FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com december 10, 2015 • The Queens Courier 33 Christmas variety special harkens back to TV’s golden age When Lou Miano was growing up, one of his favorite holiday traditions was to watch the annual Christmas TV variety shows hosted by the likes of entertainers Andy Williams, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby. Each of those programs, he recalled, featured a delightful balance of music, dancing, comedy and other Christmas-themed entertainment. Those kinds of variety shows have long since vanished from the airwaves, so Miano and DeSales Media Group have come up with one of their own. “Most of us who were involved with the special grew up in that era,” he said. “Nobody does that stuff anymore, so we decided, ‘Why not give it a shot?’” This Friday night at 9 p.m., DeSales Media will present “A Christmas Variety Show” on NET-TV, the cable television network of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens. The one-hour spectacular, which Miano produced and co-wrote, harkens back to those classic Christmas shows of years gone by with a combination of relaxing entertainment for the whole family and reminders of the “reason for the season.” Miano noted that the producers, along with show director Lorenzo Regalado, took steps to give their variety show that classic feel, such as using special lighting to make the show appear as if it were lmed during the 1950s or 1960s. Two of the stars—actors Anthony Mangano and Joe Manno—even acted out sketches inspired by the classic comedy duo of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The entire special was shot over a nine-day period largely in the same, small studio designed and originally used for one-on-one televised interviews, Miano said. The studio was converted multiple times from Santa’s workshop to a living room space and to a restaurant for various sketches. One of the highlights of the program, Miano noted, is a look inside Santa’s workshop, where some tough-guy elves—including one played by actor Lenny Venito of the ABC sitcom “The Neighbors”— are micromanaged by an “ef ciency elf” played by Manno. The ef ciency elf’s ineptness, combined with the other elves’ demeanor, lead to some wild hijinks. Along with comedy sketches, the variety show features Christmas carol performances and vignettes featuring local schoolchildren talking about the true meaning of Christmas. Miano hopes viewers will nd the variety show as a relaxing, fun respite from stress usually associated with holiday preparations. “This time of year, everyone is so wound up,” he said. “This show allows everyone to sit back, relax and be entertained, while keeping in mind the reason for the season, too.” The cast also includes actors Lou Martini Jr. of The Sopranos, Jimmy Palumbo of Boardwalk Empire, Joe D’Onofrio of the sitcom “Are We There Yet?,” Mario Bosco of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Joe Moffa of Law and Order: SVU and Laura DePalma, Jill Demonstoy, Nicole Mangano, Keith Morrison and Freddie Singer. The Christmas Variety Special 2015 will be rebroadcast on Dec. 22 at 10 p.m.; Dec. 23 at 6 p.m.; Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.; Dec. 25 at 9 a.m. at 8 p.m.; Dec. 26 at 3 and 10 p.m.; and Dec. 27 at 2 and 9 p.m. Check out the trailer and other promos for the variety show at www.netny.tv/ shows/christmas-variety-special-2015. s h o w ’ s
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