Radio and television career Tavis Smiley

smiley historian jon wiener on political podcast entitled start making sense in 2015

campaigning seat on los angeles city council in 1991 against incumbent ruth galanter, smiley finished fourth among 15 candidates. became radio commentator, broadcasting one-minute daily radio segments called smiley report on kgfj radio. ruben navarrette, jr., smiley co-hosted local talk show in los angeles held views on race , politics, combined arguments regarding impact of institutional racism , substandard educational , economic opportunities inner-city black youth, earned him attention @ los angeles times. commentaries focused on local , national current-affairs issues affecting african-american community. 6 months, smiley worked on community news program on local cable network, , spent 6 more months working on television in montreal, quebec, canada.

in 1996, smiley became frequent commentator tom joyner morning show, nationally syndicated radio show broadcast on black , urban stations in united states. developed friendship host joyner.

also in 1996, smiley began hosting , executive producing bet tonight (originally bet talk when first premiered), public affairs discussion show on black entertainment television (bet) network. interviewed major political figures , celebrities, , discussed topics ranging racial profiling , police brutality r&b music , hollywood gossip. smiley hosted bet tonight until 2001 when, in controversial move, network announced smiley s contract not renewed. sparked angry response joyner, sought rally radio audience protest bet s decision. robert l. johnson, founder of bet, defended decision, stating smiley had been fired because had sold exclusive interview abc news without first offering story bet, though smiley s contract bet did not require him so. smiley countered assertion had offered story – interview sara jane olson, alleged former member of symbionese liberation army — cbs, which, along bet, owned viacom. smiley sold interview rival network abc, said, after cbs passed on interview, , suggested firing payback publicity gained result of providing exclusive interview abc. bet , viacom did not reverse decision terminate smiley s contract.

in 2000, began hosting annual town hall meetings called state of black union, aired live on c-span cable television network. each of these town hall meetings focused on specific topic affecting african-american community, featuring panel of african-american leaders, educators, , professionals, assembled before audience, discuss problems related forum s topic, potential solutions. smiley used commentator status on joyner s radio show launch several advocacy campaigns highlight discriminatory practices in media , government, , rally support causes such awarding of congressional gold medal civil rights icon rosa parks. smiley began building national reputation political commentator numerous appearances on political discussion shows on msnbc, abc, , cnn.

smiley offered chance host radio talk show on national public radio (npr). served host of tavis smiley show on npr until december 2004 when announced leaving show, citing network s inability reach more diverse audience. smiley launched weekly version of radio program tavis smiley show on april 29, 2005, distributed npr rival public radio international (pri). on october 1, 2010, tavis smiley turned second hour of pri program smiley & west co-hosted longtime collaborator dr. cornel west. show lasted until december 2013. smiley hosts tavis smiley, late night talk show televised on public broadcasting service (pbs) network , produced in association wnet in new york.

smiley moderated 2 live presidential candidate forums in 2007: democratic forum on june 28 @ howard university in washington, d.c., , republican forum on september 27 @ morgan state university in baltimore.

smiley appears on democracy now! show.

on june 25, 2013, tavis partnered blogtalkradio, world s largest social broadcasting network more 18 million unique visitors , 40 million listens per month, launch tavis smiley network (tsn): smart talk. online.

on september 4, 2014, announced smiley competing on 19th season of dancing stars. paired professional dancer sharna burgess. eliminated on second week of competition , finished in 12th place.