Osupa 25 July 2010 MXO Entertainment News, MXO News No Comment

Gap Communications

By Gina Hobbs

Posted July 25th 2010

Cleveland, OH –  As the Temptations song goes, “Get Ready cause here I come.” Youngstown native, and talk show host, Debor’ah Benton, is making her way to Cleveland via “The Debor’ah Show” on Time Warner Cable, Local On Demand (LOD) Channel 411, as part of the Entertainment category lineup, beginning July 28, 2010.

“The Debor’ah Show” (formerly called “The Valley Gold Show with Debor’ah Benton”) is now in its 5th year of broadcasting.  The live broadcast, which is currently based out of Youngstown, is filled with family-friendly fare, audience participation, hearty laughter, sometimes tears, and just enough spontaneity.  Benton conducts in-depth interviews with celebrities, including music performances by award-winning artists from around the world.   Past artists who have graced the stage of her studio include classic R&B groups, The Temptations (members), The Whispers, The Stylistics, The Chi-Lites, and more.

“I’m extremely happy for Debor’ah,” says Glenn Leonard, former member of The Temptations.  “I met Debor’ah several years ago when I was looking for a publicist, and we’ve been friends ever since.  She’s a great communicator, a great interviewer.  She’s very good at getting people to open up.  I’m really glad that she’s broadening her boundaries.  I think the move to Time Warner is great.  Oprah is getting ready to retire, so somebody’s got to step in.  Why not her?”

Benton spent many years getting to this point, but not intentionally.  “I used to listen to Edie Gourmet, Brook Benton, and Lou Rawls.  By the time I was five, I could sing several octaves including Baritone.  By 15 or 16, I started singing as a local artist in bands.  By the time I was 19, I started doing solo concerts and writing music.  Then I went away to Bowling Green and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, specializing in Radio-TV-Film. When I returned to Youngstown, I began working in a TV ministry and doing freelance work.  All the while, I was trying to produce somebody trying to produce something original.  Finally, in 2004, my husband and daughter said ‘you keep coaching other people for on-camera work and you really need to consider doing your own show’ – and the rest is history.”

Originally, Benton conducted interviews with community locals.  “But one day,” she said, “Glenn Leonard from the Temptations asked to be on the show.  That was the start of my new entertainment format.”  George Aubrey, who has also appeared on the show with his group,  The Whispers, feels Benton is going to have a lot of success in Cleveland.  “Personally, I think she’s the greatest, as far as her craft and personality.  Debor’ah is too good not to be noticed.  She’s top shelf.”

Benton says she has good reason to welcome Cleveland into her live studio.  “I’m really genuinely excited about expanding into the Cleveland market.  I have a lot of fans from Cleveland, so it’s an opportunity to make the show available to them.  It’s not so much what I’m bringing to Cleveland, as much as what Cleveland brings to me.  They’ve opened their arms to me, have traveled in all kinds of weather to get to my show.  So, they’ve given me so much.  Plus, Cleveland is a town with a wealth of culture and entertainment.  And Time Warner has been so gracious.”

“Deborah brings a unique and refreshing perspective and we look forward to adding “The Deborah Show” on Time Warner Cable’s

Local On Demand Channel 411,” said Don Vavrus, Community Relations Manager for Time Warner Cable.

For more information, visit www.thedeborahshow.com or Time Warner Cable’s website, www.twcneon.com.