DER Weekends: The history and legacy of iconic Detroit TV show ‘The Scene’

“Detroit Evening Report Weekends” spends time with the community members who make up Detroit’s rich culture and identity.

Two images from the 1980s of David Rudolph on the set of 'The Scene'

David Rudolph on the set of ‘The Scene’ as a dancer.

In the latest episode of DER Weekends, WDET’s Tia Graham explores The Scene, a local TV show that was a cultural phenomenon for young Detroiters in the ’70s and ’80s.


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During that time period, local teens would rush home from school and turn to a Black-owned TV station to take part in a now iconic cultural ritual. The Scene aired on WGPR-TV from 1975 to 1987.

Host Nat Morris guided viewers, a gaggle of in-studio dancers and a now-famous collection of local and international artists through the latest in techno and dance music, jaw-dropping dance routines and the trendiest of fashions.

WDET’s Tia Graham takes us back to learn about the show’s roots in Detroit’s Black Bottom, its influence on a generation of Detroiters and the legacy it left as a space for young people and up-and-coming artists.

Listen to the episode using the media player at the top of the page.

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Author

  • Sascha Raiyn
    Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio.