(Sheran Tavarez on the set of the Antique Trader with designer John Van Means.- Photo by Shirlyn Bake)
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, July 13- Local television celebrity Sheran Tavarez quietly celebrated a significant milestone as the host of several popular cable shows, having taped her 900th show on June 9.
Living on Broadway in Riverdale and commuting to the BronxNet studios on the grounds of Herbert H. Lehman College, for more years then anyone cares to remember, Tavarez has been churning out quality television, with her shows, "The Antique Trader," "The New York Woman," and the children's show, "Penelope Peach and Friends."
After properly learning how to work the camera, Tavarez began her long stint with the children's favorite Penelope Peach and Friends. In the process of 900 shows you slowly learn the painstaking task of editing, arranging and even producing local television.
Recalling her milestone broadcast, Tavarez stated, "For the 900th show last week we had the renowned designer, artist and now a collector of autographs, John Van Means, who was on this week's edition of The Antique Trader."
No one is quite sure when, but with stars in her eyes, Tavarez walked into the BronxNet studios between 32 and 35 years ago and she has not stopped for very long, her dedication to the research, production and editing of her shows... really show.
Oddly enough, talk show legend Joe Franklin was the first guest of The Antique Trader. Franklin is regarded as the grandfather of the talk show, having stared in the very first one on American TV.
Franklin began on radio in 1951, appearing on New York-Based WJZ-TV, which later became WABC-TV. The Joe Franklin Show jumped to WWOR-TV in 1962 and Franklin continued to host, working out of a cramped Times Square office until 1993.
Asked to name a couple of her favorite guests she has had on the show, Tavarez responds, "Cousin' Brucie," Bruce Morrow. We actually taped something at the WCBS studios before he left to go to Sirius Radio."
"Another guest?" Tavarez struggles before replying, "I've forgotten, there's been so many. George Way of the George Way Collection... the guy is incredible, I mean he has his own museum on State Island!"
For her efforts Tavarz has won countless awards, including several Beta Awards (Bronx Excellence in Television Access Awards) for her producing her shows and she just took home an award at the recent Tribeca Film Festival.
Besides being a legendary figure through the sets and halls of BronxNet, Tavarez also enjoys a following in England, Australia and Holland and don't forget YouTube.
For the milestone broadcast, Michael Knobbe, the Executive Director of BronxNet stated, "We're kind of a vibrant community of civically-engaged Bronxites that come to train at BronxNet and produce programs for BronxNet's, your television channels and Sheran Tavarez has produced exciting and creative programs over the years."
Knobbe added, "She is a wonderful part of the open-work that is BronxNet."
Tavarez could not say who she would like to interview for her 1,000 episode, but says with a smile, "The next show I'm researching right now is the history of hats. Now that's going to be a very interesting show."
Tazarez still has a long way to go to ever pass talk show Queen Oprah Winfrey, who has taped over 5,000 episodes that will likely remain in syndication for many more year's to come... But Tavarez is still working on it.
Many of Tavarez' shows, including her 900th broadcast can be found on YouTube. Once on YouTube, fans of children's show simply type in, "Penelope Peach and Friends." Oddly enough, fans of, "New York Women," must type in, "Dena Robins," or, "The Antique Trader."
BronxNet is broadcast over Cablevision on channels 67, 69, and 70, and on Verizon on channels 33 - 38. Check local listings for days and times.
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