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Background:
“It’s important for people to realize I don’t want to be the It guy. I want to
crawl before I walk.” Carson Daly
Former MTV VJ Carson Daly, who built up his career on the show business as a DJ
for several radio stations, made his way to public attention as the host of
MTV’s “Total Request Live” (1998-2003), a mix of music video countdown and
celebrity interviews. Thanks to his captivating performance in the show, he
collected two Teen Choice Awards and a Kids’ Choice’s Blimp Award. Currently,
the presenter is hosting the late night talk show “Last Call with Carson Daly,”
which started airing back in 2002. Reportedly, Daly will continue emceeing for
the talk show until 2007.
Daly, who previously had a fervent ambition on golf, once became a caddy for O.J.
Simpson and played against Tiger Woods, his teammate in high school, in the
American Junior Golf Association. In contrary to his naming as the 24th person
in TV Guide’s 2005 “TV’s 25 Greatest Teen Idols,” the host was mentioned
adversely in an Eminem’s song, which attacked pop idol Christina Aguilera.
Off camera, Daly once had a romantic relationship with actress Jennifer Love
Hewitt (1997-1999). According to People magazine, Hewitt broke him up through
her publicist, who widely announced the split on radio. He then met actress Tara
Reid in March 2000, and they were engaged in October 2000. A year later,
however, they separated. Presently, he is seeing Jaime Pressly.
An Adept Golfer
Childhood and Family:
Born on June 22, 1973 in Santa Monica, California, Carson Jones Daly is the
second child of J.D. Daly (general sales manager of Harriman Chevrolet) and
Pattie Daly Caruso (local TV talk show host). His father died of bladder cancer
in 1979, and his mother later married to golf shop owner Richard Caruso.
Carson, whose first aspiration was to be a priest, was an avid golfer and was a
Top 10 golfer in the team of Santa Monica High School (his school). He then took
Theology program at the Loyola Marymount University, on a partial golf
scholarship. A year later, however, he left and moved to Palm Springs,
California. Although initially planning to be a pro golfer, he then encountered
the broadcasting business by chance.
Last Call
Career:
In Palm Springs, Carson Daly gave up his dream in pro golf and shifted gear
after being offered an internship at KCMJ, a local radio station. Accepting the
deal, Daly then worked at the station and later became a morning show producer.
He subsequently became an air DJ at a San Diego alternative station, at San
Francisco’s Live 105 (KITS) station, and eventually at KOME in San Jose, where
his first assignment was live reporting the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards
ceremony.
With such experiences on his portfolio, in 1996, Daly went to Los Angeles as a
DJ for widely known L.A. rock radio station KROQ (Krock). Naturally, the KROQ
stint brought him to the embrace of international channel MTV. Before long, he
appeared on the channel as the VJ (video jockey) for “MTV Live” (1997-1998),
“Motel California” (1997) and “12 Angry Viewers” (1997-1998).
In 1998, Daly began unfolding his magnetism through the request program “Total
Request Live” (TRL, 1998-2003), a combination of the top music videos countdown
and special appearances by celebrities, including ‘NSYNC, Janet Jackson, Enrique
Inglesias, John Travolta, the Wayans Brothers, Puff Daddy, and Madonna. His
hosting and interviewing style made him a two-time Teen Choice’s TV Choice
Personality, in 2000 and 2001. He later also received a Kids’ Choice’s Blimp
award for Favorite Television Actor. In the course of the show, the VJ took on
another responsibility, as the executive producer.
The host of The 1999 Miss Teen USA Pageant, Daly continued showing up in many
other MTV programs, including the animated telefilm Is It Fall Yet? (2000, as
the voice of David Sorenson) and the series “Making the Band” (2001), a reality
show about a boy band search contest. Outside MTV, he was involved in the
production of horror thriller Session 9 (2001) and served as the executive music
producer.
Additionally, he began a TV talk show program in 2002, called “Last Call with
Carson Daly.” The show aired late night on NBC, and presented many faces from
the worlds of TV, film and music as its guest. The program proved successful,
and Daly decided to bow out from MTV’s TRL to focus on his new project.
Featuring interesting guests and Daly’s distinguished performance, the talk show
is still broadcast up to now. In 2004, he agreed to extend his hosting duties
for Last Call until 2007.
Meanwhile, his famed name led to his appearance in the comedy telefilm Windy
City Heat (2003), as himself. Daly, who emceed the 2004 Radio Music Awards (TV),
also made other guest appearances as himself in other TV program, such as the
reality series “The Apprentice” (2004) and “The Ashlee Simpson Show” (2005), as
well as the sitcom “My Name Is Earl” (2005).
Awards:
- Kids’ Choice: Blimp Award—Favorite Television Actor, “Total Request
Live,” 2001
- Teen Choice: TV - Choice Personality, “Total Request Live,” 2001
- Teen Choice: TV - Choice Personality, “Total Request Live,” 2000
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