As its name implies, American Variety is an eclectic show. Host Court Lewis describes its theme as “...an anti-theme: Anything but politics!”  There are a number of recurring topics that pop up here and there, he says. “One of the most frequent is what I call ‘Amazing Brevardians’—people who live in this area and who are among the best in the country or even the world at what they do, but who fly under the radar and are not well known locally.” Another recurring theme is “Old Florida Day,” when American Variety explores an interesting and out-of-the-way aspect of the way life used to be in Florida, or focuses on a disappearing vestige of the Old Florida. Guests here are authors, historians, ranchers, and old-timers who remember the way things were back in the day. Many shows look at interesting aspects of science and technology, from space exploration to possible new energy sources, to stem cell research to global warming. The inaugural show on WFIT, for example, was a conversation with the Tulane University ornithologist who is leading the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker in North Florida, where the bird, long thought to be extinct, has recently been spotted. Keeping track of hurricane impacts and the outlook for the season is another big topic. 

Guests on American Variety include a fascinating mix of explorers, scientists, astronauts,  artists, writers, entrepreneurs—all people who have something in common:  They followed their dream, no matter how unlikely or unattainable it might have seemed, and succeeded.  The show offers an antidote to the constant drone of negative, dispiriting news and political shouting matches in the media, by focusing on inspiring people, positive events, and the rich variety of lifestyles and pursuits that living in America still makes possible.

Court Lewis is a third-generation Miamian whose “day job” is management consulting and communications for large scientific research programs run by federal agencies in Washington, DC.  “I have a ridiculously wide range of interests,” Lewis laughs, “and the show feeds my habit.  But the really great thing about hosting the show has been the huge number of interesting people I’ve been able to meet from all walks of life. I didn’t think about that, going in, but it has turned out to be the most rewarding part of the job!”

Court can be reached at courtlewis@americanvarietyradio.com