JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Shelby Schanuth looked up at the image on a TV set tuned to a show that premiered on a local cable channel Wednesday.

"What are they doing?" said the 17-year-old high school student as he took a break at a downtown pizza place.

"Just talking about government?"

Yes, just talking about government, and that's all they'll do on the new cablecasts of the Missouri House in action. Wednesday's debut was a dry run, with four more live telecasts planned before the Legislature's scheduled May 17 adjournment.

By next year, officials hope to expand the programming and offer it beyond Jefferson City, eventually to cable systems statewide.

The goal in part is to teach young Missourians about the government process, said Jim Gardner, House director of communications. He also figures that it will appeal to state workers.

Many TV sets in the Capitol were tuned to the channel Wednesday as viewers looked for friends and foes.

Word spread quickly through intern circles that their contemporaries' faces were getting more airtime than many of their lawmaker bosses.

Beth Evers, an intern for House Minority Leader Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods, appeared in most shots because she was sitting near a frequently used microphone on the House floor.

"Some people stopped by to say I was on TV a lot," said Evers, a Truman State University student. "I decided I should stop smiling and look more serious."

Mixed reviews

Reviews were mixed across the street at Arris' Pizza Palace, where one set was tuned at a reporter's request to the House debate instead of news or a soap opera.

"Can't we find something better?" grumbled one female state worker who walked in for lunch and saw Rep. Bill Gratz, D-Jefferson City, successfully debating his legislation to pay overtime for state workers. "I want to look out the window."

Some teen-agers laughed when asked their opinion about the televised debate.

"Yeah, yeah. It's cool. It's really good," said John Mason, 18, of Jefferson City, after a moment of reflection. "I have a job. I'm interested in what's happening."

The programming isn't costing the state any extra money, Gardner said, because Mediacom cable is letting the House have free TV time.

Appearing on a small screen isn't entirely new to House members. Live images of some of its debates are streamed over its Internet site for the second year in a row.

Sometime in the future, House officials hope to have a 24-hour TV station filled with state government programing everyday.

But for now, the House is just trying to figure out the best camera angles and computer graphics.