Robin Swoboda in town to tape show on Wooster
What started out as a casual comment by the owners of the Mirabelle Bed and Breakfast to Cleveland television personality Robin Swoboda has turned into an incredible opportunity to showcase all that downtown Wooster has to offer.When Swoboda was in town earlier this year to film a segment for her popular Fox 8 show, That’s Life, Steve and Susie Ellis suggested that she check out downtown Wooster for a future segment. When the production crew expressed interest, Steve Ellis shared the news with Sandra Hull, Main Street Wooster executive director, who immediately made contact with the show’s production staff.
While they expressed interest in coming to Wooster, they couldn’t commit to a date due to their tight schedule.
Then, out of the blue, Hull received a call from the production assistant in mid September, saying they would like to film on Sept. 28 and asking for a list of all of the businesses in downtown.
“I sent her a listing with about two or three sentences about each business,” said Hull. “I e-mailed that to her and she and Robin went over that list and picked the people they wanted to see.”
Throughout the morning, Swoboda and her crew could be seen filming the streets of downtown and businesses including Everything Rubbermaid, Aroma Lab, Wooster Book and Friendtique, before having lunch at Broken Rocks Cafe. In the afternoon, the crew filmed at Ride On, the Bead Café, MacKenzie’s Silver & Gold and the City Square Steakhouse, before leaving at about 5 p.m.
As she worked her way down the street, Swoboda also worked her way into the hearts of everyone she encountered. Genuinely friendly, warm and quick-witted in person, she popped in and out of downtown stores, stopping frequently to interact with fans and local shoppers.
The segment on downtown Wooster was filmed for the Oct. 19 episode of That’s Life. Filmed before a live studio audience, That’s Life features a combination of in-studio interviews and footage filmed on location, like the material shot in Wooster. During the fast-paced, upbeat one hour broadcast, Swoboda covers everything from health and beauty tips and saving money to upcoming special events and regional travel destinations.
“The exposure from, and the advantage of, having Robin Swoboda come here and spend the day and film downtown Wooster and talk about downtown Wooster…is going to be incredible,” said Hull.
“To expose Wooster – the city as well as the downtown – to people in northeast Ohio is just incredible.
“I think there will be a lasting effect,” said Hull, noting that the airing of the segment will likely have the residual effect of encouraging people who are interested in downtowns to visit Wooster for a long time to come.
“It was a very exciting day for downtown Wooster,” Hull added.
It was a great day for Swoboda’s team as well. “The feedback that we got was that everyone was so kind to them and was so glad to see them,” said Hull. “They said they would love to come back.”
The team also commented on “how lovely the square was,” said Hull, who expressed her appreciation to the city parks department for completing the fall planting and to the city maintenance department for assuring the streets were clean in time for Swoboda’s visit. “What we presented to everyone for the filming was a beautiful downtown,” she added.
That’s Life With Robin Swoboda airs weekdays at 10 a.m. on Cleveland’s WJW Fox 8 TV.
For more information on the show, visit the Fox 8 Web site at www.fox8.com.