His charisma and smile are made for television.

During the last three years, television viewers have watched Cal State Long Beach President Robert Maxson grin at the camera as the host of Beach View, a weekly cable program. In the CSULB program, Maxson interviews the university's faculty and staff. Maxson and his guests discuss topics of interest to the general public.

Advanced Media Production, Public Affairs and President Maxson proposed the idea to CVI cable, which formerly provided cable to the Long Beach community.

"We've got a thousand talented professors and staff here," Maxson said he proposed to CVI. "Why don't we come up with a way to get all this out to your viewers?"

CVI agreed to air Beach View because it wanted to stay in touch with the community, said Mat Kaplan, director of advanced media productions at CVI.

"Dr. Maxson negotiated with CVI to allow the program to air for free," Kaplan said.

Co-Producer Toni Berone designed the show for two topics to be discussed during one half-hour episodes. The format was changed to one topic per show to allow more in-depth discussions of the topics, Berone said.

"(Maxson) was just a natural. The interviewing went so well that we had to extend it," Berone said.

Maxson said however that he is not the focus of the show. "It is a good program for the university," he said.

Roughly 35 shows a year are produced during the summer, winter and spring breaks, Berone said.

Media productions produces Beach View at the University Telecommunications Building with the help of students.

Beach View airs at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, 9 a.m. on Wednesdays, 7 p.m. on Thursdays and 7:30 p.m. on Fridays. It can be seen on cable channel three in Long Beach. The show airs throughout the year.