Radio
During her Fordham years, Smaldone interned for Universal Pictures at its New York public relations office. She was then offered two jobs: one working in PR at a summertime music festival sponsored by PepsiCo and another at Hartsdale-based radio station WFAS, owned by Frank A. Seitz. She sent a demo tape of her work at WFUV to WFAS, and, at first, was not hired. However, a second demo reel landed Smaldone her first radio job during her junior year at Fordham.
After graduation in 1979, Smaldone began working at WWYD, an FM station owned by the same company as WFAS. By 1981, Smaldone was recruited by WVIP in Mt. Kisco, New York. Owned by producer Martin Stone, Stone hired Smaldone to host an afternoon show as well as a morning program on Sundays. Smaldone then began hosting and producing a cable television program called, “Meet the VIPs.” This program granted her more interviewing experience with guests like television icon Regis Philbin and Mrs. Jackie Robinson.
After meeting her, Bob Bruno, the program director of WOR, suggested she send a demo tape to George Wolfson, General Manager of the soon-to-be new adult contemporary radio station, WLTW (Lite-FM).
She was quickly snapped up and hosted her first on-air shift at the newly formed radio station, WLTW, 1067. LITE-FM, on Feb. 4, 1984. She went on to be the evening host for 5 years. By 1989, the station created a noon to 4 p.m. midday slot and gave Smaldone mid-day hosting responsibilities, which she did for 19 years. “We were the Yankees of radio,” she claimed.
In addition to radio, Smaldone recorded daily local news promos on CBS-TV, and was paid $700 a day for hosting the television shopping show “Shopper’s University.” She was also offered a weekend job as a QVC host in West Chester, PA, but she took the Shopper's University offer instead. Smaldone hosted and produced “two or three syndicated shows” for which she conducted a variety of interviews with celebrities like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Cher, the Bee Gees, and Mariah Carey.
Among the many interviews she has conducted, her interview with Rod Stewart led to a friendship, as Mr. Stewart took notice of Smaldone's talent. Shortly after their second successful interview, Mr. Stewart personally requested Smaldone to interview him for his 2003 concert special, “It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook.”
After 24 years at WLTW and many notable ventures, including co-presenting the 2000 Billboard Music Awards with Ryan Seacrest, and the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Torch event in Rockefeller Center with Bob Costas, Smaldone felt it was time for a change. Smaldone founded Valerie Smaldone Media Worldwide, LLC a talent coaching, production company, and consultation agency. In 2009, Smaldone became an adjunct instructor at The School of Visual Arts, where she teaches adults voice-over acting and hosting and interviewing skills.
She has been the “Voice of God” for numerous prestigious live events including The Kennedy Center, The Clinton Global Initiative, The Concordia Summit, The Drama Desk Awards, Product of the Year Awards, The Tony Preview Concert on CBS, The Drama Desk Awards, Broadway on Broadway in Times Square, Broadway Under the Stars in Central Park, The New York Emmy Awards, The GLAAD Media Awards, The Point Foundation, and many more.
In July 2019, Smaldone launched “Bagels and Broadway with Valerie Smaldone,” a talk radio program on AM970 in New York and on podcast, which combines discussions with Broadway performers and behind-the-scene creatives and producers, with stories about New York City eateries and innovative food products. Airing weekly on Saturday mornings from 9 to 10, the program has thus far featured interviews with Brenda Vaccaro, Laura Benanti, Susan Lucci, Stephen Schwartz, Dionne Warwick, and Michael Lomonaco and many others.