Nick Lachey
Lachey in March 2012.
Background information
Birth name	Nicholas Scott Lachey
Born	(1973-11-09) November 9, 1973 (age 38) Harlan, Kentucky, United States
Origin	Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock, R&B
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actor
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Motown, Universal, Jive
Associated acts	98 Degrees

Nicholas Scott "Nick" Lachey ( /ləˈʃeɪ/ lə-SHAY;^[1] born November 9, 1973) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and television personality. Lachey rose to fame as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees. He later starred in the reality television series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica with his then-wife, Jessica Simpson. He has released two solo albums, SoulO and What's Left of Me. As a solo artist Nick Lachey sold over 600,000 records and with 98 Degrees, over 10 million records worldwide. He had a recurring role on the television series Charmed.

Early life[link]

Lachey was born near the border of Kentucky and Virginia in Harlan, Kentucky to Cate Fopma-Leimbach and John Lachey.^[2] He has a brother, Drew, a stepsister, Josie, a half brother, Isaac, and two adopted siblings, Zach and Caitlin Leimbach. Growing up in Ohio, he attended Cincinnati Public Schools-School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA), developing his vocal talent while excelling in sports and academics.^[2] After graduation he attended the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California. After a year at USC, he wanted to be closer to his family and transferred to Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, where he studied sports medicine and became a brother in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Career[link]

Nick started his professional singing career at Kings Island with friend Justin Jeffre in the mid-1990s singing in a group quartet throughout the park.^[3][4] Lachey was a member of boyband 98 Degrees along with his brother, Drew, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons Their debut album was the self-titled 98 Degrees; however, the band's first real success came with their follow up album 98 Degrees and Rising. 98 Degrees has sold over 10 million records.

During the summer of 2003, the reality show, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, starring Lachey and then-wife Jessica Simpson began airing on MTV. The couple starred in the television special The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour, which aired in 2004 and was compared to The Sonny & Cher Show.^[5] In 2005, Newlyweds won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Reality Show before wrapping shortly after.^[6] On November 11, 2003, his solo debut album, SoulO, was released.^[2] Despite being released during the success of Newlyweds, the album was a commercial failure. Lachey took a recurring role on series Charmed between 2004 and 2005.^[7]

Nick Lachey in February 2006.

What's Left of Me was released on May 9, 2006 and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The album was certified Gold, after selling more than 500,000 copies domestically. The first single from the album was the title track, "What's Left of Me", released on February 21, 2006. The song became a hit, reaching a peak position of number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The video for "What's Left Of Me" featured former MTV VJ, Vanessa Minnillo. Lachey recorded "Ordinary Day" for the Oprah Winfrey-produced film, For One More Day.

Lachey began working on his third solo album in 2007.^[8] Lachey also starred in a well known TV series, One Tree Hill, as a singer at Red Bedroom Productions. It was announced in January 2010 that Jive Records had put his new album on hold indefinitely.^[9] In June 2010, Lachey confirmed that he had parted ways with Jive Records. Taking the Stage, a musical reality show documenting the lives of high school students at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, premiered on MTV in March 2009. It was produced by Lachey. In December 2009, he hosted The Sing-Off, a four-part American singing competition featuring a cappella groups, a role he reprised during December 2010 for the show's second and third season on NBC.

Sports interests[link]

Lachey is part owner of the Hollywood Fame, a team in the American Basketball Association that began play in fall 2006, and was part of an ownership group of the Tacoma Rainiers, the Seattle Mariners' Triple-A affiliate. Lachey is also a die-hard Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Reds, and Cincinnati Bearcats fan.^[10]

On April 7, 2009 Lachey threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the MLB Opening Day game in Cincinnati, Ohio. On July 9, 2011 Lachey sang the National Anthem for the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky.

Personal life[link]

Lachey dated fellow pop star Jessica Simpson on and off for four years, beginning in early 1999. On October 26, 2002, Lachey married Simpson.^[11] In November 2005, after months of tabloid speculation, Simpson and Lachey announced they were separating. Simpson filed for divorce on December 16, 2005, citing "irreconcilable differences."^[12][13] The couple's divorce was publicized worldwide and was reportedly finalized on June 30, 2006.^[14] "Despite his much smaller net worth, he openly refused to request a payout, even turning down a $1.5 million settlement offer from Simpson's dad."^[15] The couple sold their Calabasas mansion, in which Newlyweds was filmed, to Malcolm in the Middle star Justin Berfield for an undisclosed amount.^[16]

Soon after the release of "What's Left of Me", his 2006 music video starring Vanessa Minnillo, Lachey and Minnillo began dating.^[17] They briefly broke up in June 2009,^[18] but by October 2009, Lachey confirmed that they were back together after having been "single for a minute".^[19] On November 4, 2010, Lachey and Minnillo announced their engagement.^[20] They were married July 15, 2011, on Sir Richard Branson's private Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands,^[21] with a small party of 35 close friends and family.^[22] Their wedding was filmed and televised on July 30 on TLC. On March 5, 2012, Lachey announced on Live! with Kelly that he and his wife are expecting their first child.^[23]

Lachey is also on the entertainment council of the hunger-relief organization Feeding America.^{[citation needed]}

Discography[link]

• SoulO (2003)
• What's Left of Me (2006)
• New album (2012)

Filmography[link]

Nick Lachey in April 2008.

Awards and nominations[link]

Teen Choice Awards

• Best Love Song: What's Left of Me (August 20, 2006)
• Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon (August 20, 2006)

MTV Video Music Awards

• Best Male Video: What's Left of Me (nominated) (August 29, 2006)

American Music Awards

• Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist (nominated) (November 21, 2006)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nick Lachey

• Nick Lachey Official Website

Kara DioGuardi
Background information
Birth name	Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi
Born	(1970-12-09) December 9, 1970 (age 41) Ossining, New York, U.S.[1]
Origin	New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock, dance, R&B[2]
Occupations	Songwriter, record producer, A&R, music publisher, singer, television personality, musical arranger
Instruments	Vocals, piano, guitar[citation needed]
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Interscope, Rocket (Platinum Weird) Warner Bros. (A&R)
Website	karadioguardi.com

Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi ( /ˈkærə diːɵˈɡwɑrdi/;^[3] born December 9, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, composer and TV personality. She writes music primarily in the light pop-rock, dance, and R&B genres. DioGuardi has worked with many popular artists;^[4] her songs have appeared on more than 159 million albums worldwide.^[5] DioGuardi is a Grammy nominated writer, 2011 NAMM Music For Life Award winner, 2009 NMPA Songwriter Icon Award winner, 2007 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year, and has received 15 BMI Awards for co-writing the most performed songs on the radio.

DioGuardi served as a judge on American Idol for its eighth and ninth seasons. Her contract was not renewed for the next season. In 2008 she was appointed to the position of executive vice president of talent development at Warner Bros. Records, and has signed acts such as Jason Derülo and Iyaz. In 2011, she was a head judge on the Bravo singer-songwriter competition series Platinum Hit.

Early life[link]

DioGuardi was born in Ossining, New York.^[1] She is of Arbëresh (Albanian)^[6][7] and Italian^[8] descent and was raised Roman Catholic. Her father is former Republican Congressman and 2010 US Senate candidate Joseph J. DioGuardi.^[1] She is a 7th cousin, once removed of veteran TV personality Regis Philbin.^[9] Her mother Carol died in 1997 after a 7-year battle with ovarian cancer.^[10]

DioGuardi grew up in the Wilmot Woods section of suburban New Rochelle, New York,^[11] and attended kindergarten at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School in Scarsdale, New York, followed by The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, before earning a degree in political science at Duke University.^[1] After graduating from college, she worked for Billboard magazine as an assistant to Timothy White and Howard Lander and later as an advertising sales representative.

Career[link]

Professional songwriter[link]

DioGuardi has a songwriting catalog of several hundred songs, of which over 307 have been released on major labels worldwide, and over 150 have appeared on platinum selling albums. She has had nearly 50 international charting singles over the course of her career, and her songs have helped propel more than 66 albums into the Top Ten of the Billboard 200. Her songs have been featured in major motion pictures, television shows, film soundtracks, and radio spots, as well as national and international commercial campaigns.

She collaborated with Christina Aguilera on her album Back to Basics in 2006, co-writing 12 of the 13 tracks on disc one of the album, among them being "Ain't No Other Man", and "Back in the Day".

In 2007, DioGuardi worked with many notable artists, one of whom was Britney Spears. DioGuardi wrote and produced "Ooh Ooh Baby" and co-produced "Heaven on Earth" on Spears' album Blackout. DioGuardi also contributed a majority of songs on Hilary Duff's fourth studio album, Dignity.

Since American Idol Season 8, DioGuardi returned to songwriting and producing, and has worked with number of artists, including Pink's "Sober," Kelly Clarkson's "I Do Not Hook Up," Cobra Starship ft./ Leighton Meester "Good Girls Go Bad," Katharine McPhee's "Had It All", Carrie Underwood's "Undo It", and Theory of a Deadman's "Not Meant to Be" among other new releases.

Among DioGuardi's projects is the song "Not Meant to Be", which appears on Theory of a Deadman's 2008 album, Scars & Souvenirs.^[12] DioGuardi co-wrote the song with lead singer Tyler Connolly, and is also featured as the love interest in the music video which was released on March 10, 2009. This was her debut in the music video industry.^[13]

In 2009, DioGuardi wrote "If I Can't Have You" for Meat Loaf's 2010 album, Hang Cool Teddy Bear and recorded the vocal as a duet with Meat Loaf. She is also one of the writers for "Ghost", which was released as a single from Fefe Dobson's album Joy (2010). She wrote songs for Aussie singer Natalie Imbruglia's third studio album Counting Down the Days.

Songs for film and television[link]

DioGuardi has also written for films and television series. She has wrote "Brand New Day" for Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, "We Rock" and "Play My Music" for Camp Rock, "He Could Be the One" for Hannah Montana, "Set This Party Off" for Jonas L.A. and "Someone Watching over Me" for Raise Your Voice. She has also wrote songs that have been used as themes such as "Taking Chances" on Glee, "Come Clean" on Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, "Autobiography" on The Ashlee Simpson Show and "Ain’t No Other Man" on Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Music publishing[link]

DioGuardi co-owns Arthouse Entertainment, a publishing company that is a resource business for record companies and other music entities seeking compositions, productions, artists, and related music services. Arthouse has been a part of many chart-topping hits including B.O.B’s “Nothin’ On You,” Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are” and “Grenade,” Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You,” Flo Rida’s “Club Can’t Handle Me,” Cassie's "Me & U" (written and produced by Ryan Leslie), Jim Jones' "We Fly High" (produced by Zukhan Bey), Nick Lachey's "What's Left of Me", David Archuleta's single "Crush" (written and produced by Emanuel Kiriakou), Mika's "Grace Kelly", OneRepublic's "Apologize" and "Stop and Stare" (all produced by Greg Wells), Faith Hill's "Lost" (written and produced by Kara DioGuardi and Mitch Allan), "Sober" by P!nk, "Pieces of Me" by Ashlee Simpson, and "He Could Be The One" by Hannah Montana.

Reality television[link]

In July 2006, DioGuardi was a judge in an Idol-like TV show called The One: Making a Music Star. The show debuted on ABC with the second-lowest rating ever for a premiere on a major American network and was abruptly canceled after just two weeks.^[14]

She joined the hit Fox television show American Idol as a fourth judge for the show's eighth season in 2009 alongside judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. ^[15] She returned to Idol for its ninth season alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and new judge Ellen DeGeneres who replaced Paula Abdul after she quit the show in contract disagreements.^[16] However, she decided to leave the show on September 3, 2010 and did not return for the tenth season of Idol.^[17] It has since been stated that DioGuardi helped present judge Steven Tyler become a judge on American Idol, after they worked together at DioGuardi's house in Los Angeles. She has had Idol connections in the past: in 2000, DioGuardi and former Idol judge Paula Abdul co-wrote the UK number-one single "Spinning Around", performed by Kylie Minogue. She has written many songs sung by Idol winners and alumni such as Kelly Clarkson, Allison Iraheta, David Archuleta, Carrie Underwood, Diana DeGarmo, Katharine McPhee, Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, and Adam Lambert. She co-wrote the American Idol season 8 single, "No Boundaries", which was performed by both finalists during the competition. DioGuardi struggled to find her place among the judges. In Richard Rushfield's book, "American Idol: The Untold Story," he reveals that often the other judges would leave the studio during commercial breaks, leaving DioGuardi behind to awkwardly sit by herself.^[18]

Kara also co-wrote with Jason Reeves a song called "Terrified" for Katharine McPhee's album Unbroken,^[19] which was covered by Didi Benami, an American Idol contestant from Season 9, during Hollywood week. DioGuardi also recorded a video of herself singing "Terrified" with Jason Reeves on YouTube, which currently has over 1,800,000 views. She appeared on Hannah Montana as herself in the episode "Judge Me Tender".

After leaving American Idol, she was a head judge on the Bravo singer-songwriter competition series Platinum Hit as of 2011.^[20]

Other projects[link]

DioGuardi guest starred as herself on The Simpsons and Sesame Street.

From September 5 - October 30, 2011, she made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago.^[21][22]

DioGuardi has also released an autobiography after her departure from "American Idol" named 'A Helluva High Note; Surviving Life, Love and American Idol'.

Awards and nominations[link]

• BMI Country Music Award – 2011 (“Undo It,” Carrie Underwood)
• BMI Country Music Award - 2011 (“Mama’s Song,” Carrie Underwood)
• NSAI Award – 2011 (“This,” Darius Rucker)
• NSAI Award – 2011 (“Undo It, Carrie Underwood)
• BMI Pop Music Award – 2011 (“I Never Told You,” Colbie Caillat)
• BMI Pop Music Award – 2011 (“Good Girls Go Bad,” Cobra Starship)
• NAMM Music For Life Award—2011
• SOCAN Pop/Rock Music Award—2010 ("Not Meant To Be," Theory of a Deadman)
• BMI Pop Music Award – 2010 ("I Do Not Hook Up," Kelly Clarkson)
• BMI Pop Music Award – 2010 ("Sober," Pink)
• BMI Pop Music Award – 2010 ("Not Meant To Be," Theory of a Deadman)
• NMPA Songwriter Icon Award—2009
• BMI Latin Pop Music Award—2009 ("Somebody’s Me," Enrique Iglesias)
• BMI Latin Pop Music Award—2008 ("Bella Traicion," Belinda)
• BMI Pop Music Award—2008 ("Ain’t No Other Man," Christina Aguilera)
• Columbus Citizens Foundation Award – 2007—Outstanding Contribution to the Vocal Arts
• SOCAN Pop Award—2007 ("Walk Away," Kelly Clarkson)
• TAXI Award—2007 Humanitarian of the Year
• BMI Pop Music Award—2007 Songwriter of the Year
• BMI Pop Music Award—2006 ("I’m Feeling You," Santana)
• BMI Pop Music Award—2006 ("Walk Away," Kelly Clarkson)
• BMI Pop Music Award—2006 ("The Real Thing," Bo Bice)
• BMI Pop Music Award—2005 ("Pieces of Me," Ashlee Simpson)
• BMI Pop Music Award—2005 ("Rich Girl," Gwen Stefani)
• BMI Pop Music Award—2002 ("Escape," Enrique Iglesias)
• BMI Top Ten Latin Award—2002 ("Escapar," Enrique Iglesias)
• BMI Film & TV Music Award—2003 (For the People theme song)

In 2003, DioGuardi won a BMI Cable Award for co-writing and performing, "Somethin' To Say", the theme to the Lifetime Television series For the People, which starred Lea Thompson, Debbi Morgan, A. Martinez and Cecilia Suárez. Kara has been awarded 15 BMI Awards for having co-written the most performed songs on the radio. One of the industry's most highly sought after songwriters and producers, DioGuardi's songs have appeared on records that have sold more than 150 million copies combined. In 2007, DioGuardi was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the category of Song of the Year for her writing on the Belinda single, "Bella Traición" along with co-writers Belinda, Ben Moody, Nacho Peregrin and producer Mitch Allan. In November 2007, Kara was awarded the TAXI A&R award for Humanitarian of the Year at their annual Road Rally Convention.^[23]

Discography[link]

As a vocalist[link]

With MaD DoLL:

• Mad Doll^[24] (1999)

With Platinum Weird:

• Make Believe (2006)
• Platinum Weird (2006)

As a featured artist:

• "The Sun Will Rise" on Kelly Clarkson's album Stronger (2011)

Personal life[link]

She is married to teacher-turned-general contractor Mike McCuddy; they were wed on July 5, 2009 in Prospect Harbor, Maine.^[25] McCuddy has a teenage daughter.^[26] The two met while he was working on a home adjacent to her property in Maine.^[27]

DioGuardi works with the Phoenix House, a non-profit substance abuse service organization; she contributes to recording studios in the facilities and helps teach the teens how to operate the equipment.^[23]

In February 2010, she joined former American Idol contestant Elliott Yamin in a charity trip sponsored by ExxonMobil to Angola where they visited malaria prevention and treatment projects as part of Idol Gives Back.

DioGuardi splits her time between Los Angeles, California and Prospect Harbor, Maine.^[28]

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

• Widran, Jonathan. "Kara DioGuardi Discusses How She Got Started, Her Hit Songs, And Songwriting". SongwriterUniverse Magazine. http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/dioguardi.htm. Retrieved 2004-12-14. 
• Reynolds, J.R. (March 2002). "On the Scene: Kara DioGuardi". BMI MusicWorld. http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/onthescene/200203/kdioguardi.asp. Retrieved 2004-12-14. 
• Lee, Chris (2005-12-25). "Spinning all that angst into pop gold. Lindsay. Hilary. Celine. Pink. Kara DioGuardi's first-person songs pushed them all up the charts. And now it's her turn to shout". Los Angeles Times: p. E1.  Guest Co-host; (ABC Television) The View | Oct. 15, 2009

External links[link]

• Media related to Kara DioGuardi at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• Kara DioGuardi at All Music Guide
• Kara DioGuardi's channel on YouTube
• Kara DioGuardi at the Internet Movie Database
• LiveDaily - Platinum Weird's Dave Stewart and Kara DioGuardi interview

Jessica Simpson
Simpson performing "God Bless America" at the "Joining Forces with the Rockies: Celebrating Military Families" event in Denver, on April 13, 2011.
Background information
Birth name	Jessica Ann Simpson
Born	(1980-07-10) July 10, 1980 (age 31) Abilene, Texas, United States
Genres	Pop, dance, country, R&B
Occupations	Singer-songwriter,[1][2] actress, fashion designer
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Columbia, Epic, Columbia Nashville, Primary Wave, EMI
Associated acts	Nick Lachey, Christina Aguilera, Mandy Moore, Ashlee Simpson, 98 Degrees, Willie Nelson, Kirk Franklin, God's Property, CeCe Winans
Website	jessicasimpson.com

Jessica Ann Simpson (born July 10, 1980) is an American recording artist,^[2] actress, television personality and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies and commercials, launched a line of hair and beauty products and designed fragrances, shoes and handbags for women. She has devoted time to philanthropic efforts including Operation Smile and a USO-hosted tour for troops stationed overseas. She started the Jessica Simpson Collection in 2005.

She has achieved seven Billboard Top 40 hits, three gold and two multi-platinum Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified studio albums, four of which have reached the top 10 on the US Billboard 200.^[3][4] She has sold 30 million albums worldwide. Simpson starred with her then-husband Nick Lachey in the MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. She ventured into the country music market in 2008 and released Do You Know.

During the first part of 2010, Simpson released her second reality show on VH1 "The Price of Beauty." In October 2010 she released her first compilation album and last album under the label of Epic Records , with the name Playlist: The Very Best of Jessica Simpson. A month later she released her second Christmas album Happy Christmas under the label Primary Wave Records, owned by EMI.

Biography[link]

1980–1996: Early life and beginnings[link]

Jessica Ann Simpson was born in Abilene, Texas. She is the daughter of Tina Ann (née Drew), a homemaker, and Joseph Truett "Joe" Simpson, a minister and psychologist.^[5] She has a younger sister, Ashlee, who is also a singer.

Simpson began singing at a local Baptist church, where her father also worked as the congregation's youth minister. At age twelve, she unsuccessfully auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club.^[6] The following year, Simpson attended a church camp, where she sang Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and an arrangement of "Amazing Grace".^[7] At camp, she was introduced to the founder of Proclaim Records, a minor Gospel music record label. She recorded an album, Jessica, but she was dismissed from the label when it went bankrupt. Jessica was never officially released except for a small pressing funded by her grandmother.^[8][9]

When Simpson was sixteen years old, Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola heard Jessica. Mottola was impressed with Simpson’s musical talent and skill. Simpson was immediately signed to the label. She dropped out of J. J. Pearce High School but later earned her GED.^[10][11]

[edit] 1999–2001: Sweet Kisses and Irresistible

Simpson at the 54th Presidential Inaugural Opening Celebration

Simpson released her first single, "I Wanna Love You Forever", which peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999, and reached the top ten in ten countries.^[12] Soon afterwards, her major label debut album Sweet Kisses was released. To support the album's release, Simpson toured with Ricky Martin, Destiny's Child, and with boy band 98 Degrees.^{[citation needed]} During the album's recording, she became involved with Nick Lachey.^[13]

Meanwhile, Simpson's album Sweet Kisses had gone double platinum, helped by the follow-up singles "Where You Are" and "I Think I'm In Love With You", which were both released in 2000. The latter became Simpson's biggest radio hit at that point, and was her first release of an uptempo single. Her debut album sold 2 million copies in US. Columbia Records officials reportedly decided Simpson needed a change for her second album. The following year, when Simpson came to record her second album, executives pressured her to have a much more sexy image.^{[citation needed]}

In 2000, Simpson started recording the follow-up to Sweet Kisses, with what Columbia considered more radio-friendly, up-tempo tracks. The sophomore album, titled Irresistible, was released in mid-2001 on the heels of the title-track single. The song "Irresistible" became one of the biggest hits of her career; it peaked at number fifteen on the Hot 100 and stayed in the chart for twenty weeks.^[14] It managed to reach the top forty in some other countries it charted.^{[citation needed]} In addition, it led to the attention of record producer Jermaine Dupri of So So Def Recordings to remix the song within a Hip-Hop—tinged genre style which featured rap artist Lil Bow Wow.^[15]

Irresistible debuted at number 6 in June 2001 on the Billboard 200 chart,^[16] with 127,000^[17] copies sold in its first week. It was later certified Gold^[18] by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling or shipments of 500,000 copies or more. Irresistible has sold 850,000 copies in the US, to date.^{[citation needed]} In order to support the album, Simpson went on her first headlining tour, called the DreamChaser Tour, in mid-August, but due to the September 11, 2001 attacks could not complete the planned dates.^[19]

[edit] 2002–2005: Newlyweds, In this Skin and film career

Simpson and then-husband Nick Lachey at a publicity shoot for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2004.

Simpson married Nick Lachey on October 26, 2002.^[20] She famously announced she had remained a virgin until her marriage.^[21] During the summer of 2003, the reality show, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, starring Simpson and Lachey began airing on MTV. Simpson's third album, In This Skin, was released in August 2003 to coincide with the series premiere of Newlyweds.

Newlyweds quickly became a pop culture phenomenon and is credited with making her a household name, even among those who did not follow pop music or MTV. "I never knew that just doing the show would give me that pedestal to step on," Simpson told Blender magazine.^[22]

In This Skin, debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200, with sales of 64,000 in its first week. But, it rebounded after a special collectors' edition was released in April 2004, and subsequently reached a peak of number 2.^[16] It contained the song "Sweetest Sin", which barely even made an impact on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. However, the album did contain the hit singles "With You" (No. 14, 2004) and a cover of the Berlin song "Take My Breath Away" (No. 20, 2004), and a lesser hit, a cover of the Robbie Williams song "Angels", which charted just outside the Billboard Hot 100.^[12] In December 2004, the album was certified three times multi-Platinum by the RIAA.^[23] According to Simpson's biography, the album has sold 4 million copies in US, to date.^[24]

Simpson in 2005 at the premiere for The Dukes of Hazzard

Simpson and Lachey starred in the television special The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour which aired in 2004 and was compared to The Sonny & Cher Show.^[25] In 2005, Newlyweds won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Reality Show before wrapping shortly after.^[26] In late 2004, Simpson released her first Christmas album, Rejoyce: The Christmas Album . It peaked at number fourteen on the Billboard 200 chart and was later certified gold by the RIAA.^[27]

In the summer of 2005, Simpson made her first appearance in a motion picture as Daisy Duke in the movie version of the television series The Dukes of Hazzard.^[28] The film was No. 1 at the box office its opening weekend, and grossed $30.7 million on 3,785 screens. It also had an adjusted-dollar rank of No. 14 all-time for August releases. The film eventually collected $110.5 million worldwide, although it was much less financially successful outside the U.S.^[29] Simpson appeared on The Dukes of Hazzard soundtrack, releasing "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'", a cover of the 1966 Nancy Sinatra. The song peaked at number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Song from a Movie, in 2006.^[12][30] The song's video featured Simpson as Daisy Duke. It contains scenes of her flirting and singing in a bar and then later washing the General Lee car, wearing a skin-tight, revealing pink bikini. In some countries the video was banned for its overtly sexual content. Simpson received criticism from a Christian group calling itself "The Resistance", for the sexualized image she used in the music video for "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'".^[31] In response, Simpson stated, "It didn't really surprise me because I grew up with a lot of that backlash. That's why I didn't end up going into the Christian music industry. I think that if they're really good Christians the judgment wouldn't be there."^[32]

In November 2005, Simpson and Lachey announced they were separating. Simpson filed for divorce on December 16, 2005, citing "irreconcilable differences."^[33][34] Their divorce was finalized on June 30, 2006.^[35]

[edit] 2006–2007: A Public Affair and Employee of the Month

In 2006, Simpson parted from Columbia. On 29 August 2006, she released her fifth studio album A Public Affair under Epic Records. A Public Affair debuted as fifth on the Billboard 200. 101,000 copies sold in its first week and 500,000 copies in the US overall, a low figure compared to Simpson's previous albums. The first single from the album, bearing the same name "A Public Affair", debuted at number thirty-nine, her highest debut after "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'", and reached a peak of number fourteen on the Hot 100. It also hit number 1 on the Hot Dance Club Play, becoming Simpson's first number one single on the chart. Internationally, it reached the top ten in Canada and Ireland. The video featured appearances by actresses Eva Longoria and Christina Applegate, singer Christina Milian, Maria Menounos, Andy Dick, and Ryan Seacrest.

Simpson in August 2006

Simpson's second film, Employee of the Month, was released October 6, 2006. With poor reviews, the film took in $11.8 million in its opening weekend, debuting at number 4 just behind Open Season.^[36] In December 2006, while performing a tribute to Dolly Parton at the Kennedy Center Awards, she botched the lyrics, getting flustered in front of a crowd that included prominent persons such as Steven Spielberg, Shania Twain, and President Bush. Though Simpson was given the chance to redo the song for cameras, her portion was edited out of the CBS broadcast.^[37][38]

In November 2007, Simpson began dating Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. The relationship was controversial among some Dallas Cowboys fans and she was blamed by them when Romo had poor football performances. Some of the Cowboys' fans gave her the nickname "Yoko Romo" in comparison to Yoko Ono, who many Beatles fans blame for "ruining" John Lennon.^[39] Even then-President George W Bush jokingly endorsed the "Jessica jinx" after the Giants went on to win the Super Bowl in 2008. During the traditional White House reception for the winning team, President Bush quipped, "We're going to send Jessica Simpson to the Democrat National Convention".^[40] On July 13, 2009, People reported that Romo and Simpson had ended their relationship.^[41]

In December 2007, Simpson co-starred with Luke Wilson in her third film, Blonde Ambition. The film opened in eight theaters in Texas (the home state of both Simpson and Wilson), and earned US $6,422. It was released on DVD in January 2008.^[42] Blonde Ambition fared better overseas, where it grossed $253,008 in Ukraine its opening weekend.^[43]

[edit] 2008–2009: Move to country and Do You Know

Simpson on her promo tour, in 2008.

In September 2007, Simpson's father Joe Simpson stated to People magazine that Simpson was considering doing a country album. Joe Simpson told People that she is "talking about doing a country record and going back to her roots, being from Texas."^[44]

"Come On Over", first leaked onto the internet on May 27, 2008. Shortly after country radio stations around the country began giving the single radio play. In the United States, "Come on Over" became the most-added song to country radio for the week of June 6, 2008, debuting at number forty-one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It broke a record held by Miranda Lambert ("Me and Charlie Talking") and Brad Cotter ("I Meant To") for highest-debuting first chart entry by a solo artist; both artists debuted at number forty-two on that same chart.^[45] The video for the first single, "Come On Over", premiered on Simpson's official website in July 2008.^[46] The single peaked at number eighteen on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. Prior to the album release, Simpson performed at select state fairs and visited various country music radio stations in order to promote the album. On July 19, 2008, Simpson performed at the Country Thunder Festival in Wisconsin. She was booed by the crowd and received a poor reception from country music critics.^[47] She responded by saying, "I don't know what your perception is of Jessica Simpson or what tabloid you buy, but I just want you to know that I'm just a girl from Texas; I’m just like you. I'm doing what I love and dating a boy."^[48] The country album, entitled Do You Know, was released on September 9, 2008.^[49] It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in both the US and Canada, giving Simpson her first number 1 album of her career. She opened for Rascal Flatts on their "Bob That Head Tour" from January 17 through March 14, 2009.

Simpson's next movie, Major Movie Star (later renamed Private Valentine: Blonde and Dangerous) was released to DVD on February 3, 2009.^[50]

2010–present: Return to Reality TV, motherhood and eighth studio album[link]

Simpson's VH1 documentary series, The Price of Beauty, began airing in March 2010. The series followed Simpson around the world, introducing viewers to the different perceptions of beauty in different cultures.^[51][52][53] The premiere episode attracted one million viewers,^[54][55] but Simpson revealed that the series would return in 2011 with a format change.^[56] Initially, Simpson planned to release a new studio album that would end her contract with her label, Epic Records.^[57] However, a greatest hits compilation, Playlist: The Very Best of Jessica Simpson, was released in late October instead.^[58] Simpson's second holiday album, Happy Christmas, released under Primary Wave in November, 2011.^[59]

In June 2011, it was announced that Simpson participated as a mentor in NBC's new reality show Fashion Star with Elle McPherson.^[60] In July 2011, she appeared on Fashion Star alongside Nicole Richie.^[61]

On November 14, 2010, Simpson announced her engagement to Eric Johnson.^[62] On May 1, 2012, Simpson gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Maxwell Drew Johnson.^[63][64]

Other projects[link]

Cosmetics and clothing[link]

"Jessica Simpson Dessert by Jessica Simpson" was launched in April, 2004 after co-founders Randi Shinder and Simpson designed a line of edible perfume, lip gloss and other beauty products under the Dessert Beauty brand. A parallel line named Dessert Treats was launched the following year in February, 2005. The new line was marketed at a much younger audience.^[65]

Simpson and stylist Ken Pavés launched a line of hair and beauty products on the Home Shopping Network.^[66] Simpson also created the Jessica Simpson Collection (JSC) in which she designs and markets a line of handbags and (primarily high-heeled) shoes and boots.^[67] JSC is projected to become the first celebrity brand to break $1 billion in annual sales,^[68] and will launch an e-commerce beauty site with celebrity aesthetician Nerida Joy, BeautyMint, on October 31, 2011.^[69] The Jessica Simpson's Intimates began selling in major department stores and online shopping sites in spring 2009.^[70]

Simpson has launched a fragrance line. Her fragrance was made by Parlux Fragrances. Her debut perfume, Fancy, was launched in 2008. The success of Fancy spawned three more fragrances, Fancy Love, Fancy Nights and I Fancy You.^[71]

Commercials[link]

Simpson has made commercials for Pizza Hut, Proactiv Solution and a commercial for Ice Breakers with her sister Ashlee. In 2005, she started advertising Proactiv Solution, an over-the-counter acne medicine. In 2006, she premiered in another Pizza Hut commercial for the Super Bowl XL broadcast. She sang "These Bites Are Made For Poppin'," in reference to the song "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'," to advertise the new Cheesy Bites Pizza.^[72] In 2007, the Super Bowl featured her third Pizza Hut commercial, which again promoted the Cheesy Bites Pizza.^[73] She has also advertised DirecTV in character as Daisy Duke.^[74]

Philanthropy[link]

Simpson is Operation Smile's International Youth Ambassador.^[75][76]

Jessica Simpson performing in USO/DoD Celebrity Tour at Eagle Base 14 November 2001

In March 2007, Simpson donated a new Chrysler minivan to the Elim orphanage in Nuevo Laredo. Simpson won a Chrysler Crossfire sports car at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, but exchanged the $50,000 luxury car for a minivan so she could help the orphanage.^[77]

Political endorsements[link]

Jessica Simpson is a Republican.^[78] Simpson endorsed George W. Bush for president in 2004,^[79] but was later said to have "snubbed" him by canceling an appearance at a 2006 Republican fundraiser in Washington, D.C.. The singer's father, Joe Simpson, explained that he and Jessica are "big supporters" of the president, who invited them. They felt it was inappropriate to attend a political fundraiser.^[80]

Filmography[link]

Discography[link]

• Sweet Kisses (1999)
• Irresistible (2001)
• In This Skin (2003)
• Rejoyce: The Christmas Album (2004)
• A Public Affair (2006)
• Do You Know (2008)
• Happy Christmas (2010)

Tours[link]

Headlining

• DreamChaser Tour (2001)
• Reality Tour (2004)

Co-headlining

• MTV TRL Tour (2001)

Opening act

• Heat It Up Tour (98 Degrees) (2000)
• Bob That Head Tour (Rascal Flatts) (2009)

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Mitchell, Susan K (2008), Jessica Simpson, Gareth Stevens Pub, ISBN 978-0-8368-8201-8, http://books.google.ca/books?id=hHdl5O2TSPsC&lpg=PP1&dq=Jessica%20Simpson%22&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=true 
• Simpson, Jessica; Katina Z. Jones (2004), I do: achieving your dream wedding, W Press, ISBN 0-9748603-0-1, http://books.google.ca/books?id=e-BoIF2bQcEC&lpg=PP1&dq=Jessica%20Simpson%22&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=true 

External links[link]

Jessica Simpson portal

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Jessica Simpson

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jessica Simpson

• Jessica Simpson's Official Website
• Jessica Simpson at the Internet Movie Database
• Jessica Simpson at People.com
• Jessica Simpson Collection

v t e Jessica Simpson Studio albums Sweet Kisses Irresistible In This Skin ReJoyce: The Christmas Album A Public Affair Do You Know Happy Christmas Compilation albums This Is the Remix Playlist: The Very Best of Jessica Simpson Video albums DreamChaser Reality Tour Live Concert tours MTV TRL Tour DreamChaser Tour Reality Tour Television Fashion Star The Price of Beauty Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica Films The Dukes of Hazzard Employee of the Month Blonde Ambition Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous Related articles Operation Smile Jessica Simpson Collection Ashlee Simpson Book:Jessica Simpson Portal:Jessica Simpson

Kelly Ripa
Ripa in 2008
Born	Kelly Maria Ripa (1970-10-02) October 2, 1970 (age 41) Stratford, New Jersey, United States
Occupation	Actress, host of Live! with Kelly, co-founder of Milojo, spokesperson for Electrolux and Rykä
Years active	1986–present
Spouse	Mark Consuelos (1996–present)
Children	3

Kelly Maria Ripa (born October 2, 1970) is an American actress, talk show host, and television producer. Ripa, who played Hayley Vaughan on the television soap opera All My Children from 1990–2002, is best known as host of the popular syndicated morning talk show Live! with Kelly. Additionally, Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos own a New York based production company, Milojo.^[1]

In 2012, The Hollywood Reporter named her one of the Most Powerful People in Media.^[2]

Early life[link]

Ripa was born in Stratford, New Jersey, the daughter of Esther, a homemaker, and Joseph Ripa, a labor-union president and bus driver. She has a younger sister, Linda, who is a children's book author.^[3] She is of Italian and Irish descent.^[4] Her father has been the Democratic County Clerk for Camden County, New Jersey since June 2009. She is the first in her family to enter the acting profession. She has studied ballet since age three, plays the piano, and, in her words, is "no Barbra Streisand," but can carry a tune.^[5]

Ripa graduated from Eastern High School in Voorhees Township, New Jersey,^[6] where she became a cheerleader and was later encouraged by her drama teacher to pursue acting. "I owe so much of my career to Jim Beckley,"^[7] she said. "He thought I was a natural performer and so he gave me the lead in the next show."^[8] She starred in local theatre productions and was discovered while performing in the comedy play The Ugly Duckling (c. 1941), by A.A. Milne, during her senior year.^[6] She attended Camden County College studying psychology, but dropped out and moved to New York City to be an actress.^[9]

Television career[link]

Dance Party USA[link]

Aside from local TV gigs, Ripa's first national television exposure came in 1986 when she appeared as a regular dancer on Dance Party USA. Her career goal at the time was to be a newscaster and she often did the cast news reports.

All My Children[link]

Ripa was cast in her first major acting role in 1990 as Hayley Vaughan, a troubled party girl, on All My Children. She concluded her 12-year stint in 2002, but returned for two episodes in 2010 to help celebrate the soap opera's 40th anniversary.

Live![link]

After co-host Kathie Lee Gifford's final show on Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, Regis Philbin began holding on-air auditions to find her replacement. In his autobiography, How I Got This Way, Philbin says of discovering Ripa:

"There was one guest we'd had on with us a few years before who had [a certain sparkle]. Hers was a natural, quick-witted, unaffected, confident, fun-loving kind of sparkle that both Gelman and I remembered very well. We decided to invite her back, this time to consider her as a possible co-host. So that was when this smiling, petite ball of fire named Kelly Ripa made her return to Live! for a test run at the rotating, up-for-grabs hot seat to my left. And my God, who knew what spontaneous combustion we'd make together?"^[10]

The day of Ripa's initial Live! with Regis tryout, November 1, 2000, among the guests was a psychic named Char Margolis. During this segment, Margolis revealed a secret that Ripa had been keeping under wraps: she's pregnant with her second child. Ripa blushed and nervously replied, "I haven't told my boss yet!" Philbin later revealed that of all the potential candidates including Jane Krakowski, Valerie Bertinelli, Dolly Parton, and Bernadette Peters: "it could only be Kelly. We knew that from her memorable debut onward." Ripa was announced as official replacement on February 5, 2001. Within months, the renamed Live! with Regis and Kelly's young-audience demographics increased by 80 percent with Ripa credited for bringing "a new life to the show."^[11]

The chemistry between Philbin and Ripa (or "Pippa" as he nicknamed her), their banter, interviews, and conversations about their families, personal lives, and New York City attracted a successful, strong, and loyal viewership averaging 6 million viewers daily.^[12] In January 2011, Philbin, 80, announced that he would be retiring from Live! at the end of the year. His final show aired Friday, November 18, 2011, during which Ripa tearfully reminisced about her first day, the 43 steps they walked together from her dressing room onto set each day for 11 years, and how those 43 steps changed her life. "Thank you for everything! It's been just great my Pippa," Philbin told her in an embrace. Ripa responded: "Thank you for everything. I love you." "I love you, too," said Philbin.^[13]

Ripa returned the following Monday, November 21, 2011 to continue the show, now entitled Live! with Kelly. In the same process that she was discovered to replace Gifford, a rotating lineup of co-hosts have auditioned on-air with Ripa, including: Michael Strahan, Neil Patrick Harris, Josh Groban, Seth Meyers, Jerry O'Connell, Nick Lachey, Derek Hough, Joel McHale, Taye Diggs, Ben Mulroney, Michael Bublé, Randy Jackson, Rob Lowe, Peter Facinelli, Reggie Bush, Dana Carvey, Mario Lopez, Mike Greenberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Martin Short, Bryant Gumbel, Pat Kiernan, Dan Abrams, Jesse Palmer, Howie Mandel, Chris Harrison, and D.L. Hughley.^[14] Although an official replacement has yet to be announced, ratings in the interim have been extremely successful and therefore why executive producer Michael Gelman says there is no rush to choose Ripa's new co-host.^[15]

Hope & Faith[link]

Ripa ventured into primetime in September 2003 on Hope & Faith, playing Faith Fairfield, an unemployed ex-soap star. The half-hour sitcom, co-starring Faith Ford, Ted McGinley, and Megan Fox, gave ABC its best Friday premiere score since 1996. The show was cancelled in May 2006 with Ripa declaring she "never wanted to work that hard again."^[16]

Film career[link]

Best known for her television work, Ripa also has several feature films to her credit. She appeared in the acclaimed Miramax feature Marvin's Room in 1996 alongside Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio. In 1999, she won the Best Actress Award at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival for her work in The Stand-In. Most recently, she was part of the voice cast of the computer-generated animated feature Fly Me to the Moon.

Other ventures[link]

Spokesperson[link]

Named among People's Most Intriguing People and one the Most Powerful People in Media according to The Hollywood Reporter, Ripa serves as a valuable and successful spokesperson for several companies. In the past, she has partnered with Tide, 7 Up, Pantene, and TD Bank, but currently works primarily with Electrolux and Rykä.

Rykä announced Ripa as the spokesperson for the brand's footwear and sporting apparel in 2008. Showcasing her commitment to an active, healthy lifestyle; Ripa oversees the design of her own fitness-inspired active wear line, The Kelly Ripa Collection.^[17]

Ripa stars in the Electrolux television and print advertising, and her image is used on point-of-sale materials and extensively online. Tom Coulman of Electrolux says "Her dynamic personality and on-the-go lifestyle really resonate and create a powerful brand connection."^[18]

Charity[link]

Ripa at 2007 Red Dress Collection for Heart Truth foundation

Ripa, a devoted supporter of the ovarian cancer cause, has teamed with Electrolux to raise funds for The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Every summer, she hosts an event called Super Saturday, a day-long fundraising event. 2011's event raised over $3.5 million for OCRF. Her dedication derives from losing a friend to ovarian cancer.^[19] In 2001, she appeared on a celebrity version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, hosted by Philbin. She won $250,000 for Tomorrow's Children's Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to speeding the healing of children with cancer and serious blood disorders.

Another cause important to Ripa is Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Her active involvement with MADD is motivated by her sister, Linda, who was almost killed by a drunk driver in 1999.^[20]

Production Company[link]

In 2007, Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos founded Milojo, the highly successful SoHo-based production company. It began with the Emmy-nominated feature documentary The Streak, which told the story of a Florida high school wrestling team with a 34-year winning streak. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2008. In addition, Milojo launched a first-look development deal with Discovery Channel for non-scripted series' including Homemade Millionaire, hosted by Ripa, and the docu-series Masters of Reception. Their next film, Off the Rez, was also accepted to the Tribeca Film Festival and premiered on TLC in May 2011.^[21] In 2012, the company premiered its first short film, a collaboration with Will Ferrell's Funny or Die entitled "The Bensonhurst Spelling Bee" featuring Ripa, Consuelos, and their son, Michael. The video went viral and quickly exceeded 1,000,000 views.^[22]

Personal life[link]

On the set of All My Children, Ripa met Mark Consuelos — newly hired to play her onscreen lover Mateo Santos. After dating for a year, Ripa and Consuelos eloped in Las Vegas on May 1, 1996. On June 2, 1997, they welcomed their first son, Michael Joseph. The couple's second and third children, Lola Grace and Joaquin Antonio were born June 16, 2001 and February 24, 2003, respectively.

Filmography and Television Work[link]

Awards and Honors[link]

In 2007 and 2012, Ripa hosted the TV Land Awards to very positive reviews.^[23] She, herself, is an award winner, garnering five Soap Opera Digest Awards and three Daytime Emmy Award nominations for playing Hayley Vaughan on All My Children.

Ripa was also recognized for her work on the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade, which she co-hosted from 2001–2009, with the Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Special in 2006. She and co-host Regis Philbin also won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host for Live! with Regis and Kelly, for which they also received 12 Emmy Award nominations and 4 People's Choice Award nominations.

In 2008, Cowboy Mouth, a New Orleans, Louisiana-based rock band, honored Ripa by writing a song in tribute, entitled Kelly Ripa, that appeared on their album Fearless. The band performed the song on Live! on March 13, 2008.

On September 15, 2006, Ripa broke the Guinness World Record as twenty-four banana-cream pies were tossed at her mouth in one minute, as part of a Guinness World Record Breaker theme week on Live!. On September 16, 2011, Ripa broke the Guinness World Record for Most Grapes Trodden in 1 Minute, of 5.4 litres, as she extracted 8.4 litres. However, her competitor, Martina Servaty of Germany, extracted even more (8.6 litres), preventing Ripa from holding the new record.^[24]

The Broadcast Pioneers inducted Ripa into their Hall of Fame for her tremendous success in the television industry on November 19, 2010 and also honoured her as their Person of the Year.^[25]

See also[link]

	Biography portal
	Film portal
	Television portal

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kelly Ripa

• Kelly Ripa at the Internet Movie Database
• [1], official website for Live! with Kelly
• Kelly Ripa in Page Six Magazine
• Kelly Ripa on Twitter

Craig Kilborn (born August 24, 1962) is an American actor and talk show host. He was the original host of The Daily Show, a former anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter, and Tom Snyder's successor on CBS' The Late Late Show. On June 28, 2010, he launched The Kilborn File after a six-year absence from television. The Kilborn File aired on some Fox stations during a six-week trial run.

Early life[link]

Kilborn, the son of Shirley, a school teacher, and Hiram Kilborn, an insurance executive, was born in Kansas City, but from the age 4, was raised in Hastings, Minnesota.^[1] From early on Kilborn was taller than his peers and early on it made him a consistent standout from elementary playgrounds through his prep years in Hastings. He would eventually grow to be 6' 5" tall.^[2] In the 9th grade Kilborn caught the eye of a man that coached an All-Star team from Minneapolis called the Northside Magicians. Kilborn accepted an invitation to join the team in national tournaments. Kilborn, again stood out because of his talent. He starred in basketball at Hastings High School, earning three letters, All-Conference and All-State honors. His talent attracted the attention of NCAA Division I scouts and Kilborn accepted a scholarship to Montana State University.

Career[link]

Kilborn began his television career as the sports anchor for Monterey County's Fox affiliate KCBA in Salinas, California. Some of his on air work included covering the Gilroy Garlic Festival and playing bocce ball with the locals near Cannery Row. Kilborn lived in nearby Carmel-by-the-Sea. Prior to KCBA, Kilborn was the CBA Savannah Spirits's play-by-play radio commentator in 1986 and 1987.^[3]

[edit] SportsCenter

After several small jobs, Kilborn became an ESPN SportsCenter anchor from 1993 to 1996. Kilborn was primarily the anchor of the late broadcast of SportsCenter which he coined "The Feel Good Edition". His numerous catch phrases included "Release, Rotation, Splash", "Jumanji", and "Oh, Precious". He made a return appearance to SportsCenter on August 8, 2004, when he co-hosted SportsCenter with Dan Patrick during ESPN's 25th Anniversary Celebration.

[edit] The Daily Show

In 1996, Kilborn became host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central. During his three-year tenure The Daily Show was named "Best Late Night Comedy" by TV Guide. Kilborn was also nominated for a Cable Ace Award for "Outstanding Host." Popular features Kilborn created at The Daily Show include: "5 Questions," "Moment For Us," "Dance, Dance, Dance," and "And now... your moment of zen."

In a 1997 interview with Esquire, Kilborn made jokes regarding Daily Show co-creator and head writer Lizz Winstead, saying, "To be honest, Lizz does find me very attractive. If I wanted her to blow me, she would."^[4] Kilborn apologized publicly and pointed out that the remarks were "said in jest," but he was suspended for a week.

In 1998, CBS and David Letterman's production company Worldwide Pants selected Kilborn to replace Tom Snyder as host of The Late, Late Show to run after Late Show with David Letterman. His final Daily Show episode aired on December 17, 1998. On January 11, 1999 Jon Stewart replaced Kilborn as host of The Daily Show.

[edit] The Late Late Show

Kilborn hosted The Late Late Show for five years, changing the format to appeal to a younger audience. On the show, he popularized segments such as Yambo and 5 Questions. He created several characters, including Sebastian, the Asexual Icon. He also narrated his own introduction and would enter to the sound of the song "Play That Funky Music" at the beginning of his show. In August 2004, he elected not to extend his contract, referring to it as "early retirement." Kilborn's last episode of The Late Late Show aired on August 27, 2004. The Scottish-born American comedian Craig Ferguson took over the show on January 3, 2005.

On a June 2010 interview, promoting his new show The Kilborn File, Kilborn stated that he left late night television due to him thinking that the late night timeslot was "crowded" and that he wanted to be part of "the first comedy show at dinner time".^[5][6]

Filmography[link]

In 2003 Kilborn had a role in the hit movie Old School. Kilborn played "Mark", the philandering boyfriend of Ellen Pompeo's character. His lines included the phrases "Good Talk" and "Guy Code". In the 2006 film The Benchwarmers, Kilborn played Jerry the bully to Jon Heder, David Spade, and Rob Schneider's nerdy roles.

[edit] The Kilborn File

Craig Kilborn returned to television on June 28, 2010 after six years off the air, when his new half-hour show The Kilborn File debuted on select Fox stations.^[7] The show aired for a six-week test run on a 7:00 pm timeslot in most markets.^[8] Christine Lakin was his sidekick. The show brought back many of the hallmark segments from his time on The Daily Show and The Late Late Show, such as "5 Questions" and "Yambo" (renaming the Yambo segment to "Kilbo" and later to "Kilbyashi").^[9][10] The show was not renewed.

New sitcom[link]

This article is outdated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. Please see the talk page for more information. (May 2012)

In May 2011, it was announced that Kilborn will be writing, producing and starring in an ABC sitcom.^[11][12] In the untitled single-camera comedy, Kilborn would play an eccentric mystery writer "who has mastered the art of living," the network says. Kilborn's character finds his life turned upside down, however, when he meets his dream mate.^[13]

Broadcast career highlights[link]

• 1986–1988: Play-by-play commentator for the Savannah Spirits of the Continental Basketball Association
• 1990–1993: Sports Director at KCBA television in the Salinas/Monterey/Santa Cruz market of California
• 1993–1996: Anchor of SportsCenter
• 1996–1998: Host of The Daily Show
• 1999–2004: Host of The Late Late Show
• 2010: Host of The Kilborn File

References[link]

External links[link]

• Craig Kilborn at the Internet Movie Database
• Craig Kilborn at NNDB
• Craig Kilborn on Facebook