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Ant (comedian)
Encyclopedia
ANT is an American
stand-up comedian
and actor
. ANT prefers his name spelled in all capital letters.
ANT performed at comedy clubs across the USA beginning in 1991. In 1995, he was a semi regular cast member on the WB series Unhappily Ever After
, spending 4 seasons on the sitcom.
With the end of that show and looking for ways to supplement his income, ANT recruited several men to become internet models. His involvement in the voyeur cam business is documented in the 2001
film WebCam Boys, which he also co-produced and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
ANT appeared as a contestant on Last Comic Standing
, and has appeared in six of that show's seven seasons (season 1, 2 and 3 contestant, 4 guest and 5 a talent judge). That same year, he released a comedy album on Comedy Central Records, Follow My Ass. In 2005, he released the comedy DVD, "ANT: America's Ready" worldwide.
He was the host of VH1
reality series
Celebrity Fit Club and was a regular judge of talent on Steve Harvey's Big Time
. His television series, U.S. of ANT
, premiered on MTV Network
's gay-targeted Logo
cable channel in the summer of 2006. ANT also frequently appears as a commentator on such shows as VH1's Best Week Ever
and CNBC
's Dennis Miller
, and is a regular guest on The Tyra Banks Show
, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as The Howard Stern Show.
In 2007, he appeared along with Snoop Dogg
as a guest star on MTV
's sketch comedy show Short Circuitz
.
ANT also appeared as a regular celebrity guest on the game show, To Tell The Truth
, alongside Jackée Harry
, Meshach Taylor
and John O'Hurley
.
In 2008, he was a contestant on VH1
's reality competition Celebracadabra
, where celebrities trained with established magicians, and competed in an elimination-format contest. ANT has a fear of clowns (more commonly known as Coulrophobia
). This was revealed in the second Episode while looking for a costume. ANT was eliminated in episode 2 and brought back in episode 4, but did not go on to win.
ANT is "pro-the-death penalty" which he mentioned on his show, "U.S. of Ant episode 3 - North Carolina."
He was a talent judge in NBC
's 5th season of Last Comic Standing
, along with Kathleen Madigan
and Alonzo Bodden
.
On September 30, 2008, it was reported that ANT is suing
British
presenters Ant & Dec
for using his name in the United States. The suit, among other things, alleges trademark infringement and fraud. The case is still pending in the District Court of Boston.
On November 18, 2008, ANT's longtime friend and off and on again partner, Richard P. Scofield, died in his arms. Responding to the moving outcries of support from Richards friends as well as fans, ANT held an online memorial service for Richard and the netizens who knew him from his online life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stand-up comedian
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. ANT prefers his name spelled in all capital letters.
ANT performed at comedy clubs across the USA beginning in 1991. In 1995, he was a semi regular cast member on the WB series Unhappily Ever After
Unhappily Ever After
Unhappily Ever After is an American sitcom that aired for 100 episodes on The WB network from January 11, 1995, to May 23, 1999, for a total of four and a half seasons...
, spending 4 seasons on the sitcom.
With the end of that show and looking for ways to supplement his income, ANT recruited several men to become internet models. His involvement in the voyeur cam business is documented in the 2001
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
film WebCam Boys, which he also co-produced and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
ANT appeared as a contestant on Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing is an American reality television talent show that has aired from 2003 through 2010.The goal of the program is to select a comedian from a group, who will receive a development contract with the NBC network, and a television special first to air on the cable-TV network Comedy...
, and has appeared in six of that show's seven seasons (season 1, 2 and 3 contestant, 4 guest and 5 a talent judge). That same year, he released a comedy album on Comedy Central Records, Follow My Ass. In 2005, he released the comedy DVD, "ANT: America's Ready" worldwide.
He was the host of 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...
reality series
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
Celebrity Fit Club and was a regular judge of talent on Steve Harvey's Big Time
Steve Harvey
Broderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
. His television series, U.S. of ANT
U.S. of ANT
U.S. of ANT is a gay-and travel-themed series aired by Logo. Hosted by actor and comedian ANT, the series follows him as he travels to small-town American destinations, speaking with gay, bisexual and straight residents of various communities to learn about the spirit and aspects of LGBT life away...
, premiered on MTV Network
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's gay-targeted Logo
Logo (TV channel)
Logo is an American digital cable television channel owned by Viacom's MTV Networks division. Launched in June 2005, the channel's programs are geared towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community...
cable channel in the summer of 2006. ANT also frequently appears as a commentator on such shows as VH1's Best Week Ever
Best Week Ever
Best Week Ever is a weekly television program on the United States cable/satellite network VH1. It started airing in 2004 and was put on hiatus in the summer of 2009...
and CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
's Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
, and is a regular guest on The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show
The Tyra Banks Show, also known as and shortened to Tyra or The Tyra Show, is an American talk show hosted by Tyra Banks. The last new episode aired on Friday, May 28, 2010.-2005-2009: Syndication:...
, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as well as The Howard Stern Show.
In 2007, he appeared along with Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
as a guest star on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's sketch comedy show Short Circuitz
Short Circuitz
Short Circutz was a series of short computer animated videos that were played on YTV.Most videos were 30 to 120 seconds long, often played between other computer animated shows, such as ReBoot and Beasties. The videos were all sampled from three film collections: The Mind's Eye, its sequel Beyond...
.
ANT also appeared as a regular celebrity guest on the game show, 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...
, alongside Jackée Harry
Jackée Harry
Jacqueline Yvonne "Jackée" Harry , better known by her professional name Jackée, is an American actress and television personality, primarily known for her roles on sitcoms and other types of television shows...
, Meshach Taylor
Meshach Taylor
Meshach Taylor is an American actor.He is perhaps best known for his role as Anthony Bouvier on the sitcom Designing Women. He also had a major role on the sitcom Dave's World, playing Sheldon Baylor, and appeared in Buffalo Bill.-Personal life:Taylor was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of...
and John O'Hurley
John O'Hurley
John George O'Hurley is an American actor, voice actor, and television personality. He is known for the role of J. Peterman on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and was the host of the game show Family Feud from 2006 to 2010.-Early life:...
.
In 2008, he was a contestant 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...
's reality competition Celebracadabra
Celebracadabra
Celebracadabra is an American reality television series on VH1 that premiered on April 27, 2008. The series involves celebrities attempting to learn and perform magic. Magician/actor Jonathan Levit serves as the host. On Thursday June 12, 2008 C...
, where celebrities trained with established magicians, and competed in an elimination-format contest. ANT has a fear of clowns (more commonly known as Coulrophobia
Coulrophobia
Coulrophobia is a fear of clowns. The term is of recent origin, probably dating from the 1980s, and according to one analyst, "has been coined more on the Internet than in printed form because it does not appear in any previously published, psychiatric, unabridged, or abridged dictionary," however...
). This was revealed in the second Episode while looking for a costume. ANT was eliminated in episode 2 and brought back in episode 4, but did not go on to win.
ANT is "pro-the-death penalty" which he mentioned on his show, "U.S. of Ant episode 3 - North Carolina."
He was a talent judge in NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's 5th season of Last Comic Standing
Last Comic Standing 5
On June 13, 2007, competitive reality show Last Comic Standing began airing its fifth season on NBC with new host, Bill Bellamy. For the first time ever people could vote in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom...
, along with Kathleen Madigan
Kathleen Madigan
Kathleen Madigan is an American comedian.-Early life:Kathleen Madigan grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Florissant as one of seven children in a large Irish-American family...
and Alonzo Bodden
Alonzo Bodden
Alonzo Bodden is an American comedian and actor known for winning the grand prize in the third season of the reality-television series Last Comic Standing. He had been the runner-up in the previous season....
.
On September 30, 2008, it was reported that ANT is suing
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
presenters Ant & Dec
Ant & Dec
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly , known collectively as Ant & Dec, are an English comedy and TV presenting duo from Newcastle upon Tyne, England...
for using his name in the United States. The suit, among other things, alleges trademark infringement and fraud. The case is still pending in the District Court of Boston.
On November 18, 2008, ANT's longtime friend and off and on again partner, Richard P. Scofield, died in his arms. Responding to the moving outcries of support from Richards friends as well as fans, ANT held an online memorial service for Richard and the netizens who knew him from his online life.