Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Former KMTV Anchor Gets Ready To Host 'The Mole'

The buzz is growing over Jon Kelley's new job hosting "The Mole."

Kelley is a former sports anchor at KMTV and running back at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who also co-authored a book (with former KPTM sports anchor Tom Zenner) "Breaking Into Broadcasting," a guide to landing one's first (or next) on-air job in television.

The Mole premiers Monday, June 2 at 9 p.m. CST.

According to ABC press materials, Kelley co-hosted "Extra's" one-hour weekend edition and was the show's primary correspondent for the daily show from 2001 through 2007. In December, he co-hosted ABC's "Holiday with the Stars" and just recently co-hosted ABC's "All-star Tribute to Movies" on Oscar Sunday. Kelley's diverse broadcast career has spanned over 15 years in news, sports and entertainment.

Before joining "Extra," Kelley served as the main anchor for the Fox Sports Network's "The National Sports Report," and the lead anchor for the weekly series, "Baseball Today." Prior to Fox, Kelley was the lead sports anchor on the NBC owned-and-operated station WMAQ-TV in Chicago.

During his eight years in Chicago, Kelley was widely regarded as one of the region's top sports anchors and directors, covering the World Championship Bulls in all six of the team's title seasons. In addition to his nightly sportscasts, Kelley hosted the number one rated "Sports Sunday," WMAQ-TV's half-hour, expanded sports highlights program. There he shared the anchor desk with some of the city's most dynamic sports and entertainment personalities, including NBA rebounding star Dennis Rodman and "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno. Kelley joined WMAQ-TV as a sports reporter and weekend anchor in April 1991.

While at WMAQ-TV, Kelley was part of a sports team that earned such prestigious awards the Chicago/Midwest Emmy award for producing and anchoring his hour-long special highlighting the Chicago Bulls' quest for a fifth championship. Kelley also received the Peter Lisagor Award for Sports Journalism and an Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Award for Best Sportscast.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe some day Travis can host "Biggest Loser"? Looking slim Trav

Anonymous said...

Wow, nice resume. Is he FROM Omaha? I had seen him on-air a handful of times and never had a clue that he worked at KMTV.

Anonymous said...

He's a graduate of Lincoln Southeast and UN-L.

Think Perrault will ever get his own show, whether on radio or TV?

Anonymous said...

Get my own show?

GET MY OWN SHOW?

I have the NUMBER ONE RATED sports SHOW IN OMAHA you clown!

This guy is nothing compared to me and my greatness. Nothing comes close. Nothing.

I cause the sun to rise and set. I cause the waves in the ocean. I cause you to quiver and shake and the mere hint of my voice on the radio.

Sincerely,

The Perrault

Anonymous said...

Jon was at KMTV in the late 80s. He looks as mighty fine now as he did then...

Anonymous said...

Agreeing with 6:43 here, the man looks good.

I've watched him on Extra, and something else but hell if I can remember what it was, he's got a great presence !

Anonymous said...

As much presence/charisma as Travis or the Perrault?

I know the answer, because Jon is a great guy, but I just like to watch the answers fly in to questions like that :-)

Anonymous said...

great local story.. oh wait.. they didn't make a mention of his time in omaha besides in the title...

i don't remember him as a RB for Nebraska or on TV in Omaha..

Anonymous said...

Charisma is not a word I had associated with Trav

Anonymous said...

John on the short list of Omaha broadcasting alumni who are currently succeeding in bigger markets today (like former WOWT anchor's John McCaa and Colleen Williams in Dallas and L.A. respectively, and former KMTV sports reporter Dale Hansen who now is sports director for the ABC affiliate in Dallas.)

Anonymous said...

He lettered at RB at NU from 1985-87. Jon, not Travis.

I believe he also was on 10/11 Wrong in Lincoln for a time. His career certainly has taken a better path than fellow LSE attendee Rose.

What ever happened to Rose after he left Wichita, is he still in KC? Haven't heard anything about him in years.

Anonymous said...

ubertool -- don't know if your radio doesn't get the AM band anymore, but he's still on KFAB mornings.

Anonymous said...

Isn't the question really why is he still on the air? Maybe he should politely excuse himself from this gig as well for, ahem, "family reasons."

Anonymous said...

2:03
please explain your thoughts.. after all, you are anonymous.

Anonymous said...

To 2:03 PM - Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Please pick up your 'I understand sarcasm and the others don't' trophy in the lobby. Can't believe it took someone so long to understand the joke. Too many Larry Literal's out here who can't take a goof.

Anonymous said...

Ubertool -- can you just bring the trophy over to my house when you deliver my pizza tonight? I'll tip ya' an extra $5 so you can make sure and pay your AOL bill on time this month.

And this time...don't forget the extra pepper and cheese.

Anonymous said...

I went to J school with JK back in the 80's. He was a real gym rat, always working as many KRNU radio shifts as he could. He was a model the profs used to inspire the more lazy type of students like myself. He sort of got the dumb jock wrap back then. But I'll give him props for the hard work and ambition even if he's doing reality hosting and other kinds of fluff journalism. I'm sure he makes a lot more $$$ than us local hacks.

Anonymous said...

Ubertool -- You ripped me off last night when you brought our pizza. Not only was the award dented, but there was no mushrooms on my supreme pizza. Next time, I'm calling the other pizza place up the block.

Anonymous said...

Ubertool -- You ripped me off last night when you brought our pizza. Not only was the award dented, but there was no mushrooms on my supreme pizza. Next time, I'm calling the other pizza place up the block.

Anonymous said...

Only if you can get the Brummerphile to give us an update on Sheila. Is her bio still on the web site? Is her hair still whatever color it was? Has she seen any good movies lately? Does she think Jess would rule with her own show that will replace Mix Tape?

Anonymous said...

Brummer better think I'd rule !

It might look bad on my resume having assualt charges on a T.V. personality...but then again it might look cool as shit too.

I would have to get a lot of publicity for it though...ok I should stop thinking about how to turn that into a positive.


Anyway...Perrault bored me to tears with all that inbred horse shit today.

Anonymous said...

Hey is Z-92 going to have a Z-bash this year???

Anonymous said...

Jess, glad to see you've seen the light on the vapidity of Perrault. How much of the show did/could you make it through?

And Craven, why not call Z-92? You should be listening to satellite radio anyway, as everyone should.

Anonymous said...

Saw John at the airport today.

Anonymous said...

At 9:15 AM Uber Tool said...
Only if you can get the Brummerphile to give us an update on Sheila. Is her bio still on the web site? Is her hair still whatever color it was? Has she seen any good movies lately? Does she think Jess would rule with her own show that will replace Mix Tape?

Hmmm... so now you're stalking Brummer's stalker???

Why am I not surprised? Now who's going to stalk you?

Anonymous said...

I will stalk ubertool, until he succumbs to my sexual advances and becomes my sex puppy.

Sincerely,

The Perrault

Anonymous said...

Well, let's see... Jess is out because she's happily married. Perrault? Please, he's already pursuing/being pursued by more nuts than a Payday bar. I prefer to avoid sausage fests.

Don't figure I'll be stalked, and I'm not stalking Brummski, just recapping what the Brummerphile has already updated us on.

Oh well, guess I'll just stay here in the basement and remain unpursued.

Anonymous said...

Hey May 17, 3:40 PM - Who's John? Did you mean Jon?

Anonymous said...

Now wait a minute Uber, I may be married but I still have rights to a stalker dammit ! I've only had one the past year, I feel sort of cheated.

Anonymous said...

Is that an invite? :-)

Anonymous said...

Feel free to stalk away!

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