By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Have you heard Rob Braun following in his father's footsteps this week?

The Channel 12 anchor, and son of the late TV/radio personality Bob Braun, has been sitting in for Nick Clooney as morning music host on WSAI-AM (1530).

Before Mr. Clooney did the show, Rob's father was the station's morning voice for five years. He signed on the big band/pop standards format in 1994. His father died in January 2001 at age 71.

"I'm told the mike and chair are the same ones Dad used," says Rob, 45, hired by Channel 12 in 1985 from a Knoxville TV station.

"Dad would be proud, and it makes me proud to follow in his footsteps. Hundreds of people have called to say hello, and talk to me about Dad, and how much they miss him. I miss him too."

The morning shift has been tough on Rob because he's still doing his night job, as Channel 12's primary co-anchor at 6 and 11 p.m. He's relied on help from program director Joe Zerhusen, a producer and midday music host Nancy James, who sang on Channel 5's Bob Braun Show before it was canceled in 1984.

"I get up at 5:45 a.m., and I'm on the air at 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. Then I head right back home to bed until 2:30, then go straight to Channel 12 until midnight. It's been a tough grind, but worth it," he says.

WSAI-AM folks are so pleased they've asked him to come back next week. But Rob begged off.

"I feel like I have permanent jet lag," he says.

Rob has to be in top form on TV next week. The November ratings' sweeps start on Halloween. His 11 p.m. newscast with Kit Andrews, Tim Hedrick and Brad Johansen has been No. 1 for 31/2 years.

WCIN-AM news: WCIN-AM (1480) folks are making big plans for the station's 50th birthday next year.

The yearlong celebration could include jazz, gospel, R&B and blues concerts; a dinner dance; and a program to honor the Tristate's African-American leaders since the station signed on in 1953, says General Manager John Thomas.

He's also trying to track down former DJs who have worked at WCIN-AM. Anyone with information about former WCIN-AM personalities should contact the station, 3540 Reading Road, Avondale, by calling (513) 281-7180.

`West Wing' vote: Have you stopped watching The West Wing?

Ratings are down 23 percent this fall for NBC's White House drama, despite its having won a third consecutive Emmy for best drama in September.

The ratings drop has been attributed to competition from The Bachelor on ABC, and baseball playoffs on Fox. Viewers obviously are disenchanted with the show, and I want to know why.

E-mail your comments to jkiesewetter@enquirer.com. Or send them to The West Wing, c/o John Kiesewetter, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202, or fax to (513) 768-8330.

Back to school: If WB cancels Greetings from Tucson (9:30 p.m. today, Channels 64, 26), star Julio Oscar Mechoso has a second career to fall back on - as an East Los Angeles kindergarten teacher.

"The minute they drop me from the WB, and I don't have a contract for another movie or something, brother, I'm substitute teaching the next day," says the actor, who has appeared in Steven Spielberg's High Incident on ABC and Internal Affairs with Andy Garcia.

Mr. Mechoso was born in Matanzas, Cuba, and raised in Miami's Little Cuba. He has a psychology degree from Florida International University.

"When I wasn't working so much as an actor here (in L.A.), I had my own kindergarten class for several years," he says.

"I love to teach kids how to speak English. Most of these kids that I teach are in the bilingual group, and so I do a lot of language-development things with them."

Teacher's pay is much less than his acting income, but he's proud to keep busy.

"It's better to make 20 percent of what you need, than zero by staying home. I have that work ethic."

Classic move: American Movie Classics has changed its name after 18 years. It's now promoted as simply AMC, "TV for movie people."

`SNL' update: Reader Jonathan Friend points out that Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon aren't the first Weekend Update co-anchor team on Saturday Night Live. Jane Curtain did Weekend Update with Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray in the late 1970s after Chevy Chase left.

Screech here: Dustin Diamond, "Screech" from NBC's old Saved by the Bell (7-8 a.m. weekdays, WTBS) headlines the "Mission Improvable" improv comedy show at 7 p.m. today at the College of Mount St. Joseph theater on the Delhi Township campus. The Fall Frenzy show is open to the public. $5. Information: (513) 244-4900

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com