MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Bill Boggs, Four-time Emmy Award-winning TV host and Entertainment Industry Insider
Bill Boggs, a Philadelphia native, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning TV host and entertainment industry insider . He has been a major figure in the lifestyle, food, travel, consumer, sports, news, and celebrity reporting arenas for more than 25 years--hosting fifteen different TV shows, including of the New York based "Midday Live with Bill Boggs" and NBC'S "Weekend Today In New York," and the long-running Food Network hit, "Bill Boggs Corner Table," Bill has interviewed many of the most notable personalities of our time - including cultural icons, presidents, international leaders, writers, athletes, celebrity chefs, authors, and movie stars ranging from Gloria Swanson to Renee Zellweger.
Bill is the on-stage personality for Simon Super Chefs Live, a 24-city culinary food and wine show presented around the country in Simon Malls. On TV, he pioneered the first-ever national restaurant review show, "TV Diners" on Food Network. He's interviewed notable guests on CNBC, MSNBC, ESPN, and has had two series-- "Historic Traveler" and "Freeze Frame" on the Travel Channel. He is seen frequently as guest host of ''The Call" on NY1.
In 2003, Boggs debuted his one-man Off Broadway show, "Talk Show Confidential," now playing at the Triad Theater in NYC. It's the first theatrical production of its kind, dealing with the alternately bizarre and inspiring world of talk shows. The show features rare video clips, archival photos, and music blended with monologues. He starred in the Off Broadway hit, "Our Sinatra."
In April, 2007, his book, GOT WHAT IT TAKES? Successful People Reveal How They Made It To The Top, based on his interviews with 44 leaders in their fields, was published by HarperCollins. Bill is a sought-after motivational speaker--with stories of self empowerment drawn from first-hand experience with some of the world's most successful people.
He has written both essays and travel pieces for The New York Times Times, and is a featured columnist for BLACKTIE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. In 1980, Grosett & Dunlap published Bill's novel, At First Sight.
Boggs has always displayed unique versatility, illustrated by his roles as a game show host for CBS, a news anchor for WNBC-TV, moderator of a steamy late-night series on ABC-TV, and as host and executive producer of the syndicated FOX-TV series, Comedy Tonight. For nearly a decade Boggs also served as host of "Championship Boxing Update" For Showtime.
Bill began his talk show career in High Point, N.C. where he produced and hosted the syndicated ''Southern Exposure with Bill Boggs."
As an executive producer, he helped to create "COURT TV" and was also the executive producer of the ground breaking "Morton Downey,Jr Show."
Boggs has appeared as himself in several movies and television series, including: Trading Places, The Lemon Sisters, Eyes of Laura Mars, OZ, The Dave Chappelle Show, As The World Turns, Spin City, and Miami Vice.
In March of 2008, Boggs was named celebrity correspondent for the new syndicated television show, "My Generation." His profiles of well-known people will include elements inspired by his book, Got What it Takes?
Bill has a son, Trevor, and in 2000 was honored as a Father of the Year by the National Father's Day Committee. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and also has a Master's Degree from Penn's Annenberg School. He is on the Board of Governors of the Friars Club Of New York, a member of The New York Athletic Club and a member of The Yale Club.
He is married to Carol Campbell Boggs, the publisher of Hallmark Magazine. They live on the tranquil island of Manhattan. Whom You Know is pleased to present him as our latest Mover and Shaker!
Peachy Deegan interviewed Bill Boggs for Whom You Know.
Peachy Deegan: What has been your favorite TV shows to be on and why?
Bill Boggs: My favorite tv show is 'Family Guy" it has restored my faith in comedy writing. I started career in comedy and have a love of breakthrough material..I feel [that the] movie 'Bruno' WHICH OPENS FRIDAY will be the same. I ALSO TRY NOT TO MISS 'WASHINGTON WEEK IN REVIEW"
What kinds of lifestyles do you advocate?
BIG QUESTION, SMALL ANSWER: FOLLOW YOUR PASSION AND THE LIFE STYLE YOU PRODUCE WILL BE A HAPPY SUCCESSFUL ONE.
What are you proudest of?
BEING NAMED A FATHER OF THE YEAR IN 2000 NATIONAL FATHER'S DAY COMMITTEE, AND FOLLOWING MY PASSION AND MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE
Who has been your most favorite person to interview and why?
FRANK SINATRA AND IF YOU COME TO SEE MY PLAY AT THE TRIAD
'TALK SHOW CONFIDENTIAL' YOU WILL FIND OUT WHY.
What is the most effective way to motivate people?
SET THE BEST EXAMPLE YOURSELF
Who do you enjoy speaking to the most as a motivational speaker?
PEOPLE WHO NEED TO MOVE UP ONE SMALL NOTCH TO ACHIEVE MORE SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS--YOU SEE IT HAPPEN AS YOU TALK TO THEM! AND ALSO I LOVE TO SPEAK TO COLLEGE STUDENTS..I WROTE MY BOOK, 'GOT WHAT IT TAKES?' TO REACH THESE PEOPLE
How can you motivate people who are habitually late and/or procrastinators?
SHOW THEM HOW THEIR LIFE WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF THEY CHANGE AND HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING--THE HIDDEN PAYOFF IN THEIR BEHAVIOR THAT KEEPS THEM LIMITING THEMSELVES BY PROCRASTINATING, ETC.
What is your favorite place to be in NYC?
CENTRAL PARK BY THE WATER
What is your favorite shop?
BERDORF'S MEN'S STORE
What is your favorite drink?
DRY WHITE WINE
What is your favorite restaurant?
LE CIRQUE
What is your favorite NYC book?
'ACT ONE" ONE BY MOSS HART
What is your favorite thing to do in NYC that you can do nowhere else?
WALKING FROM THE EDGE OF THE EAST VILLAGE TO THE FAR EDGE OF THE WEST VILLAGE ON A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER EVENING AT AROUND 8 O CLOCK AS DAY CHANGES TO NIGHT
What do you think is most underrated and overrated here?
THE FEELING THAT NEW YORK IS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, IT'S NOT, IT'S WONDERFUL HERE, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ALSO WONDERFUL PLACES WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A STIMULATING AND FULFILLING LIFE, THERE IS A PROVINCIALISM IN THINKING ABOUT NYC BY MANY NEW YORKERS--LIKE PEOPLE ELSEWHERE ARE NOT REALLY ENJOYING LIFE CAUSE THEY ARE NOT IN NYC-- THAT'S IN CONTRAST TO THE THRUST AND ENERGY AND ADVENTUROUS NATURE OF THE CITY ITSELF.
AND UNDERRATED IS THE NATURAL FRIENDLINESS AND HELPFULNESS OF NEW YORKERS
What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
I AM AVAILABLE FOR SPEAKING, I'D LIKE READERS TO SEE MY PLAY AS MY GUEST--NEXT SHOW IS 8/14 AT TRIAD THEATER, EMAIL JYPARSON@YAHOO.COM FOR INFO AND FREE ADMISSION
How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers:
BILL@BILLBOGGS.COM AND THOROUGH MY WEBSITE WWW.BILLBOGGS.COM
