Jim Forbes

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A fourth-generation journalist, Jim Forbes (born April 1, 1955) may be best known culturally for his narration on VH1's Behind the Music, but he’s a multiple Emmy award-winning writer, producer and correspondent.

As a producer/director/writer, Forbes has contributed to numerous award winning and acclaimed programs for broadcast and cable networks including CNN, FOX, PBS, VH1, ESPN, and E! as well as programmers including Telepictures and United Television. He was awarded an ALMA for “Best Made for Television Documentary” for producing/directing and writing Selena, Behind the Music.

Forbes began his career as an investigative reporter for local television stations in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Connecticut and Los Angeles. During this first decade, he covered the significant events of the times, from the New Mexico State Penitentiary riot in 1980 to the LA Riots of 1992. Specializing in prisons, the environment and political scandals, Forbes’ reporting was directly responsible for prison reform in Oklahoma, indictments and environmental clean-ups in Connecticut and exposing political misdeeds in each locale.

Seeking a greater variety of subject matter and depth to story telling, Forbes formed his own production company in 1988, and continued his on-air work, hosting and working as a correspondent for shows on CNN, ESPN, E!, VH1, FNN and UPN. Simultaneously he continued to produce and write for the likes of FOX, Telepictures, United TV, VH1, ESPN, CNN, KCET and FNN.

Since 1997, Forbes has also narrated more than 300 hours of documentary programming, including VH1’s Emmy nominated series, Behind The Music, ESPN’s Emmy winning Sports Century as well as series for Discovery Channel, TLC, A&E, Court TV, TVG, E!, UPN and Animal Planet. In December 2007, Forbes narrated a DVD documentary of the thoroughbred racehorse Lava Man that was a stadium giveaway at Hollywood Park Racetrack.

Forbes narrated the Emmy winning 2000 season finale of The Simpsons, and episodes of Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, Late Night, Jimmy Kimmel Show, Chris Rock Show, Chris Isaac Show and Rosie O’Donnell Show. He is also the featured exhibit voice of the recently renovated Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.

Jim Forbes currently lives in the L.A. area.

Contents

[edit] Host/Correspondent

  • Host of E! Entertainment's Infamous, a weekly one-hour program detailing notorious celebrity scandals and crimes (2003).
  • Host of ESPN's K9 Nation, a weekly outdoors program featuring sporting dogs (2003).
  • Correspondent for CNN News Stand weekly newsmagazine, CNN & Fortune (1998-99).
  • Correspondent for Behind the Music episode on Selena and co-host of BTM Anniversary Special(1997, 2000).
  • Senior correspondent for United Television's daily syndicated show, Strange Universe, specializing in planetary science (1996-97).
  • Co-host of daily newsmagazine show, Financial News Network's The American Entrepreneur. Produced more than 100 biographical magazine profiles in 40 states (1989-91).

[edit] Narration

  • The History of Howard Stern (Sirius Satellite's Howard 100, 2007-2008)
  • VH1's Behind The Music (190-plus episodes from 1997 - 2007)
  • ESPN's Sports Century: The Year in Review (22 hours)
  • UPN's I’m Still Alive (2004)
  • Additional credits: The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, ABC Monday Night Football, Grey Worldwide Corporate History, NBC News Promos, The Chris Rock Show, It’s All Relative, Kim Possible, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, Viacom, Court TV, Disney, Nickelodeon, E!, TVG, Artisan Entertainment, The San Jose Sharks, The Columbus Blue Jackets, Nissan, Pepsi’s AMP, The Rocky Mountain News, Microsoft, Lipton and Jacuzzi.

[edit] Education

  • New York University, BS in journalism 1977. Minors in history and political science
  • Additional studies:
    • Northwestern University, 1973-74
    • Syracuse University, 1975
    • New School of Social Research, 1978

[edit] Related Links

[edit] References

  • James J. Forbes official bio
  • CSED profile page