Martini Rox: Game Savvy Late Night
Written by Martini Rox | | starmusic@toledofreepress.com“We’re a bunch of people who think so much of themselves, but don’t really think very much of themselves.” This is the consensus of Andre Savage as he casually talks about the lack of pride in Toledo natives. It is clearly an issue he is passionate about changing, starting with he and his business partners at S&S Management and Consulting.
Savage and S&S have a vision for “Game Savvy Late Night” and it involves the transition from the sports show “Game Savvy,” The show the players watch, to “Game Savvy Late Night,” the show Northwest Ohio (and beyond) watches. As it enters its second season, “GSLN” is moving in a new direction. Whereas sports clips dominated its first year of existence; Savage has a new sports show in the works and can now concentrate on turning “GSLN” into the full-service late night talk show it was meant to be. Airing at 1 a.m. after “Saturday Night Live” on WNWO 24 and 624HD puts it directly in the view of his target audience.
The cast of "Game Savvy Late Night."
Toledo provides the backdrop for the show, which has become known for showcasing diverse music talent and subject matter. Taping takes place in various locations, from clubs like Omni and Zodiac to events like the Pistons vs. The Wizards game at the Huntington Center. Mixing national and local news, views and interviews, “GSLN” also offers artists the opportunity to perform for their city on television — a feature that has become a staple in “Game Savvy Late Night” programming. Savage called to arms a chosen few in early February to work with sponsorship, bookings and comedic writing. The show has endured the ups and downs of starting out but is still moving forward. “GSLN” comes complete with house band The JAMM, which provides sounds of R&B; Soul, Funk, Blues and Jazz live throughout the show and often accompanies the performers. Past featured performers include Chief Alone, Corey Analog, Megan Yasu, U.G.E. artists and bands Paris, Resonant Soul and Stonehouse, to name a few.
The shows creator behind the scenes and in front of the camera is visionary Savage, a Toledo native who insists the show is more about the weekly features than it is about him. Savage acknowledges the professionals in the city and believes the opportunity to help or work with them is beneficial to everyone involved. Savage has worked in television locally and in Atlanta. When he returned to Toledo he worked toward his goal of creating his own shows by starting local and eventually expanding to a cable network like TVONE. He also thought it important to emphasize that regardless of where you are educated, bringing knowledge back to your city is not only beneficial, but necessary.
He states about his staff, “The common denominator with most of us is we’ve been somewhere else. We elect to be here to try to lift our city up instead of running away to get on someone else’s squad. We’re just as good at all of this as anybody from anywhere!”
For more information, visit www.gamesavvy.tv.
Tags: Andre Savage, Game Savvy Late Night, Martini Rox, On the Rox, WNWO 24
