Tavis Smiley is a hit with new late night talk show on PBS-TV

Jet, Jan 26, 2004

Tavis Smiley is bringing "intelligent entertainment" to late night television with his PBS-TV talk show, "Tavis Smiley."

The show airs nationally (check your local listing), and is already setting viewing records.

Among the guests featured during the show's first month are Bill Cosby, Magic Johnson, Newt Gingrich and Essie Mae Washington, the Black daughter of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond.

Tennis star Venus Williams is set to appear on a segment of the show and discuss how her company designed the set for the popular show.

Smiley, who is also host of the top-rated radio talk show, "The Tavis Smiley Show from NPR," notes: "As with my radio show, my new television program is designed to introduce Americans to each other. In many ways, we still live in a very segregated country."

He adds, "If people are willing to listen to another point of view, they'll consider an alternative position or be introduced to an individual that they would otherwise never come into contact with in their world. I want to challenge folks to re-examine the assumptions that they hold-politically, socially and economically. I want to expand their inventory of ideas."

"Tavis Smiley" is PBS' first West Coast-based talk show and promises to be fast-paced and aimed at drawing a younger, more ethnically diverse audience than the typical public television audience.

The show features subject matter that is enlightening, encouraging and empowering.

"Tavis Smiley" also presents ideas and opinions that break new ground as he talks to newsmakers and history makers. On the lighter side, some of today's hottest performers will have an opportunity to reveal a deeper and more dynamic side than what is normally seen on other programs.

In addition to the new show, the busy TV and radio personality, continues as commentator on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show." He also recently published a new book, On Air, a collection of the best commentaries from the Joyner show. Smiley also will host his annual Black think tank, "State of the Black Union" on Feb. 28 in Miami, which will air live on C-SPAN.