Benefit's celebrity singers stretch karaoke to extreme

It doesn't always occur to people that that face on the evening news or that voice on rush hour radio has hidden talents. Like singing. Or dancing. Or performing with a menagerie of animals.

But at Christmas Celebrity Karaoke, the secret skills of Little Rock personalities are all out there for the world to see.

This is the 10th year for the event, a benefit for Youth Home organized by KABZ-FM 103.7 The Buzz, that started with The Buzz's Tommy Smith getting up to sing and grew from there.

The name, though, is becoming a bit of a misnomer according to Marketing and Promotions Director Jeremy Flynn of The Buzz.

"We're almost at the point where we're going to have to drop 'karaoke' from the title," Flynn says. "The karaoke side is still in existence but it's not the main part of the show."

Karaoke usually refers to someone at a microphone, singing along to a prerecorded track. It doesn't cover a radio personality in a leotard swinging on a wrecking ball (which The Buzz's R.J. Hawk did last year).

"It was just downright shocking," Flynn says.

Then there was KATV, Channel 7's Jason Pederson, the six-time winner, whose showstopping number last year involved school mascots from across the state, including a live horse.

"You never know what to expect," Flynn says. "It's anything short of a complete variety show. If you've seen America's Got Talent, you can pretty much equate that to what you'll see at Christmas Karaoke."

KATV's Ned Perme and his band will open the show with Christmas numbers and country star Justin Moore from Poyen is slated to perform.

The other local celebrities include Dawn Scott from KTHV-TV, Channel 11; Janelle Lilley, Erin Hawley, Chris Kane, Steve Sullivan and returning champ Pederson, all from KATV; as well as other recognizable TV faces; various Buzz personalities; and some surprise acts. In all, there will be close to 20 acts put on by around 50 performers, singing, dancing and occasionally getting very creative.

They're not shy about performing and recruiting singers is never very difficult.

"A lot of times we'll even have more people sign up than what we can handle," Flynn says, pointing out that some performers have been planning their acts since the summer. "It seems like people are really eager. And they understand the cause. They understand it's all going to benefit Youth Home."

Youth Home provides treatment for troubled young people and their families. The organization's focus on teenagers gives much-needed attention to a group of people often overlooked during the Christmas season in favor of younger children.

"It's important we don't forget about them around the holidays because they deserve to feel special and feel appreciated just as much as anybody else," Flynn says.

Speaking of special, he says this year's show will include upgraded production values and effects: "We've gone above and beyond with production this year. I think anyone who's been to Karaoke in the past will see a big improvement and really be impressed with what we have to offer."

Those who haven't been before are in for an evening of entertainment and quite a few surprises.

"You won't see anything like it," he says. "We are fortunate to be able to have the local TV and radio personalities under one roof. It's a who's who of Arkansas. You'll be completely shocked and blown away."

Weekend on 12/18/2014