Dennis Wholey
Encyclopedia
Dennis Wholey is an American
television
host
and producer
, and the author
of a number of self-help
books, one of which was a New York Times bestseller
. He currently hosts This is America with Dennis Wholey, an interview program shown throughout the U.S. on PBS
and the AmericanLife TV Network
.
degree from the Catholic University of America in 1959. He started his media career as a tour guide for NBC
in New York City
and then became the host of a radio talk show, The Age of Involvement, on WBAI-FM. He also produced and hosted a television talk show on WNDT-TV
in New York. Wholey eventually moved to WKRC-TV
in Cincinnati, where he hosted The Dennis Wholey Show. In 1969 he was the emcee of a short-lived game show
, The Generation Gap
, on ABC
.
Wholey then became the host of the morning show AM Detroit on WXYZ-TV
in Detroit from 1973 to 1977 and a similar show Morning Break on WDVM-TV
in Washington, D.C.
in 1977 and 1978. He moved to late night programming with PBS Latenight, an interview show on WTVS-TV in Detroit from 1982 to 1985, which was widely distributed by PBS. He also hosted LateNight America with Dennis Wholey for PBS beginning in 1989. He currently hosts This is America with Dennis Wholey, distributed countrywide by PBS and the AmericanLife TV cable network.
Radio/TV Mirror magazine named one of Wholey's talk shows an "outstanding program" in the Midwest, and he received the Golden Mike award from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
(AFTRA) for AM Detroit. In 1984 Wholey began a successful career as an author with his book The Courage to Change: Hope and Help for Alcoholics and Their Families, which sold well and was on the New York Times bestseller list for several months. The book recounted Wholey's own struggles with alcohol
and valium addictions
, which reached serious proportions during the 1970s before he found help in an alcoholics' support group. The book also included interviews with other recovering alcoholics, including former Congressman Wilbur Mills
, rock musician Pete Townshend
, Monty Python
performer Graham Chapman
, and trumpeter Doc Severinsen
.
Wholey followed The Courage to Change with a book on the sometimes elusive nature of happiness
, Are You Happy? Some Answers to the Most Important Question in Your Life (1986). Featuring interviews with such figures as chef Julia Child
, reporter Helen Thomas
, actress Ruby Dee
and critic Cleveland Amory
, the book advised active involvement in life and a careful avoidance of self-pity
and resentment
. Wholey's third book Becoming Your Own Parent: The Solution for Adult Children of Alcoholic and Other Dysfunctional Families (1988) focused on poorly functioning families
and included some material on Wholey's own often difficult childhood
.
Wholey continued in the self-help genre with When the Worst That Can Happen Already Has: Conquering Life's Most Difficult Times (1992) and The Miracle of Change: The Path to Self Discovery and Spiritual Growth (1997). His newest book, published in 2007, is Why Do I Keep Doing That? Why Do I Keep Doing That?: Breaking the Negative Patterns in Your Life, which discusses how to escape counterproductive behavior
patterns.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
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...
and producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, and the author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of a number of self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
books, one of which was a New York Times bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
. He currently hosts This is America with Dennis Wholey, an interview program shown throughout the U.S. on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
and the AmericanLife TV Network
AmericanLife TV Network
Youtoo TV, formerly known as American Life TV Network , GoodLife TV Network, and Nostalgia Television, is an American cable-television channel launched on May 1, 1985. It now claims over 15 million subscribers throughout the U.S...
.
Life and career
The son of an attorney father and a librarian mother, Wholey received a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the Catholic University of America in 1959. He started his media career as a tour guide for 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...
in 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...
and then became the host of a radio talk show, The Age of Involvement, on WBAI-FM. He also produced and hosted a television talk show on WNDT-TV
WNET
WNET, channel 13 is a non-commercial educational public television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey. With its signal covering the New York metropolitan area, WNET is a primary station of the Public Broadcasting Service and a primary provider of PBS programming...
in New York. Wholey eventually moved to WKRC-TV
WKRC-TV
WKRC-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Tri-State area of Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana that is licensed to Cincinnati. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter at its studios on Highland Avenue in the Mount...
in Cincinnati, where he hosted The Dennis Wholey Show. In 1969 he was the emcee of a short-lived game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, The Generation Gap
The Generation Gap
The Generation Gap was a primetime American game show that aired from February 7 to May 23, 1969 on ABC. It was originally hosted by Dennis Wholey for the first ten episodes, after which he was replaced by Jack Barry. Fred Foy announced during the entire run....
, on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
.
Wholey then became the host of the morning show AM Detroit on WXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV
WXYZ-TV, channel 7, is an ABC-affiliated television station in Detroit, Michigan, USA. WXYZ-TV is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, and is the media company's largest-market TV station property...
in Detroit from 1973 to 1977 and a similar show Morning Break on WDVM-TV
WUSA (TV)
WUSA is a television station broadcasting on channel 9 in Washington, D.C.. Owned by the Gannett Company, WUSA is an affiliate of the CBS television network, and the longest-tenured affiliate of that network...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1977 and 1978. He moved to late night programming with PBS Latenight, an interview show on WTVS-TV in Detroit from 1982 to 1985, which was widely distributed by PBS. He also hosted LateNight America with Dennis Wholey for PBS beginning in 1989. He currently hosts This is America with Dennis Wholey, distributed countrywide by PBS and the AmericanLife TV cable network.
Radio/TV Mirror magazine named one of Wholey's talk shows an "outstanding program" in the Midwest, and he received the Golden Mike award from the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists , promo and voice-over announcers and other...
(AFTRA) for AM Detroit. In 1984 Wholey began a successful career as an author with his book The Courage to Change: Hope and Help for Alcoholics and Their Families, which sold well and was on the New York Times bestseller list for several months. The book recounted Wholey's own struggles with alcohol
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and valium addictions
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
, which reached serious proportions during the 1970s before he found help in an alcoholics' support group. The book also included interviews with other recovering alcoholics, including former Congressman Wilbur Mills
Wilbur Mills
Wilbur Daigh Mills , was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Arkansas...
, rock musician Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
, Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
performer Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
, and trumpeter Doc Severinsen
Doc Severinsen
Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen is an American pop and jazz trumpeter. He is best known for leading the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.-Early life:...
.
Wholey followed The Courage to Change with a book on the sometimes elusive nature of happiness
Happiness
Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological, religious, and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources....
, Are You Happy? Some Answers to the Most Important Question in Your Life (1986). Featuring interviews with such figures as chef Julia Child
Julia Child
Julia Child was an American chef, author, and television personality. She is recognized for introducing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her subsequent television programs, the most notable of which was The French Chef, which...
, reporter Helen Thomas
Helen Thomas
Helen Thomas is an American author and former news service reporter, member of the White House Press Corps and opinion columnist. She worked for the United Press and post-1958 successor United Press International for 57 years, first as a correspondent, and later as White House bureau manager...
, actress Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee is an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and activist, perhaps best known for co-starring in the film A Raisin in the Sun and the film American Gangster for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Early years:Dee was born Ruby...
and critic Cleveland Amory
Cleveland Amory
Cleveland Amory was an American author who devoted his life to promoting animal rights. He was perhaps best known for his books about his cat, named Polar Bear, whom he saved from the Manhattan streets on Christmas Eve 1977...
, the book advised active involvement in life and a careful avoidance of self-pity
Self-pity
Self-pity is the psychological state of mind of an individual in perceived adverse situations who has not accepted the situation and does not have the confidence nor ability to cope with it. It is characterized by a person's belief that he or she is the victim of events and is therefore deserving...
and resentment
Resentment
Resentment is the experience of a negative emotion felt as a result of a real or imagined wrong done. Etymologically, the word originates from French "ressentir", re-, intensive prefix, and sentir "to feel"; from the Latin "sentire"...
. Wholey's third book Becoming Your Own Parent: The Solution for Adult Children of Alcoholic and Other Dysfunctional Families (1988) focused on poorly functioning families
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
and included some material on Wholey's own often difficult childhood
Childhood
Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of toddlerhood , early childhood , middle childhood , and adolescence .- Age ranges of childhood :The term childhood is non-specific and can imply a...
.
Wholey continued in the self-help genre with When the Worst That Can Happen Already Has: Conquering Life's Most Difficult Times (1992) and The Miracle of Change: The Path to Self Discovery and Spiritual Growth (1997). His newest book, published in 2007, is Why Do I Keep Doing That? Why Do I Keep Doing That?: Breaking the Negative Patterns in Your Life, which discusses how to escape counterproductive behavior
Human behavior
Human behavior refers to the range of behaviors exhibited by humans and which are influenced by culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport, hypnosis, persuasion, coercion and/or genetics....
patterns.