Local Arts Focus of New TV Show

Look out, Mary Hart. Watch your back, John Tesh.

The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley may be stealing your thunder--at least in Thousand Oaks. As the producers of a television program debuting tonight on the public access channel, the Arts Council is promising a product that will do for local cultural events what “Entertainment Tonight” does for Hollywood news.

The first episode of “Arts Scene,” airing at 6:30 p.m. on Channel 8, features two hosts, a location shoot at the Stagecoach Inn and interviews with several prominent members of the local arts council.

“It’s sort of a cultural ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ ” said “Arts Scene” producer Margaret Travers.

Travers said the council is aiming to make the program monthly, with a different setting for each show and interviews relating to upcoming events. After tonight’s debut, the program will air throughout the month at the request of residents.

“What we are trying to do is have someone request it once a week,” Travers said.

For tonight’s show, co-hosts Georgeanne Lees and Chad Smith interviewed Sandra Hildebrandt, director of the Stagecoach Museum, Jerry Knotts, president of the local historical society, watercolor workshop teacher Terry Spehar-Fahey and members of the Conejo Valley Garden Club.

With “Arts Scene,” the council hopes to call attention to and promote use of the local public access channel. Any resident or group with a noncommercial message can sign up to use the studio and get free training sessions. Call Alan McDaniel or Peter Scovill at (818) 879-5993 or the city’s Media Services Office at 449-2120 for more information.