Brian Balthazar
Encyclopedia
Brian Balthazar is a Pop Culture expert, comic and television panelist frequently seen on television as the editor of the website POPgoesTheWeek.com. He often appears on The Wendy Williams Show
, The Today Show
on NBC
, TV Guide Network and Showbiz Tonight
on HLN. He also works off camera as a production executive on a number of network and cable television programs. Previously, he launched the fourth hour of the TODAY Show with Kathie Lee Gifford
and Hoda Kotb.
, to parents Harrison and Theresa Balthaser. At age 11, he became interested in theater after being cast in the title role of Oliver in a regional production of the show.
Balthazar graduated from Honesdale High School
and went on to attend Syracuse University
where he studied Speech Communication (now referred to by the College as Rhetorical Studies.) During part of his college career, he was one of the students who masqueraded as the school's mascot, Otto The Orange
.
In 1999, he took an overnight writing job at Boston NBC affiliate WHDH
in Boston, Massachusetts writing 20-second news stories.
In 2000, Balthazar took a job at MSNBC as a producer, working out of the network's then Secaucus, New Jersey
headquarters. In 2001 he became a senior producer. After travelling the world to cover post-9/11 news stories,
He took a job at NBC's Today Show in 2002. In 2007 he became the Senior Producer on the fourth hour of the Today Show, launching the program with hosts Kathie Lee Gifford
and Hoda Kotb.
He left NBC
in 2008 to supervise several real estate and design shows for HGTV
.
comedy clubs at night while producing during the day.
While working as a producer on the Today Show, Balthazar met and worked with Stacy London, the host of TLC
's What Not to Wear. At the time she was developing a late night talk show entitled Fashionably Late With Stacy London
. At her recommendation, Balthazar met with the show's producers and became the program's warmup comic, taping multiple episodes while continuing to produce for NBC
.
He went on to be the warmup comic for the 2008 season finale of The Next Food Network Star
. and MTV's Man and Wife with Fatman Scoop
.
and NBC
. In 2004, he was an on-the-street satirical correspondent for the 2004 Democratic National Convention
for Countdown With Keith Olbermann.
. In 2006, he profiled Joan Rivers
, taking her on a series of online dates for the Today Show. He made several other appearances, primarily in taped segments, during 2006 and 2007.
In 2009, Balthazar launched a pop culture website named POP Goes The Week. As the site's editor, he began appearing as a panelist on The Joy Behar Show
and Showbiz Tonight
. He frequently returns to MSNBC
as a guest entertainment reporter, and sometimes appears on The Wendy Williams Show
in the program's 'Scoop' segment. He often appears as a commentator and expert on television and pop culture on the weekend edition of the Today Show.
Balthazar has appeared on The Dr Oz Show as an on the street and undercover reporter, and appears as a comic on TV Guide Network entertainment specials.
POP Goes The Week! www.PopGoesTheWeek.com
Brian Balthazar's YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/user/bbalthazar
The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
, The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, TV Guide Network and Showbiz Tonight
Showbiz Tonight
Showbiz Tonight is an American entertainment news program on HLN .Showbiz Tonight is hosted by A.J. Hammer at CNN New York. The show reports and debates celebrity entertainment news stories and controversies, along with social networking segments involving viewer interaction via social networks and...
on HLN. He also works off camera as a production executive on a number of network and cable television programs. Previously, he launched the fourth hour of the TODAY Show with Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
and Hoda Kotb.
Early life
Balthazar was born Brian Balthaser in Honesdale, PennsylvaniaHonesdale, Pennsylvania
Honesdale is a borough in and the county seat of Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located northeast of Scranton. The population was 4,874 at the 2000 census....
, to parents Harrison and Theresa Balthaser. At age 11, he became interested in theater after being cast in the title role of Oliver in a regional production of the show.
Balthazar graduated from Honesdale High School
Honesdale high school
Honesdale High School is a public, four-year, regional high school serving grades 9-12 in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States, as a part of the Wayne Highlands School District....
and went on to attend Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
where he studied Speech Communication (now referred to by the College as Rhetorical Studies.) During part of his college career, he was one of the students who masqueraded as the school's mascot, Otto The Orange
Otto the Orange
Otto the Orange is the mascot for the Syracuse Orange, the athletic teams of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, USA. Otto is an anthropomorphic orange, wearing a large blue hat and blue pants. Traditionally regarded as gender-neutral, though "Otto" is typically a male name...
.
Writing and Producing
Balthazar struggled with his career path in the early 1990s, taking several short lived jobs, which included that of a publicity assistant for a trance medium, a toll-free customer service agent, and singing and dancing waiter.In 1999, he took an overnight writing job at Boston NBC affiliate WHDH
WHDH
The call letters WHDH may represent:* WHDH : a television station in Boston, Massachusetts that currently exists...
in Boston, Massachusetts writing 20-second news stories.
In 2000, Balthazar took a job at MSNBC as a producer, working out of the network's then Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 16,264. Located within the New Jersey Meadowlands, it is the most suburban of the county's municipalities, though large parts of the town are dedicated to light manufacturing, retail, and...
headquarters. In 2001 he became a senior producer. After travelling the world to cover post-9/11 news stories,
He took a job at NBC's Today Show in 2002. In 2007 he became the Senior Producer on the fourth hour of the Today Show, launching the program with hosts Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
and Hoda Kotb.
He left NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 2008 to supervise several real estate and design shows for HGTV
HGTV
HGTV , is a cable-television network operating in the United States and Canada, broadcasting a variety of home and garden improvement, maintenance, renovation, craft and remodeling shows...
.
Standup Comedy
During his tenure as a producer, Balthazar enrolled in a standup comedy class as a means of forcing himself to get onstage as a comic. He eventually began performing at New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
comedy clubs at night while producing during the day.
While working as a producer on the Today Show, Balthazar met and worked with Stacy London, the host of TLC
TLC (TV channel)
TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...
's What Not to Wear. At the time she was developing a late night talk show entitled Fashionably Late With Stacy London
Fashionably Late with Stacy London
Fashionably Late with Stacy London was a late-night talk and variety show on TLC hosted by Stacy London. As of February 8, 2008, the show no longer appears on TLCs TV show schedule.The show aired weekly on Friday night at 10 pm EST...
. At her recommendation, Balthazar met with the show's producers and became the program's warmup comic, taping multiple episodes while continuing to produce for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
He went on to be the warmup comic for the 2008 season finale of The Next Food Network Star
The Next Food Network Star
The Next Food Network Star is a reality television series produced by and aired on the Food Network in the United States that awards the winner his or her own series on the Food Network...
. and MTV's Man and Wife with Fatman Scoop
Fatman Scoop
Isaac Freeman III, better known by his stage name Fatman Scoop is a hip hop promoter and radio personality famed for his on-stage rough, raw, loud voice....
.
On Camera: Comedy, Gossip, and Entertainment Journalism
Balthazar occasionally appeared as an offbeat features reporter on both MSNBCMSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. In 2004, he was an on-the-street satirical correspondent for the 2004 Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
for Countdown With Keith Olbermann.
. In 2006, he profiled Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
, taking her on a series of online dates for the Today Show. He made several other appearances, primarily in taped segments, during 2006 and 2007.
In 2009, Balthazar launched a pop culture website named POP Goes The Week. As the site's editor, he began appearing as a panelist on The Joy Behar Show
The Joy Behar Show
The Joy Behar Show is a news program and talk show that premiered on HLN on September 29, 2009. The show is hosted by Joy Behar, who is one of the five co-hosts of The View. The show originally aired in the 9:00PM EST slot and 8:00PM CST, but was moved to 10:00PM EST in January 2011...
and Showbiz Tonight
Showbiz Tonight
Showbiz Tonight is an American entertainment news program on HLN .Showbiz Tonight is hosted by A.J. Hammer at CNN New York. The show reports and debates celebrity entertainment news stories and controversies, along with social networking segments involving viewer interaction via social networks and...
. He frequently returns to MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
as a guest entertainment reporter, and sometimes appears on The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
in the program's 'Scoop' segment. He often appears as a commentator and expert on television and pop culture on the weekend edition of the Today Show.
Balthazar has appeared on The Dr Oz Show as an on the street and undercover reporter, and appears as a comic on TV Guide Network entertainment specials.
External links
Personal Website: www.BrianBalthazar.comPOP Goes The Week! www.PopGoesTheWeek.com
Brian Balthazar's YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/user/bbalthazar