PERSONALITY
Carson Daly poses with the
band NEXT on the set of "Tota
Request Live.”
He’s the young and attractive host of MTV’s “Total Request
Live." The show’s format and Daly’s personality have caused
the media to compare him to Dick Clark. “TRL” is one of MTV’s
top-rated shows, reaching over 1 million viewers as it counts down
the day’s hottest videos as selected by viewers. Daly is the epi
center of a tornado of teens who crowd Times Square, phone
lines and the Internet to get their 15 minutes of fame.
Daly is a former radio personality who spent less than three
years in the business before being snatched off the airwaves by
MTV. Some media watchers say that he’s partially responsible for
the network’s rise out of an early ’90s ratings slump. He’s affable
with his guests, never gets star struck and comes across as a reg
ular guy who happens to be on TV—one writer says he “doesn’t
quite seem to know what to do with his hands” when on the air. “I
have an honest relationship with the audience, and I think they
appreciate that, he told an interviewer this summer.
Now he’s broadening his scope on “TRL” and in other enter
tainment venues. Recently he signed a contract making him execu
tive producer of “TRL” through August of 2001. He’ll also have his
own production company, where he’ll develop shows for both MTV
and CBS. He hosted the Miss USA pageant earlier this year and is
working on the music production for a movie to be released in late
2001. And he still makes his appearance on “TRL," every day.
“My life has gone from being a six or seven appointment day
to pretty much out of control. It’s nuts,” he said.
Birth date: june 22, 1973
Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
Sibling: Sister, Quinn, 29, is a PR director for a computer company.
Education: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. Was going
to be a theology major. Left school in 1993.
Marital status: Single, was linked to Jennifer Love Hewitt and is
currently dating actress Tara Reid (American Pie).
High school experience: Daly was kind of shy, and skipped out
on the prom. He watched “60 Minutes” with his dad instead.
First job: Intern at a Palm Springs radio station.
Alternate careers: Daly is an excellent golfer and left college to
go pro, but went into radio instead. For a while he also wanted to
become a priest—but his mom talked him out of it.
Golfing buddy: Golfed with Tiger Woods in the American Junior
Golf Association.
Broadcasting history: Worked at four stations in two years,
including KOME in San Jose, Live 105 in San Francisco, and KROQ
in Los Angeles (where MTV recruited him).
On church and spirituality: “I go to church every Sunday and
give thanks. You know why? Because all these amazing things are
happening in my life, and I need to give thanks.” •
For more about Carson Daly, go to steamtunnels.net and
search for keyword “Carson Daly.”
5
l sieamiunneis.net