A weekly variety show in the making

Jun 26, 2008 (The Mountaineer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- CHTR | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Paul Indelicato, owner of Carolina Nights Dinner Theatre in Maggie Valley, has already provided a way for local and regional actors and actresses to showcase their talent to the community. Now he's wanting to provide a way for their talents to be showcased across the Southeast.

"Tonite in the Smokies," a variety show in the making, will, eventually, be broadcasted through Charter Communications on channel 10, Indelicato said.

Filming for the pilot show took place Tuesday at Carolina Nights and featured Sarah Claire from the visitor's information channel, Whiteacre, Angie Toomey and Madison Garris.

The idea for the show is along the same lines of other late-night variety shows like "The Late Show with David Letterman," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and the "Late-Late Show" in which guest stars perform a song or dance and are then interviewed by the host of the show, which for "Tonite in the Smokies" will be Indelicato.

Indelicato, who began as a musician in St. Louis, Mo., said he has experience with putting together similar shows.

"I have been writing shows for a good part of my adult life," he said. "I helped put together a show in Las Vegas called "Country Tonite." It's still playing in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. I was the original host and one of the writers."

"Country Tonite" became so successful that when he moved to the  Maggie Valley area after purchasing Carolina Nights Dinner Theatre, he wanted to use the "tonite" spelling in his next project.

Indelicato knew he wanted to stay in show business after becoming part of the lounge band, Mary Kaye Trio, in Las Vegas. He learned about the production of such shows and how different it was to do an entire show than a dance number or two.

He later moved on to other shows where he got to the point where producing shows was all he wanted to do.

He moved up to be a producer for a Las Vegas casino in 1979. He later received the opportunity to work on "Country Tonite" at the Aladdin Hotel.

"We had shows in Pigeon Forge and Branson, Mo. When they imploded the Aladdin (Hotel) for renovations, that was the end of 'Country Tonite' in Las Vegas"

Indelicato was asked to relocate to Pigeon Forge to continue "Country Tonite" in the area. And the rest, as they say, is history.

"The idea of doing this talk show is something I've had on my heart for years," he said. "When I bought Carolina Nights Dinner Theatre, I started thinking, 'Maybe we can have a show like this here.'"

Writing shows is often like a balancing act, he said.

"When you write shows, you have to think of balance and length of time, and you try to achieve a sense of balance where things just sort of make sense. It's a little different with television because you're limited with one hour, and you have to decide where to put the commercials and the various segments."

He's hoping "Tonite in the Smokies" will develop into a weekly hourly show, although he knows it may take a little while to get it going.

The filming for the pilot show will serve as a basis for future programs, and will make it much easier to attract sponsors. So far, Hampton Inn has signed on, as well as a few car dealerships and a dentist in the area.

The ideal layout for "Tonite in the Smokies" will include one nationally known person and one secondary person mostly known in the region -- "like Bob Caldwell and people like that" -- and fill in with a few local talents "who could use exposure."

Indelicato said the time and date for the variety show is still being negotiated, however, it will most likely air within the next three weeks on a Friday or Saturday night on Charter Communications channel 10.

Check with The Guide for information regarding the airing of "Tonite in the Smokies" and upcoming filmings.

For more information or to become a sponsor, call Paul Indelicato at Carolina Nights, 926-8822.

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