Byron Allen

For the Minnesota and Iowa politician, see Byron G. Allen.
Byron Allen
Birth name Byron Allen Folks
Born (1961-04-22) April 22, 1961
Detroit, Michigan
Medium Stand-up, television
Nationality American
Years active 1979-present
Genres Observational comedy
Subject(s) Everyday life, American culture
Spouse Jennifer Lucas (2007–present)
Children 3
Notable works and roles Co-Host of Real People
Host of The Byron Allen Show
Host of Entertainers with Byron Allen
Host of Comics Unleashed

Byron Allen Folks, better known professionally as just Byron Allen (born April 22, 1961), is an American comedian, television producer, and the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of the U.S. television production company Entertainment Studios.

Early life and education

Allen was born in Detroit, Michigan.[1] He began doing stand-up comedy as a teenager in Los Angeles, California.

Allen’s interest in show business began during his childhood, when he would accompany his mother to NBC studios in Burbank where she worked as a publicist.[2] Free to roam the sound stages, Allen would sneak onto The Tonight Show set, sit behind Johnny Carson’s desk and play talk show host.[3]

At age 14, Allen put together his first stand-up routine and began appearing on amateur night at comedy clubs throughout the Los Angeles area.[4]

He graduated from Los Angeles High School.

Career

Comedian Jimmie Walker saw Allen's stand-up act and was so impressed that he invited the 14-year-old comedian to join his comedy writing team alongside promising young comedians Jay Leno and David Letterman. At age 18, Allen made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Allen holds the distinction of being the youngest standup comedian ever to have performed on the show. Watching Allen’s network television debut were the producers of NBC’s Real People, who were so taken with his comfortable, relaxed style that they made him an offer the very next day to co-host the show. While Allen was getting his feet wet as a television personality, he was also learning the ins and outs of television production. The business of advertising and syndication, he learned in the trenches by personally calling station owners, programming directors and advertisers, one-by-one and market-by-market from his dining room table.

His show "Jammin" was picked up as "Kickin' It with Byron Allen" in 1992, and by the end of its run had made the list of longest-running United States television series. Allen’s foray into television production began in Los Angeles in 1993 when he founded Entertainment Studios with the launch of his first series — Entertainers with Byron Allen—a weekly, one-hour series profiling the current stars of film and television. Entertainment Studios produces, distributes, and sells advertising for 32 television series, making it the largest independent producer/distributor of first-run syndicated programming for broadcast television globally. Among the company’s top programs are: Emmy-winning Cars.TV, Emmy-nominated America's Court with Judge Ross and We the People With Gloria Allred,[5] Comics Unleashed, Comedy.TV, Beautiful Homes & Great Estates, Pets.TV, Recipe.TV, Career Day and The Young Icons. His company also made its first foray into scripted programming, producing two weekly primetime sitcoms that debuted in September 2012: The First Family[6] and Mr. Box Office.[7]

In 2009, Allen became the first television entrepreneur to own and launch a portfolio of six 24-hour HD television networks simultaneously. The six networks include Pets.TV, Comedy.TV, Recipe.TV, Cars.TV, ES.TV, and MyDestination.TV.[8]

Personal life

Allen married Jennifer Lucas in 2007 and has three children: two daughters, Chloe Ava (born on August 22, 2008)[9] and Olivia Rose (born on April 7, 2010); and a son, Lucas Byron (born on December 11, 2012).[10]

References

  1. ↑ "IMDb Biography". IMDb.
  2. ↑ Johnson, Allan. "Byron Allen Followed Destiny (and Carson) into Late Night TV". Orlando Sentinel.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Allan. "Byron Allen Followed Destiney (and Carson) into Late Night TV". Orlando Sentinel.
  4. ↑ Johnson, Allan. "Byron Allen Followed Destiny (and Carson) into Late Night TV". Orlando Sentinel.
  5. ↑ "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announces "The 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Award Nominations"". The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 9, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  6. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (May 3, 2012). "Comedy Series Starring Bill Bellamy Eying 100-Episode Order, Fall Launch". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
  7. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 21, 2012). "Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Clears Syndicated Sitcom Block For Fall '12 Launch". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  8. ↑ Team, Deadline (April 9, 2012). "Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios Signs Distribution Deal With Vivicast Media". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  9. ↑ Wihlborg, Ulrica (2008-09-26). "Talk Show Host Byron Allen & Wife Welcome a Girl - Babies". People.com. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
  10. ↑ "Byron Allen Welcomes Daughter Olivia Rose – Moms & Babies – Celebrity Babies and Kids - Moms & Babies - People.com". Celebritybabies.people.com. 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2014-05-23.

External links

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