The Local Television Program Features a Contingent of Interesting Guests
By Donna Bunce, August 2015
OC Caravan is an eclectic mex of interviews, politics, music, and, as Producer/Host Scott Hays says, “conversations about random stuff that we find interesting.” The show broadcasts on Cox TV, Channel 3, 8 p.m. Saturdays and 12 noon Sundays.
The television show developed from a radio show called The Friendship Show that Hays co-hosted with Laguna Beach-based nonprofit Friendship Shelter executives Dawn Price and Mark Miller in late 2013. That particular show segued into Radio Caravan, a radio show on KX 93.5 FM, which launched in February 2014, with Hays and Robert Palmer serving as co-hosts and co-producers. Around the time Radio Caravan commenced, it also become a Cox-TV show and continued that way until the unfortunate and untimely death of Palmer.
“When Robert died, I immediately cancelled the following weekend’s show,” Hays says. “The week after that we had already planned a show with psychic medium James Van Praagh, and Robert’s wife and daughter wanted to air the show as a tribute to Robert. And, because the family encouraged me to continue the show, I found a new co-host/c-producer.
“Jim Bastian and I immediately connected. He had always wanted to do a radio show, so he filled the co-host/co-producer role with Radio Caravan, both for the radio and television show.”
Soon after, Radio Caravan changed its name to OC Caravan in January 2015, and in March 2015, the radio aired its final broadcast, though the cable TV show continues to thrive, with its half-hour discussion with thought-provoking and engaging guests about issues that impact the community.
A variety of guests have been featured, including Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Macy Gray, iconic rock ‘n’ roll photographer Henry Diltz, UCI professor and gang specialist Al Valdez, and The Real Housewives of Orange County cast members Tamra and Eddie Judge.
Other recent guests have included actor Chris Mulkey, mystery-suspect author T. Jeffers Parker, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Reiff, with future shows to include UCLA basketball standout John Vallely, marine artist Wyland, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” songwriter Jack Tempchin, and a tribute to surf manufacturing icon Hobie Alter.
Hays holds a master’s degree in English literature and in communications, and he has more than 20 years experience as an editor/writer for general consumer and business-to-business publications. He has contributed feature articles and cover stories to various national magazines, newspapers and websites, and co-authored several non-fiction books. He also continues to teach part-time at several Southern California colleges.
Bastian, who is a partner with the law firm Shulman Hodges & Bastian, has been committed to community service dating back to when he received the Chancellor’s Service Award while an undergraduate at UCLA. He is Mission Hospital Foundation’s Board of Director’s vice chairman and is active in helping raise money for numerous charity organizations, including education for Children, Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, and The Public Law Center.
And, speaking of nonprofits, OC Caravan is teaming up with Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County for “A Song for Alzheimer’s competition. The winning songwriter will with either hours of studio recording time at Laguna Sound Studio, a guest appearance on OC Caravan’s television show, promotion on KX 93.5 FM, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos gift certificates, and a chance to perform live at the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” at Angel Stadium in November. Learn more at www.ASongForAlz.org.
View OC Caravan 8 p.m. Saturdays and 12 noon Sundays on Cox TV, Channel 3, and visit www.OCCaravan.com for more information and the latest shows.
Photography Faye Chapman/Faye’s Captured Moments
Visit: http://www.newportbeachlifestylepubs.com/2015/07/27/oc-caravan-is-making-its-mark/
