That's a wrap, Jack

Fifth-grader nears decision in contest

Jack Hennessy was absolutely ready for his close-up.

After spending three days on the set of the "Today Show," it was practically old hat for the gregarious Naperville 10-year-old. So when he returned to the national spotlight Friday to film one more segment for the show's Kid Reporter contest championship, he was pretty much at ease.

"After a while, you just kind of get used to being (before) the camera," he said. "You just go from being nervous to just having fun."

The SS Peter and Paul Parish School fifth-grader put in a long day Friday, his mom Wendy Hennessy related during a mid-day phone call to The Sun. Jack will be back among his classmates Monday as they watch the show.

"They've been out on the plaza all morning, interviewing and doing everything that they were told to do as a reporter," she said.

Each contestant was instructed to interview Marcia Gay Hardin, seen most recently in the newly released roller-derby feature film "Whip It." She also brought home a Tony award not long ago, and Jack asked her about that, and her work on behalf of pediatric cancer research at St. Jude Children's Hospital, during their one-on-one interview.

"We had to research her," said Jack, who found the conversation really fun, and says he'd love to be a real reporter one day.

Launched in the middle of September, the search for the next up-and-coming morning anchor drew more than 1,000 video entries, said "Today Show" senior producer Marc Victor, who dreamed up the contest. Production staff members narrowed the field to 16 semifinalists, who went to New York in groups of four to put their submissions before a national audience, one per week.

After Jack's group wrapped up the qualifying round last Monday, viewers logged on and voted his one-minute look at the vegetable garden he tended over the past summer -- a piece titled "Kids in America: Planting their own gardens and going green" -- their favorite from the episode.

"Of course, we want a great reaction," said Victor, who got one when Jack learned he had won the round. "His entire face just lit up, and we knew that our viewers definitely chose the right kid from that group."

The kids who were picked from the other three groups have become good friends, Jack said. At this point, there's plenty of goodwill among the foursome, which also includes Samantha Isler, 11, from Tulsa, Okla.; Brody Myers, 8, from Stillwater, Okla.; and Deidra Shores, 12, from Memphis, Tenn.

The finalists spent a chunk of their day Friday in the crisp autumn air of downtown Manhattan, while the camera rolled.

"We just like talked to each other and stuff, and we filmed it," Jack said. "We don't really care whoever wins. We're just happy that we made it this far, and we're having fun now."

The final four are an extremely satisfactory bunch, Victor said.

"We could not ask for a better group of kids," he said. "They're so much fun to be around. Our producers who are working with them day to day are having the best time."

His expectations have been exceeded, Victor said, and the contest appears on track to become an annual thing.

"There's no doubt about it. It's been so successful for us, and to have this kind of interest from our viewers is incredible," he said.

It takes a certain kind of kid to be an effective on-air personality.

"They have to be good, they have to work well under pressure. On live TV, a lot of kids -- adults as well -- clam up," said Victor, who's been pretty impressed by the kid from Naperville. "He's an adorable kid, smart kid, very genuine. And he really seems like he wants it."