Talk shows here have come and gone, some practically forgotten, but Sonia Noel is hoping to build a show which can be sustained long after she would have quit playing a central role.
The name, ‘Diatribe’ is an unusual one, but Sonia decided on it after lengthy discussions with others and a personal feeling that it seemed ideal for the talk show she had in mind.
“It’s simply about discourse, it’s about discussing the issues that are relevant to Guyanese women and men, and creating a forum where people can sit and break-down what is important to us”, Sonia said earlier this week.
Diatribe’s agenda is diverse according to her: fashion including make-up and wardrobe tips; health covering everything from diet and exercise to discussions on medical issues such as diabetes and hypertension; and social issues such as domestic violence and poverty among other things.
Sonia said the show though scripted often takes on a life of its own and during the first season, exploded into lively discussions on simple and critical issues. She said women were watching because they would call and offer tips as to how to improve the show.
“There is no doubt as to whether we had a following because people meet me and recall topics, I even hear from men and many are eager to know when the next season begins”, Sonia said.
Diatribe’s pilot was launched several months ago and it aired weekly on the National Communications Network (NCN), every Wednesday. The show had a four months run on television after it first aired in May this year. The second season and the “official launch” according to Sonia, was set for yesterday at Duke Lodge.
Asked what people can expect this season, Sonia laughed and replied, “The best television has to offer”. She said the panel which includes the glitzy Negla Brandis and former model, Sabrina France, is working hard to build a solid show.
The women on the panel are expected to appeal to “three generations”, Sonia said, noting that they share different views and have varying outlooks on life. Still, she added that they are also similar in countless ways. “We know fashion, we understand it and we are all interested in watching it grow here,” Sonia said.
Funding for the show is like everything, Sonia said, “important”, but the show has received tremendous support to date. In addition, the women on the show are interested in building it up than in actual returns.
Negla Brandis, commenting on the show, told The Scene that ‘Diatribe’ offers her a platform to discuss issues which are dear to her. She takes particular interest in the health discussions and often leads them, advocating regular medical check-ups and screening, particularly for women.
“These are issues which I am passionate about and I was surprised to find that many young women are too because they have raised some of them with me during the first season,” Negla said. She said that ‘Diatribe’ brings an important message which the Guyanese public needs to hear.
Negla praised the idea for the show saying that Sonia was “really onto something here”. She said the second season would be more exciting and that they plan to execute using a different approach.
In addition to launching season 2 of Diatribe, Sonia will also launch what she calls, ‘The Sonia Noel fashion zone’. She explained the zone as an avenue through which designers, models, stylists and or anyone in the industry would be able to market their work. She said the initiative is a collaborative effort between her and a fashion company in Florida, USA.
