Keith Spera, award-winning entertainment reporter for The Times-Picayune and NOLA.com, will host a new weekly talk show premiering at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (June 15) on WLAE-TV.
"Let's Talk with Keith Spera" is a half-hour conversation between the writer and notable personalities, entertainers and other newsmakers.
The show will launch with an in-depth conversation with New Orleans musician Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, who grew up in Treme.
In his 30-year career, Spera has interviewed many of the biggest names in entertainment, from Jerry Seinfeld to Janet Jackson, as well as every New Orleans and Louisiana musician of note.
On his weekly half-hour talk show, he will chat with influential and interesting New Orleanians: musicians, media figures, athletes, attorneys, religious leaders and politicians.
Upcoming episodes will feature WWL-TV news anchor Charisse Gibson and car salesman/crooner Ronnie Lamarque.
“Keith has interviewed so many interesting characters over the years,” Jim Dotson, vice president of LAE Productions and New Orleans public television station WLAE-TV, said in a statement. “Viewers will enjoy his talent for getting his guests to open up about their lives and share their insights, while also having a little fun.”
A New Orleans native, Spera has spent his entire career telling the stories of his hometown, especially its music community. A recipient of numerous national feature-writing awards, he was a member of The Times-Picayune’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Hurricane Katrina coverage team. He is the author of the acclaimed book "Groove Interrupted: Loss, Renewal and the Music of New Orleans" (St. Martin’s Press, 2011).
“Let’s Talk with Keith Spera” will air Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. with an encore on Sundays at 9:30 p.m. on WLAE-TV in New Orleans (Channel 32, COX Ch. 14 and 1014, Spectrum Ch. 11 and 711 and AT&T and DISH Ch. 32).
Founded in 1982, WLAE's mission is to provide broad and diverse educational programming for southeast Louisiana, including its own award-winning documentaries and television series.