Twin Cities Public Television's "Almanac" program is a Minnesota institution. It has confidently occupied the 7 o'clock timeslot on Friday nights for more than a quarter of a century. It is the longest-running primetime TV program ever in the region.

"Almanac" is a time capsule, a program of record that details our region's history and culture during the past twenty five years. The hour-long mix of news, politics and culture is seen live statewide on the six stations of the Minnesota Public Television Association. Almanac was the first Minnesota TV show that virtually everyone in the state could watch together. The program's unusual format has been copied by numerous PBS stations around the country and it has led to Almanac being honored with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's award for Best Public Affairs Program. Almanac has also earned six regional Emmys awards.

"Almanac: At the Capitol" is broadcast live from the House Gallery each Wednesday night during the legislative session. For more than a decade it has been the place to come for in-depth analysis of the inner workings of the state legislature. The half hour program regularly features movers and shakers at the Capitol, including legislative leaders, the Governor and other elected officials.

A companion program to "Almanac", "Almanac: At the Capitol" has won numerous awards including regional Emmy awards.

"The Wrap" is Almanac's not-yet-award-winning online bonus show. Every Friday, from approximately 7:57 to 8pm, David Gillette seizes control of the tpt studios and does something he couldn't get away with on television, often enlisting the help of the state's most interesting, influential and prolific people. Think of it as Almanac's low-carb alternative, with a healthy dressing of behind-the-scenes secrets, covert cartooning and occasional physical challenges. (And be sure to follow @tptWrap on Twitter for the latest updates.)

Eric Eskola

In 1986 Eric was working as the "sports guy" on Almanac when he was elevated into the co-host chair. He has co-hosted the program ever since. His first co-host was Jan Smaby. Since 1994 he has hosted the program with his spouse Cathy Wurzer.

Eric started his broadcast news career in Duluth at KDAL radio and television while a college student. In 1980, he was hired by WCCO Radio and worked as a general assignment reporter for five years. In 1985, Eric became the station's state capitol correspondent and served in that capacity until 2010. He also co-anchored the morning newscasts and did personality work for WCCO's morning show.

In October 2010 Eric will be inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He has also won the Frank Premack "Graven Award" for contributions to journalism. Eric is a graduate of Duluth East High School and the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Cathy Wurzer

Credit: Ann Marsden

Cathy Wurzer is one of Minnesota's premiere journalists, with an extensive background in public and commercial broadcasting.

Since 1994 Cathy has been co-host --along with husband Eric Eskola-- of tpt's Almanac program. Cathy has won several Emmy Awards for her work on "Almanac". In addition to earning Emmy Awards for her television work, Ms. Wurzer has won the Sigenthaler Award for broadcast reporting, an Associated Press award for investigative reporting and was voted Best FM Radio Personality by "City Pages."

Cathy Wurzer is also a published author having written the regional best seller "Tales of the Road-Highway 61" in 2008, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. She was the executive producer and host of the public television documentary by the same name that had its premiere in March of 2009. The book won an award from the Midwest Independent Publisher's Association and the documentary won two Emmy Awards and a national Golden Eagle CINE award.

Many Minnesotans also know Cathy through her fine work as host of "Morning Edition" on Minnesota Public Radio. She holds degrees in broadcast journalism and urban studies from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. In her spare time, Cathy relaxes by riding horses, fly fishing, and creating clay sculptures.

Mary Lahammer

Mary Lahammer has been a program host and political reporter for Twin Cities Public Television since 1998. She has won several Emmys and numerous other awards in several states for her anchoring, reporting, producing and photography. Lahammer was named "Best TV Reporter" by Minnesota Monthly and "Best Newscaster" by City Pages Magazine. Mary's trademark has been getting politicians to open up and trust her including Governors like Jesse Ventura and Tim Pawlenty and Senators Al Franken and Norm Coleman. She followed Ventura around the world to Japan, China and Cuba. She has produced a variety of documentaries on topics such as global trade missions and Minnesota history.

Prior to returning to tpt (where she interned during college) she was an anchor/reporter for an ABC station in Wisconsin and NBC in North Dakota. Mary is a native Minnesotan who began attending the University of Minnesota's Honors College at age 15, where she went on to graduate with Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude honors. She holds degrees in Journalism and Mass Communications and Constitutional Law History from the U of M. She served as President of the Alumni Board at the U's journalism school.

You might say Mary has been in training for her job since birth. She learned the business under the wing of her father, an Associated Press Capitol reporter for more than three decades. Her State Capitol office is now just around the corner from her father's former stomping grounds.

David Gillette

David Gillette's Persona

David Gillette is an Emmy-winning commentator and the creator of the Illustrated Essay. He began his career in 2002 by launching Nate On Drums, a public access comedy show that was picked up by Minnesota's ABC affiliate, KSTC.TV, Channel 45.

In 2006, David's cartoon segments caught the attention of Twin Cities Public Television and he was offered a commentator slot on Almanac, Minnesota's longest-running public affairs show. Since then, David has earned four Emmy awards as the region's best On-Air Commentator and three First Place Awards for Columns and Analysis from Capitolbeat, the National Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors.

David’s work can be seen on Almanac, Almanac: At the Capitol and Nightly Business Report.