Alan Kalter
Encyclopedia
Alan Kalter is an American television announcer from New York City
. He is best known
as the announcer for the Late Show with David Letterman
since September 5, 1995.
on September 5, 1995. He announces the guests at the top of each show and the one-liner
during the Worldwide Pants
title card after the credits, and regularly acts in comedic sketches.
Kalter has done hundreds of voiceovers for national radio and television commercials and was also the lead continuity voice for the USA Network
throughout much of the 1980s (his voice can still be heard on USA when the disclaimer
before infomercials is read). Previously, he was the announcer for many New York
-based television shows including To Tell the Truth
, The $10,000 Pyramid, The Money Maze
, and The $128,000 Question
. All of those series (except The Money Maze) were taped at some point in the Ed Sullivan Theater
, where the Late Show is now produced. Additionally, episodes of Truth announced by Kalter were taped in NBC
Studio 6A, where Letterman later originated Late Night
. Kalter also replaced Bill Wendell
as announcer on both Truth and the Late Show.
, Kalter's antics will leave host David Letterman
in a state of amusement, disgust, or total confusion.
er, born in 1943 in Brooklyn and raised in Little Neck and Cedarhurst
. He was an English
teacher at Baldwin
High School on Long Island in the late 1960s, and was also the voice of the Michelin Man. He attended Hobart College
in Geneva, New York
and began his broadcasting career on local radio stations.
Kalter resides in Stamford, Connecticut
. After his long-time marriage to Carol Cepler ended in divorce, he married for the second time to Peggy Masterson in 2003. As of 2010, he has five grandchildren.
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...
. He is best known
as the announcer for the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
since September 5, 1995.
Career
Kalter, nicknamed "Big Red" and "TV's Uncle Jerry", began his stint as the "voice" of the Late Show with David LettermanLate Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
on September 5, 1995. He announces the guests at the top of each show and the one-liner
One-liner joke
A one-liner is a joke that is delivered in a single line. A good one-liner is said to be pithy.Comedians and actors use this comedic method as part of their act, e.g...
during the Worldwide Pants
Worldwide Pants
Worldwide Pants Incorporated is an American television and film production company owned by comedian and talk show host David Letterman. Its ongoing productions are Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson...
title card after the credits, and regularly acts in comedic sketches.
Kalter has done hundreds of voiceovers for national radio and television commercials and was also the lead continuity voice for the USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
throughout much of the 1980s (his voice can still be heard on USA when the disclaimer
Disclaimer
A disclaimer is generally any statement intended to specify or delimit the scope of rights and obligations that may be exercised and enforced by parties in a legally recognized relationship...
before infomercials is read). Previously, he was the announcer for many New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based television shows including To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
, The $10,000 Pyramid, The Money Maze
Money Maze
The Money Maze is an American television game show seen on ABC from December 23, 1974 to June 27, 1975. The show was hosted by Nick Clooney and was announced by Alan Kalter . It was produced by Daphne-Don Lipp Productions, of which Dick Cavett was a principal.The object of the game was to negotiate...
, and The $128,000 Question
The $128,000 Question
The $128,000 Question was an American game show which aired from 1976-1978 in weekly syndication. This revival of The $64,000 Question was produced by Cinelar and distributed by Viacom Enterprises....
. All of those series (except The Money Maze) were taped at some point in the Ed Sullivan Theater
Ed Sullivan Theater
The Ed Sullivan Theater, located at 1697-1699 Broadway between West 53rd and West 54th, in Manhattan, is a venerable radio and television studio in New York City...
, where the Late Show is now produced. Additionally, episodes of Truth announced by Kalter were taped in NBC
NBC Studios
The NBC Studios in New York, New York is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, the historic GE Building houses the headquarters of the NBC television network, its parent General Electric, and NBC's flagship station WNBC , as well as cable news channel MSNBC.When NBC Universal relocated,...
Studio 6A, where Letterman later originated Late Night
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
. Kalter also replaced Bill Wendell
Bill Wendell
Bill Wendell was an NBC television staff announcer for almost his entire professional career.-Biography:...
as announcer on both Truth and the Late Show.
Late Show
On the Late Show, Kalter regularly performs in scripted comedy bits, in addition to duties which are more typical of an announcer. He is often portrayed alternately as a sexual deviant (often while grinning mischievously) or as a powerless sap who is beaten to within an inch of his life and left rolling on the ground writhing in pain. He is also often compelled to arbitrarily sing, rant in hysteria, or disrobe as he walks off stage. In many of the sketchesSketches on Letterman
CBS's Late Show with David Letterman regularly features different sketches that follow the monologue and precede interviews with guests. Often these are repeated absurdist segments, involving various cast members, Dave's friends, audience participation, edited or contrived news or promotional...
, Kalter's antics will leave host David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
in a state of amusement, disgust, or total confusion.
Personal life
Kalter is a native New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
er, born in 1943 in Brooklyn and raised in Little Neck and Cedarhurst
Cedarhurst, New York
Cedarhurst is a village in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, New York, in the USA. The population was 6,592 at the 2010 United States Census. The village is named after a grove of trees that once stood at the post office....
. He was an English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
teacher at Baldwin
Baldwin, Nassau County, New York
Baldwin is a hamlet located in the town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 24,033 at the 2010 census.Baldwin is also a station on the Babylon Branch of the Long Island Rail Road....
High School on Long Island in the late 1960s, and was also the voice of the Michelin Man. He attended Hobart College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
in Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
and began his broadcasting career on local radio stations.
Kalter resides in Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
. After his long-time marriage to Carol Cepler ended in divorce, he married for the second time to Peggy Masterson in 2003. As of 2010, he has five grandchildren.
Filmography
- EdEd (TV series)Ed is an NBC television program co-produced by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated, NBC Productions, and Viacom Productions that aired from 2000 to 2004....
(2000) - Get Well SoonGet well soonGet well soon may refer to:* Get Well Soon , British sitcom* Get Well Soon , German band...
(2001) as "Announcer" - $128,000 QuestionThe 64,000 Dollar QuestionThe $64,000 Question is an American game show broadcast from 1955-1958, which became embroiled in the scandals involving TV quiz shows of the day...
(1976) TV Series (uncredited) as "Announcer" - The Money MazeMoney MazeThe Money Maze is an American television game show seen on ABC from December 23, 1974 to June 27, 1975. The show was hosted by Nick Clooney and was announced by Alan Kalter . It was produced by Daphne-Don Lipp Productions, of which Dick Cavett was a principal.The object of the game was to negotiate...
(1974) TV Series as "Announcer"