Date from Hell", and just thought I'd mention that my lover is theex-lover of one your interviewees. He said, in effect, "I've never had a dateNOT from hell....". Interesting. Every time there's a date from hell, he'sbeen there. Does this tell you something? 

Hugs and XOXOXOXO's, and keep up the good work, love your show. 

Ken