A new black Hugo Boss suit waits along with Jason Matheson's "lucky tie" for 10 a.m. Monday when the "Jason Show" makes its debut on FOX 9.
The childhood dream of his own TV show, which began on a rock in Indiana when he was 8, comes to fruition after a Twin Cities career path that went like this: WCCO-TV, Fox 9, MyTalk107.1 FM, WCCO-TV and Fox 9.
The "Jason Show" doesn't look like anything I've seen on TV, if the run-through I glimpsed this week is typical. A natural entertainer, Jason needs fewer celebrity interviews to keep things interesting. And celebrities had better come prepared to play with Jason and his live studio audience. Jason has taken bits and pieces from all his favorite talk shows present and past. Some of you should Google Dinah Shore right now.
I interviewed him on his sleek set with the new studio smell last week. You won't see the studio in my startribune.com/video because he wants to make a big reveal Monday.
The first guest who'll "cook" and sass Jason also is a secret. I wonder if it's going to be his new spouse. I wonder who is going to do these people-on-the-street interviews that have been playing around in my head, where I have been the person doing those interviews.
Q: You're starting to look a little nervous to me, for the first time.
A: I shouldn't. Oh, no. We just did our first rehearsal today. I'm tired. You caught me at the tail end. I'm in bed usually at this point. As I look at the studio — which I wish we could show you but we can't — it's a little surreal.
Q: How long has this been your dream?