There’s no keeping this Poorman down

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- Only days after taking his show -- and its scantily clad

women -- off a local cable station, Jim “Poorman” Trenton promises his

viewers the show will be broadcast again.

The program, “Poorman’s Bikini Beach,” gathered a loyal following during

its airing on Channel 62 this summer. The 30-minute show features women,

most of whom were recruited off the beaches in front of Trenton’s West

Newport home, engaging in playful activities.

Thinking the show might be a smash, Trenton and his small staff are

trying to attract investors in order to market the program to a larger

audience.

“We’d like to take it to a bigger station,” he said. “There are already a

ton of people watching it, but we’d like to see if one of the Los Angeles

stations would be willing to have us.”

Trenton, a shaggy-haired beach dweller who was a former disc jockey for

KROQ-FM 106.7, has tried different jobs since the alternative radio

station let him go in the early ‘90s. He started his own talk show called

“Anti-Radio,” but it didn’t work. Coming fast on the radio show’s

unsuccessful heels was “Bikini Beach,” which has become a local favorite

among the male population.

However, Trenton must raise enough cash to continue the show. He would

have to pay a fee to a station, much like companies touting infomercials

for a probable late-night time slot.

Poorman figures he could strike it rich with a show centered around

bikini bunnies.

“We still want to be on the cable access station during the week, but

also one night a week on a Los Angeles channel,” he said. “I think when

we come back, we are going to be stronger and better.”

If the amount of response is any indication, Trenton might have a winner

on his hands. He completed 70 shows over a four-month period that

garnered high ratings on the cable station, which features predominately

foreign-language programming.

Producers from “Real TV” and a German television station have purchased

footage from Trenton for later broadcasts. A Web site was also created by

Trenton for the public’s enjoyment. The site averages 20,000 hits a day

with a guest book signed by hundreds of viewers who leave their comments.

Trenton is even selling behind-the-scenes videos that reportedly show

some tawdry behavior.

“The show has been very popular to this point and I hope it continues,”

he said. “The show is taking on its natural progression. Our audience

will see us again.”