A. J. Benza
Encyclopedia
Alfred Joseph “A.J.” Benza (born June 2, 1962) is a gossip columnist
and television host
. He was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
, New York City
, though he moved with his family to West Islip, New York
on Long Island
shortly after his birth. He has two sisters, Rosalie and Lorraine.
He is married to his second wife, Virginia Folk, and the couple has one child, a girl named Roxy. He also has a son from his first marriage.
in 1980, Benza majored in journalism
at C.W. Post College
on Long Island.
and was soon hired full-time as a gossip columnist for that paper and eventually for the New York Daily News
. It was as a gossip columnist that he began appearing on E! Entertainment Television's The Gossip Show in the early 1990s. This led to appearances on talk shows such as Geraldo, Hard Copy
, Montel
, The Maury Povich Show, and various other television talk show
s. He was later fired from the New York Daily News by editor Pete Hamill
.
, which necessitated a move to Los Angeles, California
. It was on this show that Benza popularized the catchphrase "Fame, ain't it a bitch," which later became the title of his autobiography. The show ran for three seasons between 1998 and 2000
.
In 2001, Benza had a short-lived late-night talk show that also appeared on E! titled, A.J. After Hours, which did not garner very favorable reviews.
radio show, where he also sat in as a replacement for Jackie Martling
, as did dozens of other comedians and personalities. He was ultimately banned from the WXRK building for assaulting Stuttering John Melendez
and accidentally punching Stern's producer, Gary Dell'Abate
, during the altercation. The fight between the two began when a series of callers to the show made fun of Benza over the recent cancellation of his talk show. Benza claimed Melendez was only letting negative calls through and tried to strike Melendez, but most of the shot was taken by Dell'Abate, who got in the way. After his eventual replacement Artie Lange
was involved in "The Teddy Incident" and walked off the show, Benza jokingly asked Stern for a second chance.
He appeared as a co-host on the first five seasons of High Stakes Poker
(along with Gabe Kaplan
) on the GSN
. He was replaced by poker pro Kara Scott
for the show's sixth season. He wrote an open letter expressing his discontent with network executives at GSN in a post on his blog titled "Flop turn and river of shit".
Benza also had an acting role as L.C. Luco in the 2006
film Rocky Balboa
. He also is working on a second book which is tentatively titled Star Trip.
Benza appeared on the sixth season of Celebrity Fit Club
on VH1
, where he lost 12 lbs.
In 2008, Benza appeared in Gimme My Reality Show, a reality competition series on Fox Reality that followed a group of D-list celebrities with previous reality credentials as they battle for their chance to shine with their own show.
Gossip columnist
A gossip columnist is someone who writes a gossip column in a newspaper or magazine, especially a gossip magazine. Gossip columns are material written in a light, informal style, which relates the gossip columnist's opinions about the personal lives or conduct of celebrities from show business ,...
and television host
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
. He was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Bensonhurst is a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.-Geography:Sometimes erroneously thought to include all or parts of such neighborhoods as Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, and Borough Park, or to be defined by the streets where the concentration of...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, though he moved with his family to West Islip, New York
West Islip, New York
West Islip is a hamlet and CDP, located in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Situated on the south shore of Long Island, the population of the CDP was 29,907 at the time of the 2000 census.-Geography:West Islip is located at ....
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
shortly after his birth. He has two sisters, Rosalie and Lorraine.
He is married to his second wife, Virginia Folk, and the couple has one child, a girl named Roxy. He also has a son from his first marriage.
Education
After graduating from West Islip High SchoolWest Islip High School
West Islip High School is the public high school in the town of West Islip, in Suffolk County, New York on the South Shore of Long Island. The principal of the school is Dr. Anthony Bridgeman. The associate principal is Ms. Ellen Quaglio and the administrative dean is Ms. Joann Hilbert...
in 1980, Benza majored in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
at C.W. Post College
Long Island University C.W. Post Campus
The C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University is a private institution of higher education located in Brookville in Nassau County, New York, United States...
on Long Island.
Career
During college Benza began writing for NewsdayNewsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
and was soon hired full-time as a gossip columnist for that paper and eventually for the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
. It was as a gossip columnist that he began appearing on E! Entertainment Television's The Gossip Show in the early 1990s. This led to appearances on talk shows such as Geraldo, Hard Copy
Hard Copy
Hard Copy is an American tabloid news television show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. Hard Copy was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence....
, Montel
Montel
- People :*Blanche Montel , French actress*Eugène Montel , French politician*Patrick Montel, French sport journalist*Paul Montel , French mathematician*Pierre Montel , French politician...
, The Maury Povich Show, and various other television talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
s. He was later fired from the New York Daily News by editor Pete Hamill
Pete Hamill
Pete Hamill is an American journalist, novelist, essayist, editor and educator. Widely traveled and having written on a broad range of topics, he is perhaps best known for his career as a New York City journalist, as "the author of columns that sought to capture the particular flavors of New York...
.
E! Network Shows
Soon after leaving the paper Benza was offered a job hosting a new show at E! entitled Mysteries and ScandalsMysteries and Scandals
Mysteries and Scandals is an American television program hosted by A.J. Benza. The series was originally broadcast on the E! network from March 1998 until February 2001.-Synopsis:...
, which necessitated a move to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. It was on this show that Benza popularized the catchphrase "Fame, ain't it a bitch," which later became the title of his autobiography. The show ran for three seasons between 1998 and 2000
2000 in film
The year 2000 in film involved some significant events.The top grosser worldwide was Mission: Impossible II. Domestically in North America, Gladiator won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor ....
.
In 2001, Benza had a short-lived late-night talk show that also appeared on E! titled, A.J. After Hours, which did not garner very favorable reviews.
Howard Stern Radio Show fiasco
Benza later appeared on the Howard SternHoward Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
radio show, where he also sat in as a replacement for Jackie Martling
Jackie Martling
John Coger "Jackie" Martling, Jr. is an American comedian, comedy writer and radio personality. He is best known for being a writer on The Howard Stern Show from 1983 to 2001.-Early life and career:...
, as did dozens of other comedians and personalities. He was ultimately banned from the WXRK building for assaulting Stuttering John Melendez
John Melendez
John Edward Melendez , commonly known as "Stuttering John," is an American television writer and former radio personality. Prior to his work on television as a writer and announcer, Melendez was a regular on-air personality on The Howard Stern Show...
and accidentally punching Stern's producer, Gary Dell'Abate
Gary Dell'Abate
Gary Patrick Angelo Dell'Abate , also known as "Baba Booey", is an American radio producer, known for being the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show. His autobiography, They Call Me Baba Booey, was released on November 2, 2010.-Early life and career:Dell'Abate was born in Uniondale, New...
, during the altercation. The fight between the two began when a series of callers to the show made fun of Benza over the recent cancellation of his talk show. Benza claimed Melendez was only letting negative calls through and tried to strike Melendez, but most of the shot was taken by Dell'Abate, who got in the way. After his eventual replacement Artie Lange
Artie Lange
Arthur Steven "Artie" Lange, Jr. is an American actor, comedian and radio personality best known for his tenures with the The Howard Stern Show and the comedy sketch series MADtv....
was involved in "The Teddy Incident" and walked off the show, Benza jokingly asked Stern for a second chance.
Recent appearances
As of 2006, Benza hosts the reality show Cold Turkey II on ION Television.He appeared as a co-host on the first five seasons of High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker is a cash game poker television program broadcast by the cable television network GSN in the United States. The poker variant played on the show is no limit Texas hold 'em. It premiered on January 16, 2006 and ended on December 17, 2007 and it returns back on March 1, 2009 and is...
(along with Gabe Kaplan
Gabe Kaplan
Gabriel W. "Gabe" Kaplan is an American comedian, actor, poker commentator, and professional poker player.He was born in Brooklyn, New York...
) on the GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
. He was replaced by poker pro Kara Scott
Kara Scott
Kara Scott is a Canadian TV personality, journalist and poker player.Born in northern Alberta, Canada, Scott moved to the United Kingdom in 1999 and worked in the UK media until 2009 when she moved to California...
for the show's sixth season. He wrote an open letter expressing his discontent with network executives at GSN in a post on his blog titled "Flop turn and river of shit".
Benza also had an acting role as L.C. Luco in the 2006
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
film Rocky Balboa
Rocky Balboa (film)
Rocky Balboa is the sixth and final film in the Rocky franchise, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. The film, which was also written by Stallone who plays underdog boxer Rocky Balboa, is the sixth film in the Rocky series that began with the Academy Award-winning Rocky thirty years...
. He also is working on a second book which is tentatively titled Star Trip.
Benza appeared on the sixth season of Celebrity Fit Club
Celebrity Fit Club (U.S. TV series)
Celebrity Fit Club is a reality television series which follows eight overweight celebrities as they try to lose weight.This show is based on the British version, which aired on the ITV Network from 2002 until 2006...
on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, where he lost 12 lbs.
In 2008, Benza appeared in Gimme My Reality Show, a reality competition series on Fox Reality that followed a group of D-list celebrities with previous reality credentials as they battle for their chance to shine with their own show.