Fire by Nite
Christian variety show for youth with skits and music.
Produced by Willie George Ministries in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Fire by Nite was a Christian variety show. Blaine Bartel served as its main host, and the program aimed at Christian youth. Each episode followed a theme, mixing comedy sketches, chats with popular Christian musicians, live music, and light evangelism.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Christian variety show
- Runtime
- 60 minutes (1986-1993); 30 minutes (1994-1995)
- Creator
- Willie George
- Stephen Yake
- Blaine Bartel
- Developer
- Willie George Ministries (1986-1993); Fire by Nite Ministries (1994-1995)
- Producer
- Stephen Yake (1986-1992); Patrick J. McGuire (1994-1995)
- Executive producers
- Willie George (1986-1993); Blaine Bartel (1994-1995)
- Presenter
- Blaine Bartel (1986-1992, 1994-1995); Eastman Curtis (1992-1993)
- Director
- Eric J. Smith (1992-1993); Patrick J. McGuire (1994-1995)
Facts from the source article.
Production history
Production for Fire By Nite was partly funded by a subscription program; for a monthly or yearly fee, viewers received episodes on VHS and Betamax through the mail. Initially, the show was not filmed before a live studio audience. From the first episode featuring Carman in 1986 through episode #47 at the end of the fourth year, segments were prerecorded in the Willie George Ministries television studio in Tulsa. The show followed a Saturday Night Live-style variety format, each episode opening with a cast member saying "Almost live on videotape, it's Fire By Nite."
Early musical guests performed live, but later the program produced music videos for them. A typical episode included an introduction of the host and theme, a skit, a musical performance, "What's Hot?" with Ron Luce (until 1990), another skit, an interview with the guest artist, the sitcom "Family First", and a message by Blaine Bartel. In fall 1990, Bartel changed the format to a talk show look, filming on a new set with a live band and studio audience.
Churches in the video purchase club could bring youth groups to attend tapings. In January 1991, "Family First" ended, and in June 1991 the recurring story "Friends" premiered. Occasionally, two-part series like "Sex: What Do You Pay to Play?", "Satanism Unmasked", and "The Evolution of the American Teenager" were released, each with a special set, no live band, and fewer skits.
Episodes
Episode numbers are taken from title cards at the start of each video; tape numbers come from VHS labels or Willie George Ministries promotional material. After episode #60, the episode number no longer appeared on the title card. The first episode, #001, aired in September 1986 with the theme "Peer Pressure" and guest Carman. Subsequent episodes covered topics such as "Renewing the Mind" (Glad), "Rebellion" (2nd Chapter of Acts), "Drugs and Drinking" (Casey Treat/Teen Challenge Choir), and "Beating the Blues" (Petra).
Other episodes addressed "The Truth About Rock" (Mylon LeFevre), "Evangelism/Soulwinning" (Russ Taff), "Sex, Dating, and Relationships" (Sheila Walsh), and "Honesty vs. Lying" (Bryan Duncan). The first anniversary special, "Nobody's Purfekt", featured Kenny Marks. (Rich Mullins) and "These Last Days" (DeGarmo and Key). Later episodes covered "Why Feel Guilty" (Margaret Becker), "Idol Busters" (Carman), "Why Good People Go to Hell" (Toymaker's Dream), and "Jesus, Tougher Than Nails" (Michael W. Smith).
The two-part series "Sex, What Do You Pay to Play" featured Josh McDowell in part one and various music videos in part two.
After Fire by Nite
Blaine Bartel admitted that his struggle with pornography began when he watched an adult film in a Pennsylvania hotel room while working with Willie George Ministries, Church On The Move, and Fire By Nite. Years after founding a church in Dallas, Texas, he stepped down as its pastor in 2006 following a confession of an affair. He was later restored to ministry and served on the staff of Gregory Dickow's Life Changers International Church in Chicago.
Despite efforts to save his three-decade marriage to Cathy, who portrayed Connie Collins in the "Family First" series, the couple divorced that year. Through counseling, Bartel overcame his addiction. In 2012, he moved back to Tulsa, joined a new congregation, and met Lori, his current wife, whom he credited as vital to his recovery. He launched Resurrection Tulsa, a church that did not survive, and later created an online ministry focused on helping men with porn addiction.
After Fire By Nite ceased production in Tulsa in 1993, Curtis applied his hosting experience to lead a new Christian teen program, This Generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Fire by Nite?
Fire by Nite was created by Willie George, Stephen Yake and Blaine Bartel.
Which network aired Fire by Nite?
Fire by Nite aired on Home video (1986-1995), TBN (1995) and JCTV (unknown).
When did Fire by Nite end?
Fire by Nite last aired in 1995.
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