Columnist Susan Snyder: Making a push for quirky show

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 | 9:51 a.m.

OK, I'm hooked.

The VCR is set, and every Thursday evening it will be taping ABC's new interactive mystery series, "Push, Nevada."

It's sort of a "Twin Peaks" meets "Northern Exposure" in the desert. And just as people went trotting up to the great Northwest seeking Cicely, Alaska, I figure it's only a matter of time before they head out here in their extended cabs looking for Push.

Yes, we all know it's a fake town -- in spite of the billboards plugging Push all over the Las Vegas Valley.

But take a look at pushchamber.com, where the "Push Chamber of Commerce" describes the businesses, civic groups, entertainment and lifestyle of this quirky little Nevada town (as if they had to make up one of those).

There's a listing for Central Nevada Savings and Loan ("Your nuggets are safe with us!"), and one for Steve's Supermarket and Gun Emporium ("You need it -- we've got it. Deli. Pharmacy. Bakery. Ammo."). You can hear cowboy poetry at Sloman's Dance Bar or join the Pin Drop League at Push Pins Bowl, which has "the best fries in town!"

Bet you a $2.99 Sun King Special from the Bastille Grill that some unsuspecting looby back in Ohio is calling AAA right now for a TripTik.

Officials from the Nevada Commission on Tourism say they haven't received any inquiries so far, but one added, "It's early yet."

Even a website for a fake town can't hurt when it comes to promoting Nevada as something other than Las Vegas and brothels. And tourism officials are working hard on doing that. In August 16 rural communities split $200,000 in the first-ever grants awarded for stimulating local tourism.

One of these communities may as well jump on the Push wagon. Let's have another look at that website -- specifically, "The Push Lifestyle."

"Nestled beneath the great blue skies of central Nevada, Push proudly displays the rugged vigor of its Old West past," the site says. "Most of us participate in civic associations, especially the wonderful Armadillo Lodge. Like a desert cactus enduring drought and indifference, the Armadillos display the best of small-town civic mindedness."

It waxes on about the "spirited community" and "freckle-faced kids." I figure they could only be talking about one place.

Battle Mountain.

Yes, the little town that pushed for the firing of a newspaper editor after she spoke to a Washington Post writer, who in turn named Battle Mountain the "Armpit of America."

It seems Battle Mountain residents finally have developed a sense of humor about it. The chamber of commerce lady didn't call back in time, but the chamber's website has a separate link for the "Armpit" appellation.

It says residents gradually accepted the designation as "the knock of opportunity." Mills Drug store, it says, was hawking "Armpit" T-shirts within two weeks of the Post article. And the city now hosts an annual "Festival in the Pit" at the end of June.

But the big push for the 'Pit came in August, when Battle Mountain snared one of those state tourism grants -- $10,000 for "Armpit of America" gateway signs, a visitor information sign and display racks for its civic center.

Can "Jim Prufrock Slept Here" T-shirts and Silas Bodnick slot machines be far behind?