John Kerwin

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John Kerwin is a fifteen-time award winning late night talk show host and writer. Raised in Briarwood, Queens, John began performing as a stand-up comedian at Catch a Rising Star, sharing the stage with contemporaries such as Jon Stewart, Rosie O’Donnell, Ray Romano, Denis Leary and Janeane Garofalo. After majoring in creative writing at Cornell University, John relocated to Los Angeles, where he became the house emcee at the Hollywood Improv. John also headlined at comedy clubs throughout the country where he continued to shape and hone his comic style and impromptu humor.

John’s “man in the street” series, “Meet Your Favorite Star,” became a hit on local television. In these segments, he set out to explore the country’s obsession with celebrity by pretending to be notables such as actor Ben Affleck, singer Lenny Kravitz, and others. In his follow up series, “Breaking News,” John posed as a news reporter, interviewing locals on faux breaking news segments that varied from the thoughtful to the outrageous. These led to his own series on Time Warner Cable, The John Kerwin Show, in which John served as host and head writer.

Next, John co-created and hosted pilots for The Yesterday Show with John Kerwin. In this “retro” talk show, John’s featured guests included celebrities such as Dick Cavett, Cheryl Ladd, Kathy Griffin, Charo, and others, and was specifically geared for “Gen X” viewers. Directing the show was Liz Plonka, Emmy winning director of Late Night with Conan O’Brien for seven years, The Wayne Brady Show, and currently the alternate director on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. John also headed the writing team, which included four-time Emmy nominee Gabe Abelson, who previously was the head monologue writer for The Late Show with David Letterman.

John continues to serve as host of The John Kerwin Show, and his recent guests have included Elliott Gould, David Carradine, Sean Young, Eric Roberts, Bai Ling, Tila Tequila, Kelly LeBrock and many others. The show’s talent pool includes professionals from the world of late night talk shows, including two-time Emmy nominee Tony DeSena, longtime comedy writer for The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, Late Night with David Letterman, and head writer on Later with Greg Kinnear, and Marvin Silbermintz, longtime writer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.