You may remember her face. It's hard to forget her smile. Now you'll be able to see former News 7 anchor and health reporter Joy Sutton on the air again on her own TV talk show.
"Ever since I was 13 years old I always wanted to have my own talk show," said Sutton. Now she's making that dream a reality.
At Blue Ridge PBS in Roanoke on Friday morning, a rug was hauled into the set, furniture was unwrapped, and lighting was checked.In a world where negative news is easy to find, this show is called the Hour of Joy. The name says it all.
"I wanted to give people hope and and I wanted to bring a little joy to their mornings and to help show them that there are people in their own communities that have inspirational stories that are doing great things," Sutton said.
Sutton took on this project in her free time on top of a full time job at LewisGale Regional Health System. She's leasing studio time at Blue Ridge PBS in Roanoke and like any TV production it takes a lot of work and a lot of people.
"I think when you really love something, when it's something on the inside of you, what you feel is a part of you and what you think you should be doing, you don't mind putting the hours in," Sutton said.
The show will feature segments on local people and places. The first show theme will be triumph over tragedy. Another show will feature makeovers and will focus on being the most beautiful person you can be with what God gave you, Sutton said.
Each program will feature a musical segment and a food segment. When people in the community hear about the show they react in a positive way, according to show producer Denise Allen Membreno.
"It is incredibly exciting because when we go out and tell them we are doing a positive show that is going to help them change their lives for the better everyone's excited about it," Allen Membreno said.
"Local people will tell you how they've overcome different things in their lives and how they've walked through the rain and come through the rainbow so to speak," Allen Membreno said.
Thirteen shows will be produced to air next year and after that the skies the limit.
"Who knows where it's going to take off, because I say 'move over Oprah! You have your own network now.' It's time for Joy," Sutton said.
The Hour of Joy will air on My 19 Saturday mornings and the local Fox affiliate Sunday mornings beginning in February, 2012.
