Tom Bergeron
Bergeron in April 2009
Born	(1955-05-06) May 6, 1955 (age 57) Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Television host
Years active	1981–present
Notable work(s)	Host of: America's Funniest Home Videos (2001–present) Hollywood Squares (1998–2004) Dancing with the Stars (2005–present)
Spouse	Lois Bergeron (1982–present)
Emmy Awards
Outstanding Game Show Host 2000 Hollywood Squares

Tom Bergeron (born May 6, 1955) is an American television personality and game show host, best known as the host of the ABC reality series Dancing with the Stars (2005–present) and host of America's Funniest Home Videos (2001–present). He was also host of Hollywood Squares (1998–2004) and a fill-in host for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. He is a Daytime Emmy winner.

Early life and career[link]

Bergeron was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. His first job in broadcasting was as a disc jockey at local radio station WHAV, in his home town of Haverhill, Massachusetts. He became a popular radio DJ in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire in the early 1980s on Portsmouth's WHEB, where he played comedy records along with music and offbeat interviews. His popularity led to additional TV and radio auditions.

One of his first jobs on television was as host of a local game show, Granite State Challenge, on New Hampshire Public Television (produced at NHPTV flagship station WENH-TV). He moved to the Boston market in February 1982, joining WBZ-TV as a general on-air personality. His early roles at the station included being a contributor on Evening Magazine (1982–87), and hosting brief informational and show preview segments known as 4 Today, every 30 minutes during WBZ's daytime lineup (1983–87). In 1984, he landed the hosting spot on Lottery Live, the nightly drawings of the Massachusetts State Lottery games. By January 1987, while still working in these roles, Bergeron added People Are Talking to his duties. He replaced outgoing host Buzz Luttrell on the early afternoon talk show, where he gained even more popularity. While Ron Cantera took over as host of 4 Today (until its cancellation in 1988), Bergeron remained lottery host until drawings moved to WNEV-TV in September 1987.^[1][2]

By the early 1990s, Bergeron was seen as a solid figure in Boston television, and WBZ continued to capitalize on his talents by featuring him on WBZ Radio. It was there he had an early-morning radio show called The Tom Bergeron Show. When People Are Talking ended a successful 13-year run in June 1993, Bergeron remained on WBZ-TV as commentator and lifestyle reporter for the station's expanded hour-long noon newscast. In early 1994, Bergeron briefly surfaced as a morning host on Boston's soft-rock station WMJX ("Magic 106.7"), which was only a short commute to WBZ's studios for his work on the noon news.

Television[link]

In June 1994, Bergeron left WBZ when he was hired by the new FX cable network. He had been selected to co-host a morning talk show for them, called Breakfast Time, which was his first network television exposure. Hosting with Laurie Hibberd, the show became quite successful on the upstart cable network, prompting the Fox Broadcasting Company to pick it up two years later. At the time, the cable system in his hometown of Haverhill didn't carry FX, leading to a long-running and ultimately failed public campaign to get them to pick up the channel or at the very least to locally syndicate the program. In September 1996, the program moved to Fox and became Fox After Breakfast, since it aired later in the morning than the other network's morning programs. Bergeron and Hibberd continued with the show for one year on Fox; the show was renewed in 1997, but revamped. With new host Vicki Lawrence, a new set and modified format, it became The Vicki Lawrence Show.

Bergeron was promptly signed to a contract with ABC News as guest host to Good Morning America. After Charles Gibson left the show, Bergeron was seriously considered as a permanent replacement,^[3] but that job went to Kevin Newman.

Beginning in 1998, he became the host of Hollywood Squares. He was nominated for 5 Emmys and in 2000, he won his first and only Emmy. After Hollywood Squares ended its six-year-run in 2004, he continued hosting America's Funniest Home Videos, which he started hosting in 2001. In later years, Bergeron appeared twice on Star Trek: Enterprise as an alien trader named D'Marr and as a Coridan Ambassador. He also appeared in an episode of The Nanny in 1998. In 2005, he began hosting the ABC reality series Dancing With the Stars, for ABC, where he had two former co-hostesses (Lisa Canning and Samantha Harris) before Brooke Burke, a winner in season 7, took over the job. The show, modeled on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, proved to be a hit, and has now aired in over 90 countries in its various formats. His sharp sense of humor and good banter with the judges and cast members of Dancing With the Stars have helped to make him a big star again, so much so that in June 2010 ABC invited him back to his daytime roots for one day only as special guest moderator of "The View".

In 2005, Bergeron was a co-host on the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon, and in 2006 he was elected national vice president of the association.

In November 2009, Bergeron celebrated AFHV's 20th anniversary with its first host Bob Saget. In 2010, he appeared in Castle. In 2011, he made a cameo in an episode of Tosh.0 as host of Dancing with the Internet Stars, a parody of Dancing with the Stars.

In March 2011, Bergeron was one of the guest presenters to help promote KSBW's second digital channel, "Central Coast ABC".^[4] with the launch date of that channel set for April 2011.

Other career ventures[link]

In 2009, Bergeron released his first book I'm Hosting as Fast as I Can: Zen and the Art of Staying Sane in Hollywood. This details his career and other oddball stuff along with some zen and some life lessons that people could use in life.

Personal life[link]

Bergeron married his wife, Lois, in 1982. They have two daughters, Samantha and Jessica. He lives in Los Angeles and Greenwich, Connecticut.^[5] According to his book, Bergeron is agnostic.^{[citation needed]}

References[link]

External links[link]

• Tom Bergeron at the Internet Movie Database
• Tom Bergeron at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Maksim Chmerkovskiy on May 2, 2007
Born	Maksim Aleksandrovich Chmerkovskiy (1980-01-17) January 17, 1980 (age 32) Odessa, Ukraine
Occupation	Dancer Choreographer Instructor

Maksim (Maks) Aleksandrovich Chmerkovskiy (Ukrainian: Максим Олекса́ндрович Чмерковський, Maksym Oleksándrovych Čmerkovsʹkyj, pronounced [mɑkˈsɪm olɛkˈsɑndroβ̞ɪtʃ ˈtʃmɛrkou̯sʲkɪj]; Russian: Максим Александрович Чмерковский; born January 17, 1980) is a Ukrainian-American Latin Ballroom dance champion, choreographer, and instructor. He is best known as one of the professional dancers on the American television series Dancing with the Stars, on which he first appeared in season two. In his ten appearances on the show, Chmerkovskiy has made it to the final round four times, with two runner-up and two third place finishes.

Early life[link]

Born on January 17, 1980, in Odessa (Ukraine) to Aleksandr and Larisa Chmerkovskiy, he began dancing at the age of four. His brother, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, is also a champion dancer.^[1] His father is Jewish and his mother is Christian.^[2][3] Chmerkovskiy's Ukrainian heritage was referenced on an episode of Dancing with the Stars.^[4]

The challenges of immigration for Chmerkovskiy and his family included financial and language barriers. A skiing accident as a child broke Chmerkovskiy's right leg. Doctors informed him that there would be difficulties with his leg and that dancing might not be possible.^[5] He made a successful recovery and went on to become a professional Latin Ballroom dancer.

Chmerkovskiy owns four dance studios in the New York City area, one of which is the Rising Stars Dance Academy (RSDA).^[6] The other three studios are social dance studios located in Ridgefield, New Jersey, and Glen Head, New York, as well as the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan. He has been a resident of Edgewater, New Jersey.^[7]

Chmerkovskiy is one of the creators and directors of Dance Team USA, a non-profit educational and charitable organization dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and training future DanceSport participants. This sport is particularly popular with Eastern European families. Through his company Maksim Chmerkovskiy Productions, he organizes performances globally.

A ballroom and DanceSport choreographer, among his professional works is the Wynn Las Vegas's water-based show Le Rêve.^[8] He implemented ballroom-inspired numbers in the Franco Dragone production.

[edit] Dancing with the Stars

Chmerkovskiy first appeared in the 2nd season of the ABC series Dancing with the Stars partnered with actress Tia Carrere. They finished in sixth place. The following season, he and partner singer Willa Ford came in seventh place. Chmerkovskiy returned to Dancing with the Stars in March 2007 for Season 4, this time partnered with boxer Laila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali. They made it to the finals and finished in third place. In Season 5 of Dancing with the Stars, he was partnered with Mel B and had his best finish to date; the couple received second place. Chmerkovskiy did not participate in Season 6, although he and former partner Mel B made an appearance for the 100th episode.

He returned for the show's 7th season, this time paired with two-time Olympic volleyball gold medalist, Misty May-Treanor. Chmerkovskiy and May-Treanor were forced to withdraw from the competition in Week 3 on October 6, 2008. During a practice for their jive, May-Treanor ruptured her Achilles tendon and required surgery. Her withdrawal gave them a finish in tenth place.

On February 9, 2009, on Good Morning America it was announced that he would be paired with Denise Richards for the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars. They were eliminated second in the competition, on March 24, 2009, giving the pair a finish of 12th place. In the ninth season, he was paired with actress Debi Mazar, during which they were eliminated 4th. In season 10, Chmerkovskiy, returning for his 8th season, was partnered with Erin Andrews.^[9] They ended up coming in 3rd place during the two hour finale on May 25, 2010.

For season 11, Chmerkovskiy partnered with singer and actress, Brandy. They made it to the semi-finals but were eliminated on November 16, 2010, giving them a 4th place finish.^[10] For Season 12, he was paired with actress Kirstie Alley. On week 3, his leg gave out causing her to fall heavily on him, earning 21 out of 30. The next week, Alley's shoe fell off during their routine. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba called Alley The Queen of the Unexpected Mishap; they earned 22 out of a possible score of 30. They made it to the finals and finished in second place.

For season 13, he was partnered with Hope Solo and they finished in 4th place.

For season 14, he is partnered with actress Melissa Gilbert. In week 4, while performing the paso doble, Gilbert hit her head on the dance floor and suffered a mild concusion. She was rushed to the hospital and was unable to be at the results show the following night due to recovering. The couple was called safe. Chmerkovskiy also suffered a injury. He pulled a muscle in his shoulder. However, he told host Tom Bergeron on the results show that he was okay. The couple was eliminated four weeks later, finishing in 5th place.

Dancing With the Stars performances[link]

• Season 4 - With celebrity partner: Laila Ali (Average - 27.0)

• Season 5 - With celebrity partner: Mel B (Average - 27.6)

• Season 7 - With celebrity partner: Misty May-Treanor (Average - 21.0)

• Season 8 - With celebrity partner: Denise Richards (Average - 18.3)

• Season 9 - With celebrity partner: Debi Mazar (Average - 18.0)

• Score was awarded by stand in judge Baz Luhrmann.

• Season 10 - With celebrity partner: Erin Andrews (Average - 25.1)

• Season 11 - With celebrity partner: Brandy (Average - 26.3)

• Season 12 - With celebrity partner: Kirstie Alley (Average - 24.7)

• Season 13 - With celebrity partner: Hope Solo

• Season 14 - With celebrity partner: Melissa Gilbert

Dancing titles[link]

• 2005 Yankee Classic Professional Latin Champion^[11]
• 2005 Blackpool Dance Festival Semi-Finalist
• 2004 Manhattan Dancesport Professional Latin Champion
• 2004 Nevada Star Ball Champion
• 2004 World Masters Finalist
• 2004 Moscow Kremlin Cup Finalist
• 2004 Philadelphia Dancesport Festival Champion
• 2003 All England Champion
• 2003 Ohio Star Ball Latin Champion
• 2003 La Classique du Quebec Champion

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Maksim Chmerkovskiy web site

Jay Mohr
Jay Mohr, July 2, 2004
Born	Jon Ferguson Mohr (1970-08-23) August 23, 1970 (age 41) Verona, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, Comedian
Years active	1990–present
Spouse	Nikki Cox (2006-present) Nicole Chamberlain (1998-2004)
Website
http://jaymohr.com

Jay Ferguson Cox Mohr (born Jon Ferguson Mohr; August 23, 1970) is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, as a featured player for two seasons on the long running sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire. Mohr could also be known for his near-identical impersonation of actor Christopher Walken.

Early life[link]

Mohr was born in Verona, New Jersey. His mother, Jean (née Ferguson), is a nurse, and his father, Jon Wood Mohr, is a marketing executive.^[1] He has two sisters, Julia and Virginia.

Career[link]

Acting career[link]

Mohr appeared as a featured player for the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons of Saturday Night Live. His 2004 memoir, Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches of Saturday Night Live (ISBN 1-4013-0006-5), details this tumultuous period of his life, including his battle with chronic panic attacks. Though his potential was appreciated by SNL creator/producer Lorne Michaels, Mohr was impatient with his progression to full cast member, and left the show on bad terms. He has since reconciled with Michaels.

Mohr had a recurring role in the first season of The Jeff Foxworthy Show as Jeff Foxworthy's brother, Wayne. Mohr's first major film role was in 1996 when he played the conniving Bob Sugar, a sleazy sports agent in Jerry Maguire, followed in 1997 by a starring role in Picture Perfect. In 1999, Mohr starred in the television series Action, in which he played sleazy film producer Peter Dragon. Mohr later hosted a talk show on ESPN entitled Mohr Sports which ran briefly in 2001 before being cancelled. He was also the voice-over artist for Fox Sports Net's Beyond the Glory. Mohr has also appeared in movies such as Are We There Yet?, Small Soldiers, Go, Pay It Forward, and The Groomsmen. Mohr was offered a late night talk show job by Michael Eisner but he declined. Mohr managed to convince Eisner to let him host a talk show on ESPN entitled Mohr Sports which ran briefly in 2001 before being cancelled. The talk show job Mohr passed was then offered to Jimmy Kimmel and became Jimmel Kimmel Live. ^[2]

In 2003 and 2004, Mohr created, hosted, and was executive producer of NBC's Last Comic Standing reality television program. The show aired for three seasons, but was cancelled near the end of the third season due to poor ratings, only to be renewed later. Mohr was very vocal toward NBC concerning its cancellation^[3] and did not return for the show's fourth season in 2006. Mohr was replaced with new host Anthony Clark, but he is credited as a consultant. On the season finale of Last Comic Standing 4, Jay performed as a guest comedian. He had a recurring role on the TV series Ghost Whisperer, which had developed into a regular role. Mohr also appeared in an episode of the hit sitcom Scrubs - "My Own Private Practice Guy" in 2003 and in an episode of The West Wing in 2004. Parts of Mohr's stand up was featured in Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties.

Mohr starred as newly divorced dad Gary Brooks for two seasons on the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried. Paula Marshall played his ex-wife. In January 2010 he took the role as Billy in Clint Eastwood's thriller film Hereafter.^[4] He was also set to guest star on NBC's fall 2010 show, Outlaw.^[5]

Radio[link]

Mohr has contributed frequently to The Jim Rome Show as a caller and has also guest-hosted the program. His nickname on the show is "Slam Man", and, more recently, the derisive "Weigh More" and "Ham Man," "Salami Man" and -- when feeling particularly fancy -- "Prosciutto Man." Rome often lets him promote his upcoming comedy club appearances. Mohr finished in 7th place in the 2007 Smack-Off, 6th place in the 2008 Smack-Off, 10th place in the 2009 Smack-Off, 6th place in the 2010 Smack-Off, and 6th place in the 2011 Smack-Off. Jay is also known to do "drive-by" call-in's to the show to usually promote one of his stand-up shows or live events.

He was, at one time, a frequent guest on the Opie and Anthony radio program. His appearances occurred less frequently after Mohr moved to California due to the time difference between California and New York. Instead, Mohr began appearing as a caller more frequently on the Ron and Fez Show. In June 2008, Mohr's work schedule allowed him to once again become a frequent contributor on Opie and Anthony.

Podcast[link]

Mohr hosts his own podcast entitled Mohr Stories. The podcast was hosted on the SModcast Podcast Network,^[6] often taped in his garage, which he has dubbed "Fake Mustache Studios".^[7] On May 4, 2012, Mohr announced his departure from SModcast. He will be hosting Mohr Stories on his newly-formed network named "Fake Mustache Studios".^[8]

Other work[link]

In June 2004, Mohr's first book, Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches of Saturday Night Live, was published by Hyperion and chronicled his two years working on Saturday Night Live. In May 2010, publisher Simon & Schuster released Mohr's second book, No Wonder My Parents Drank: Tales from a Stand-Up Dad. He has also hosted the 2010 and 2011 NHL Awards.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life[link]

Jay Mohr, 2009

Mohr has a son, Jackson,^[9] from his six-year marriage with former model Nicole Chamberlain.

He married actress Nikki Cox on December 29, 2006.^[10] In December 2008, he filed legal papers requesting a legal name change to Jay Ferguson Cox Mohr, adding the surname of his wife.^[11] Mohr has been sober since 1996.^[12] He commented on the Late Late Show that he is of Scottish ancestry.^[13] Mohr was raised Presbyterian, but he converted to Roman Catholicism.^[14][15][16]

Mohr and Cox's son, Meredith Daniel Mohr, was born on May 5, 2011.^[17]

Filmography[link]

• Suburgatory (2011)
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2011)
• Outlaw (2010)
• Hereafter (2010)
• Monk (2009)
• Lonely Street (2009)
• Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust (2009) (Video game)
• Gary Unmarried (2008–2010) (TV)
• Saints Row 2 (2008) (Video game)
• Street Kings (2008)
• Even Money (2007)
• Christmas Do-Over (2006)
• Ghost Whisperer (2006–2008)
• Community Service (2006)
• Scarface: The World Is Yours (2006) (Video game)
• The Groomsmen (2006)
• Las Vegas (2005) (TV)
• King's Ransom (2005)
• Are We There Yet? (2005)
• Seeing Other People (2004)
• Shorties Watchin' Shorties (2004)
• CSI: Miami (2003)
• Scrubs (2003)
• Fastlane (2002) (TV)
• S1m0ne (2002)
• The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
• Speaking of Sex (2001)
• Black River (2001)
• Cherry Falls (2000)
• Family Guy (2000) (TV)
• Pay It Forward (2000)
• 200 Cigarettes (1999)
• Go (1999)
• Playing by Heart (1999)
• Action (1999) (TV)
• Small Soldiers (1998)
• Paulie (1998)
• Jane Austen's Mafia! (1998)
• From The Earth To The Moon (1998)
• Suicide Kings (1997)
• Picture Perfect (1997)
• Jerry Maguire (1996)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jay Mohr

• Jay Mohr official website
• Jay Mohr at the Internet Movie Database
• Jay Mohr SI.com archive
• Weekly column on FOXSports.com
• Jay Mohr on the Jim Rome Show

Tony Dovolani
Dovolani at the premiere for Earth in April 2009
Born	Driton Dovolani (1973-07-17) July 17, 1973 (age 38) Pristina, Kosovo
Occupation	Dancer
Website
Official website

Driton "Tony" Dovolani (born July 17, 1973) is an Albanian-American professional ballroom dancer, instructor and judge based in New York City. He is known for his involvement in the American version of Dancing with the Stars on ABC. Dovolani also portrayed a Latin bad boy in the hit film Shall We Dance? and spent time coaching actress Jennifer Lopez.

Early life[link]

Dovolani was born in the city of Pristina, Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia. He began folk dancing at the age of three. At the age of 15, his family moved to the United States. He got the opportunity to attend classes at a Fred Astaire Dance Academy.^[1]

[edit] Dancing with the Stars

Dovolani was partnered with professional wrestler Stacy Keibler in Season 2, where they made it to the finals and finished in third place. In Season 3, he was partnered with country music star Sara Evans. Midway through the season, Evans withdrew from the competition for personal reasons. He returned to the show on March 19 for Season 4, this time partnered with talk show host Leeza Gibbons.^[2] They were the third couple eliminated from the competition and finished in 9th place.

He competed in Season 5, partnered with actress Jane Seymour.^[3] They were the seventh couple eliminated from the competition and finished in sixth place. In Season 6, his partner was Broadway actress Marissa Jaret Winokur. They were eliminated in the semi-finals and finished in fourth place. Dovolani competed in Season 7 of Dancing with the Stars with actress Susan Lucci of All My Children as his partner. They were eliminated in Week 7 and came in sixth.

In the eighth season, he was originally paired with Nancy O'Dell, the then-host of Access Hollywood. However, on March 5 she withdrew from the competition because of a torn meniscus sustained during pre-season practice. With only two days to practice, Melissa Rycroft, fresh off her The Bachelor appearance, stepped in and became his new celebrity partner. They made it to the finals and took third place in the competition.

In the ninth season, he was partnered with former model and entrepreneur Kathy Ireland. They were the third couple to be eliminated, finishing in 14th place. For Season Ten, Dovolani was partnered with former reality star Kate Gosselin from Jon and Kate Plus 8/Kate Plus 8. They were the fourth couple eliminated, finishing in 8th place. For the eleventh season, he was partnered with The Hills star Audrina Patridge. They were the sixth couple eliminated, finishing in 7th place. For Season 12, his partner was talk show host Wendy Williams. They were the second couple eliminated, finishing in tenth place. For Season 13, his partner was singer Chynna Phillips. Phillips was eliminated in week four. For Season 14, his partner is tennis champion Martina Navratilova. They were the first couple to be eliminated.

Performances[link]

Season 2 - With celebrity partner: Stacy Kiebler

Season 3 - With celebrity partner: Sara Evans

Season 4 - With celebrity partner: Leeza Gibbons

Season 5 - With celebrity partner: Jane Seymour

Season 6 - With celebrity partner: Marissa Jaret Winokur

Season 7 - With celebrity partner: Susan Lucci

• Score was awarded by stand in judge Michael Flatley.

Season 8 - With celebrity partner: Melissa Rycroft

Season 9 - With celebrity partner: Kathy Ireland

• Score was awarded by stand in judge Baz Luhrmann.

Season 10 - With celebrity partner: Kate Gosselin