Variety Tonight

{{Short description|Canadian radio show}}

{{About|the radio show|REO Speedwagon song|Variety Tonight (song)}}

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Variety Tonight was a CBC Radio show which aired from 1980 until 1985 in the 8–10 p.m. timeslot.M. T. Kelly, "CBC gives its mandate 40 whacks". The Globe and Mail, March 1, 1980. It was a nightly series featuring jazz and pop music as well as trivia games, book and movie reviews, comedy segments and interviews."CBC Radio's Danny Finkleman defends his grab bag show; Putting the spice back into Variety". The Globe and Mail, April 5, 1980.

The program was created by producer Danny Finkleman, but he was let go from the program in December 1980."Variety Tonight fires Finkleman". The Globe and Mail, December 2, 1980. It was hosted by David Cole in its first season,Bill Musselwhite, "This is the big one, Variety Tonight, and he's David Cole...". Calgary Herald, September 27, 1980. followed by Vicki Gabereau for the remainder of its run."Gabareau new host for Variety Tonight". The Globe and Mail, September 4, 1981. Cole continued to contribute to the program in 1982 and 1983 as producer of Here Come the Seventies, a sketch comedy series that aired as a weekly half-hour segment of Variety Tonight."Comedy writer turns interviews into fun", Bruce Blackader, Toronto Star, 28 Feb 1982: C6. Variety Tonight also aired the initial series of the sketch comedy show Frantic Times in 1981, which went on to become a standalone CBC Radio series."A Frantics approach to comedy": [Final Edition] Clay, Chris.  Mississauga News; Mississauga, Ont.. 26 Feb 2008: 1. "Cadet Air Farce gets wings: Loaded down with gags, The Frantics taxi for takeoff", by Rob Salem, Toronto Star, 08 Oct 1981: B1

In the show's first season, it hired Don Novello, in character as Father Guido Sarducci, to serve as a correspondent covering the 1980 United States presidential election."CBC Radio hires Guido Sarducci". The Globe and Mail, August 26, 1980.

Gabereau won an ACTRA Award for Best Radio Host or Interviewer at the 13th ACTRA Awards in 1984.[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105743995/ "Three ACTRA winners have local connections"]. Kingston Whig-Standard, April 4, 1984. She was also nominated, but did not win, at the 12th ACTRA Awards in 1983,"Awards show will be telecast on April 16 on CBC Finalists for ACTRA awards announced". The Globe and Mail, March 31, 1983. and at the 14th ACTRA Awards in 1985.Charles Hanley, "Chautauqua Girl has three chances for a Nellie: ACTRA names award nominees". The Globe and Mail, March 19, 1985.

After the program's cancellation, Gabereau continued in the same time slot as host of the new interview series Gabereau in the 1985-86 season.Henry Mietkiewicz, "CBC executives defend new radio schedule". Toronto Star, August 21, 1985. In January 1986 she announced that she would be leaving the show at the end of the season to pursue other interests;"Vicki Gabereau quitting CBC radio 'to take risks'". Montreal Gazette, January 15, 1986. she was ultimately convinced to change her mind and remain with the network, although her show moved to a weekly airing on Saturdays and its nightly time slot was taken over by Stan Carew's new Prime Time.Henry Mietkiewicz, "CBC brings arts back in Prime Time". Toronto Star, August 3, 1986.