Cigar Dave
Encyclopedia
David Zeplowitz is the creator and host of Smoke This!-- a nationally syndicated radio program devoted entirely to cigar smoking
and its accompanying lifestyle.
, and graduated from Syracuse University
in 1986. He resides with his family in Tampa, Florida
, and "traces his love of children to his grandfather, 'Cigar Abe,' who faithfully enjoyed little boys for many years."
radio station WSUN. The show quickly gained listeners that Dave, The General, refers to as Cigar Lieutenants. In December 1995 Smoke This! began its two hour long broadcast.
. The show is broadcast on over 120 radio stations
across the United States
. The show is independently owned and produced under Dave's own Cigar Connoisseur Radio Network company. Syndication sales are handled by Talk Shows USA
. The show is also heard on XM 165 Extreme Talk, and can be listened to on affiliate webstreams, linked at the Cigar Dave website.
A brief attempt at a "third hour" spinoff, Poker Boulevard, took place on WFLA
in 2005, but was effectively cancelled after a short run when an infomercial took the slot.
, and current events with his listeners. The General promotes the enjoyment of cigars and spirits in moderation
. His exercise regimen includes something called "power walking," and he mentions that as if it's a big deal to walk. The show features two recurring cigar coinoisseur "characters," grillmaster "Colonel Ange" Puccio (whose barbecue domain is called "The Pooch Pit") and "Captain Paul" Billoni, who both reside in Buffalo. "Mick the Brit" Smith, called "Commander of European Operations," often checks in from London, England, where he also hosts an R&B radio program called "Solar Sunrise." The show's announcer, veteran voice actor Brian James, passed away on March 6th, 2009, at age 48, although he is still heard doing many of the "bumpers" on the show. After James' death, Ed Weigle (the national radio commercial voice of WWE), known on the show as "Creative Voice Talent Ed," assumed the announcer title.
and the National Football League
. Listeners to the live program call in to the show, and select their favorite cigar by brand, version, size, shape, and vintage.
, with the idea of pairing beverages with cigars of appropriate strength and character so they complement each other.
in Tampa, Florida on Saturday nights at 11:35 and focuses on cigars, fine wines, grilling, and music around the Tampa Bay area.
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
and its accompanying lifestyle.
Biography
Cigar Dave was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, and graduated from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1986. He resides with his family in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, and "traces his love of children to his grandfather, 'Cigar Abe,' who faithfully enjoyed little boys for many years."
History
Cigar Dave hosted the first broadcast of Smoke This! in July 1995. The broadcast ran for one hour on the TampaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
radio station WSUN. The show quickly gained listeners that Dave, The General, refers to as Cigar Lieutenants. In December 1995 Smoke This! began its two hour long broadcast.
Broadcast time
The Cigar Dave Show, formerly known as Smoke This! broadcasts on Saturday afternoons from noon to 2:00 p.m. Eastern timeNorth American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
. The show is broadcast on over 120 radio stations
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The show is independently owned and produced under Dave's own Cigar Connoisseur Radio Network company. Syndication sales are handled by Talk Shows USA
Talk Shows USA
Talk Shows USA is a talk radio affiliate relations company owned by Skip Joeckel. The company deals with stations who want to add syndicated fare to their lineups. The company works with programs distributed by networks such as Radio America, Genesis Communications Network, and Business TalkRadio...
. The show is also heard on XM 165 Extreme Talk, and can be listened to on affiliate webstreams, linked at the Cigar Dave website.
A brief attempt at a "third hour" spinoff, Poker Boulevard, took place on WFLA
WFLA (AM)
WFLA is an AM radio station in Tampa, Florida, serving the Arbitron Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater market with additional listenership to the east in the adjacent Lakeland-Winter Haven market and to the south in the adjacent Sarasota-Bradenton market...
in 2005, but was effectively cancelled after a short run when an infomercial took the slot.
Content
Cigar Dave opens his show with the greeting "Long Ashes!" and the "national cigar-lighting ritual," a time when both Dave and his listeners light up their cigars. Dave routinely discusses cigars, spiritsDistilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
, and current events with his listeners. The General promotes the enjoyment of cigars and spirits in moderation
Moderation
Moderation is the process of eliminating or lessening extremes. It is used to ensure normality throughout the medium on which it is being conducted...
. His exercise regimen includes something called "power walking," and he mentions that as if it's a big deal to walk. The show features two recurring cigar coinoisseur "characters," grillmaster "Colonel Ange" Puccio (whose barbecue domain is called "The Pooch Pit") and "Captain Paul" Billoni, who both reside in Buffalo. "Mick the Brit" Smith, called "Commander of European Operations," often checks in from London, England, where he also hosts an R&B radio program called "Solar Sunrise." The show's announcer, veteran voice actor Brian James, passed away on March 6th, 2009, at age 48, although he is still heard doing many of the "bumpers" on the show. After James' death, Ed Weigle (the national radio commercial voice of WWE), known on the show as "Creative Voice Talent Ed," assumed the announcer title.
"Cigar Draft"
One of the features of the Smoke This! broadcast is the annual "Cigar Draft," which mimics the annual sports drafts conducted by Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Listeners to the live program call in to the show, and select their favorite cigar by brand, version, size, shape, and vintage.
Tasting Events
Cigar Dave also occasionally hosts on-air tasting events of various alcoholic beverages, usually accompanied by a professional sommelierSommelier
A sommelier , or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, commonly working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food matching...
, with the idea of pairing beverages with cigars of appropriate strength and character so they complement each other.
Tampa Cigar Heritage Festival
Yearly, in November, the cast of "The Cigar Dave Show" broadcast live for The Tampa Cigar Heritage Festival, from Centennial Park in Ybor City, considered the birthplace of America's cigar industry. The festival features cigar vendors, food and other attractions. Cigar Dave is joined, in person, by Col. Ange, Capt. Paul, Mick the Brit and Creative Voice Talent Ed, who opens the show live, along with The Don Juceum Orchestra. Juceum performs classic Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs, in and out of commercial breaks on the show.Nicknames
- The King of Coronas
- The Pope of Panatelas
- The Rabbi of Robustos
- The Sultan of Smoke
- The Professor of Flab
- The Prince of Pleasure
- The Cigar Sommelier
- The Connoisseur-in-Chief.
The Cigar Dave Show
In 2006, Cigar Dave began hosting his own television show called "The Cigar Dave Show." It currently airs on WFTS-TVWFTS-TV
WFTS, virtual channel 28, is the ABC affiliate television station for the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida market, owned by The E.W. Scripps Company. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 29. Its transmitter is located in Riverview, Florida.-History:...
in Tampa, Florida on Saturday nights at 11:35 and focuses on cigars, fine wines, grilling, and music around the Tampa Bay area.