"Talk Time with Tony and Alyssa"
Juan Cisneros
Issue date: 9/23/09 Section: News
The broadcasting department is coming out with a new talk show this fall. "Talk Time with Tony and Alyssa" will feature segments varying from people who have weight problems to entertainment reviews, cooking segments and even musical showcases.
Senior broadcasting major Tony Thomas came up with the idea last year and is now the executive producer and co-host of the show.
"It's going to be a Western version of Regis and Kelly," Thomas said. Thomas added that for every show, he'd like to have either some sort of musical performance from a local band or a comedic act of some sort to help showcase some of Western's and Macomb's talent.
When asked where the idea for the show came from, Thomas explained that he felt the broadcasting department was leaning towards news and sports too much and he really didn't have an interest in either one. He went to Dr. Sharon Evans with the idea to create a talk show and was told it was going to take a lot of work.
Professor Roger L. Sadler of the broadcasting department came to Thomas and told him that people were talking about doing a show featuring something other than news and decided to make him executive producer.
"I just want to let Tony do this and some other students get experience in other than news and sports," Sadler said.
He later added that it is a good educational exercise for the students to learn how to develop and produce a show. It is being built from the ground up, so those involved have to come up with all the ideas, formulate everything, build the set, and figure out how everything is going to be put together.
"It's a lot of work, so that's a learning process in itself. I know Tony will work hard," Sadler said.
Thomas will not be the only host, as freshman broadcasting major Alyssa Trussoni has been chosen in the role as co-host.
"The reason I went to Western is because they had those opportunities, so right away you can start as a freshman in broadcasting," Trussoni said. "It was one of the only schools I was told you can start right away, so I tried out thinking I might make it but I wasn't for sure and actually got it, so I'm pretty excited."
When asked about how he felt this talk show could impact future broadcasting majors, Thomas said this is an opportunity for future freshmen, sophomores and juniors to step up and bring new ideas to the broadcasting department.
"I'd like to encourage more students to come to the broadcasting department. I just think the possibilities here for this department are endless," Thomas said.
The department chair along with Sadler are very open to hearing further suggestions for the show from students.
Senior broadcasting major Tony Thomas came up with the idea last year and is now the executive producer and co-host of the show.
"It's going to be a Western version of Regis and Kelly," Thomas said. Thomas added that for every show, he'd like to have either some sort of musical performance from a local band or a comedic act of some sort to help showcase some of Western's and Macomb's talent.
When asked where the idea for the show came from, Thomas explained that he felt the broadcasting department was leaning towards news and sports too much and he really didn't have an interest in either one. He went to Dr. Sharon Evans with the idea to create a talk show and was told it was going to take a lot of work.
Professor Roger L. Sadler of the broadcasting department came to Thomas and told him that people were talking about doing a show featuring something other than news and decided to make him executive producer.
"I just want to let Tony do this and some other students get experience in other than news and sports," Sadler said.
He later added that it is a good educational exercise for the students to learn how to develop and produce a show. It is being built from the ground up, so those involved have to come up with all the ideas, formulate everything, build the set, and figure out how everything is going to be put together.
"It's a lot of work, so that's a learning process in itself. I know Tony will work hard," Sadler said.
Thomas will not be the only host, as freshman broadcasting major Alyssa Trussoni has been chosen in the role as co-host.
"The reason I went to Western is because they had those opportunities, so right away you can start as a freshman in broadcasting," Trussoni said. "It was one of the only schools I was told you can start right away, so I tried out thinking I might make it but I wasn't for sure and actually got it, so I'm pretty excited."
When asked about how he felt this talk show could impact future broadcasting majors, Thomas said this is an opportunity for future freshmen, sophomores and juniors to step up and bring new ideas to the broadcasting department.
"I'd like to encourage more students to come to the broadcasting department. I just think the possibilities here for this department are endless," Thomas said.
The department chair along with Sadler are very open to hearing further suggestions for the show from students.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Anonymous
posted 9/23/09 @ 3:02 PM CST
Wow, just Wow..........more laughter, Western Illnois truly is an equal opportunity college-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Irenses
posted 9/23/09 @ 7:16 PM CST
I can't believe it! Tony Thomas drawing attention to himself! I'm pretty sure the tone of the professor in this article was really saying "I just gave Tony a show so he'd go away from me, which is really th only reason anybody does anything for him; so he'll GO AWAY"
I've never even met Tony Thomas, but I've been near him enough to know that putting him in front of a camera is like putting gravel in a KitchenAid mixer; it'll be loud, obnoxious, unnecessary, and a waste of perfectly good technology. (Continued…)
tonythomas4lyfe
posted 9/24/09 @ 10:35 PM CST
The only reason people pay attention to Tony Thomas is similar to why people like old John Waters movies or Waterworld. People will pay big money to see a spectacle like that, to see a train wreck where everyone and everything involved crashes and burns. (Continued…)
WIU Alum
posted 9/25/09 @ 10:15 AM CST
HAHAHA, Tony is the same from a couple of years ago. I did see him once on the local TV show, it was train-wreck as he stumbled over every word.
Now the question is: Can we get recordings of this show? It'll make for a hell of a drinking game. (Continued…)
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