DAYTIME'S FIRST INTERACTIVE TALK SHOW, "iVILLAGE LIVE," ANNOUNCES DYNAMIC HOSTING TEAM
NEW YORK � November 8, 2006 � "iVillage Live" today announced a dynamic group of hosts to lead daytime's first daily interactive talk show. The on-air and online cast will include main anchors Molly Pesce, Sissy Schaefer and Guy Yovan, and contributors Naamua Delaney and Bob Oschack. David Shenfeld, executive producer of "iVillage Live," made the announcement today.
"Chemistry is the most important ingredient in creating an ensemble," said Shenfeld. "The search for the hosts of 'iVillage Live' was about discovering the right combination of voices and life experiences. They are married. They are parents. They are step-parents, and they are single, but most importantly, they can relate to the experiences of our audience." He added, "In addition to our hosts, our audience will take a leading role in 'iVillage Live,' as they help direct the show through their interactive participation."
An Orlando native, Molly Pesce joins "iVillage Live" from Animal Planet, where she was co-host of "Backyard Habitat." Pesce brings a wealth of on-air and theater experience to the show, having served as the host of Nickelodeon's variety series "Total Panic," the Comedy Central series "Short Attention Span Theater" and "New York Now" (the insider's guide to NYC). A former Miss Florida, Pesce got her start on Broadway, appearing in numerous productions including "The Flowering Peach," "Annie Warbucks" and "Jekyll and Hyde." She has also appeared in over one hundred commercials and was a member of "For Play," an improv group that performed at Catch a Rising Star, The Comedy Store and Stand-Up NY, among others.
When not working, Pesce is an extremely busy mom. She and her husband are currently starting her youngest daughter in kindergarten, while helping her eldest of two stepsons with his college applications.
Sissy Schaefer joins the show with a strong background in television news, having most recently served as co-anchor of "Live on 5" at WEWS in Cleveland, Ohio for three years. Prior to that, Schaefer worked at WJW in Cleveland for nine years, where she held a variety of roles including anchor and co-host of "Fox 8 News in the Morning," co-anchor of "Good Day Cleveland," weekend anchor and general assignment reporter. Before that, Schaefer was a correspondent for "Health News Report" on PBS for three years. She is the recipient of numerous journalism awards including two Edward R. Murrow awards, the Ohio Governor's Choice award and several local Emmys.
An Ohio native, Schaefer began her career at the age of eight touring the country with the Bob Hope USO Troupe and had opened for acts like Barbara Mandrel, the Oak Ridge Boys and Chubby Checker by the time she was in high school. She was also an all-American Scholar, Ohio's Junior Miss and Ohio's Young Woman of the Year. Those honors armed her with scholarship money, and she graduated in three years from Ohio's Mount Union College with a degree in Journalism. She and her husband Roger have two children.
Guy Yovan began his on-air career selling merchandise for QVC. He went on to host on the Home Shopping Network, the American Airlines Television Network and the Outdoor Life Network and also appeared on the Sci-Fi Channel. He has also been featured in numerous television commercials. Born and raised in Connecticut, Yovan graduated from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. A single dad, he spends most of his free time with his five-year-old son, Daniel.
Contributor Naamua Delaney serves as the "Internet ambassador" for "iVillage Live," connecting the show, hosts and audience (television, web and studio) with the outside community. She joins the program from WNYW in New York, where she spent three years as the entertainment and lifestyle reporter for the station's various newscasts. For four years prior to that, Delaney was the entertainment reporter at WFXT in Boston, Mass. She began her career in 1996 in Canada, hosting and reporting for three different entertainment programs. A native of Kent, England, Delaney holds a LL.B law degree from the University of London. She is single and recently relocated to Orlando.
Hosting live segments outside of the studio, contributor and comedian Bob Oschack will serve as the "man on the street" at the Universal Orlando Resort. Oschack began his comedy career as a student at University of Texas in Austin. After college, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue stand-up professionally, and within two days landed a job at the world-famous Comedy Store. Over the next decade, Oschack continued to work in stand-up, while also pursuing a television-writing career. His writing credits include Fox Sports Net's "Best Damn Sports Show Period," CNBC's "Dennis Miller," and Comedy Central's "The Showbiz Show with David Spade" and "Mind of Mencia." In 2005, Oschack performed in his own half-hour Comedy Central special and performed stand-up on the network's "Premium Blend" show as well as NBC's "Late Friday." On stage, he has opened on the road for David Spade, Dennis Miller, Dana Carvey and Carlos Mencia and appeared in numerous comedy festivals across the country.
Oschack is married to his high-school sweetheart, and they have two children.
"iVillage Live" is daytime's first interactive talk show available simultaneously on-air, online and in front of a live studio audience. Shot live at Universal Orlando Resort, "iVillage Live" will build on the popular iVillage brand and connect content, community and commerce in a new experience for the daytime audience. The show launches Monday, December 4 at Noon/ET (11 a.m./CT) on the NBC owned-and-operated stations, Bravo and iVillageLive.com, and will be rebroadcast at Noon/PT on the west coast. "iVillage Live" is produced by the NBC Universal Television Stations.
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