Alaska TV in the making: trio turns dreams into reality and has huge plans for Alaska television.

• Author: Cutler, Debbie
• Position: FILM - Editorial

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If dreams could make money then the three owners of Anchorage-based Upper One Studios would be rich.

Rick Mallars, Tom Karpow and Jason Martin are three amigos who live the life many of us would love to: taking risks, working hard, pursuing passions and seeing sometimes the future is more than dollars in the pocket for the moment.

And they are taking flight.

Formed in 2008 by Mallars and Karpow, Martin joined the duo in late 2009.

"Upper One Studios was created with one purpose and one goal," said Mallars. "To bring quality all-Alaska video productions to the great state of Alaska. Our motto is--The Lower 48 can have the rest, but Alaska has the Upper One!"

Their programming is filmed and produced by Alaskans, with Alaskans and for Alaskans, and currently three shows are in production or being aired.

* "Late Night Alaska," a mostly non-scripted comedy variety talk show hosted by Bob Lester, a DJ from 106.5 KHWL. The show mirrors Saturday Night Live with a unique Alaska flavor, and packs it full of Alaska humor, local politics, music from local bands and musical legends, dancing and more. It is filmed live at Alaska's famous Chilkoot Charlie's, with scripted spots interspersed, and regular features such as "Where's Taquito." There are also fake commercials. Demographics show those ages 18 to 55 are the main audience.

* "Halfway There," a unique and refreshing look at the oftentimes hilarious side of corrections. The sitcom is set in a town hundreds of miles from anywhere. Halfway is a federal residential corrections facility on a five-year quest to rehabilitate inmates back into society. Currently there are four scripts written and ready to roll in a monthly episode. Youth to age 35 appeal to this show, typically.

* "Scared Scriptless Improv," a comedy group that is known statewide and is now bringing their humor to television. The first filming was in November for a weekly TV show coming out this month. It's a PG13 production for a teen and older audience.

Upper One Studios has partnered with KACN Channel 38 (analogue) and local GCI cable Channel 95, utilizing their broadcast capabilities to place their programming in favorable time slots to both urban and rural Alaskans. Both "Late Night Alaska" and "Halfway There" were hoped to be aired by press time, with "Late Night Alaska" on Friday, 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., prime time for weekends. There are also plans to air reruns on Channel 1 from noon to 3 p.m. weekdays. They'll...