J.Son Dinant
Encyclopedia
Jason "J.Son" Dinant is an American comedian
, actor
and Reality TV personality best known for his appearances on MTV's Fear
and A&E
's Inked
as well as his online series "Naked Boy News".
Dinant is the son of Bruce and Cheryl Dinant. He grew up in Baldwinsville, New York
a suburb of Syracuse, New York
. He nearly died at birth; his lung collapsed and his heart stopped. Dinant is a 1999 graduate of Baldwinsville's CW Baker High School. Dinant moved to Las Vegas, Nevada
in 1999 to attended the University of Las Vegas, NV for a dual major in Political Science
and Theatre
/Performing Arts.
Dinant celebrated his 30th birthday on July 31, 2011. His birthday party at Piranha nightclub in Las Vegas got a lot of attention on celebrity gossip blogs. The attention was caused when Melissa Molinaro
sang him Happy Birthday, she is the Old Navy
model who looks like Kim Kardashian
and is the reason Kardashian is suing the retailer.
In December 2001 Dinant moved back to New York
to be closer to his family. While there he began writing theatrical plays and created the Got Theater? Project, a charitable theater company. The Project raised money for various charities, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure
, Children's Miracle Network
and several others. The creation of this company earned Dinant the Jefferson Award for outstanding community and public service in 2004. He returned to Las Vegas in June 2004 where he got a job with the production company of the Celine Dion
show.
Dinant started his comedy career with his first show at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
(formerly the Aladdin Hotel & Casino) in December 2005. The show called "The Laugh Corner of Comedy" was created by Dinant and was the collaboration of several comedians. The show included stand up, Saturday Night Live
-style skits and improv. He hosted a weekly show by the same name at a smaller venue in Las Vegas. Dinant was the MC/host of the Weekly THURSTdaze party at Krave nightclub in Las Vegas located inside the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
from September 2008 to August 2009.
Dinant's comedy is a mix of MC/Host, StandUp, improv, parody, political and celebrity humor. Dinant was named a "Hot 12 Comedian" by the World Comedy Network. Dinant's comic mentor Carole Montgomery
(from TV's Funniest Mom in America) gave him the nickname "The New Funny!" for his use of several comedy styles all in one. Dinant has been seen on MTV
, A&E, TV Guide Network, WB-TV, PBS and several local stations. Dinant lists his comic inspirations as: Arte Johnson, Minnie Pearl
, George Carlin
, David Brenner
Dinant's latest project is his celebrity blog in which he uses his comedy characters to report news and gossip. Dinant has been featured in the Las Vegas Weekly magazine several times including: "CineVegas Film Festival", "Beautiful Person" and "Comedy issues. In 2006 he was named "Las Vegan Most in Need of a Reality Show".
From the time Dinant was in first grade and telling people to vote for Michael Dukakis
he had a love for American politics
. At a very young age he stated "I'm going to be President someday". During the 2008 US Presidential Campaign Dinant created a series of videos
that earned him the name "Hillary Clinton Boy!" In one of the videos Dinant remixes the theme song to the TV show The Jeffersons
, "Movin' On Up", to promote then-candidate Hillary Clinton. Dinant supported John McCain for president and created a video entitled "I'm Gay and I Love John McCain!" which aired on CNN
. Fredricka Whitfield said of Dinant, "So, I think he wanted to get a little bit more attention for what he was not wearing than what he said." This comment referred to his Naked Boy News. Dinant later pulled his support from McCain after he picked Sarah Palin
as a running mate and considered voting for Obama in the presidential election.
Dinant did a publicity stunt
in New York's Times Square
on November 2, 2008 in which he stood naked asking people whether he should vote for McCain or Obama. International media including Radio2 Holland and AftonBladet on Swedish TV interviewed him during the stunt.
From Summer 2007 to Spring 2008 Dinant hosted a live web TV show on the Blog TV network entitled the J Dot Report. On May 21, 2008 Dinant launched Naked Boy News, an online TV show where Dinant talks about celebrity gossip and political news. The tag line for the show is: "The NAKED Truth About Today's Hottest Headlines!"
Dinant started posting his Naked Boy News videos to CNN's iReport during the 2008 election cycle. He quickly became an iReport Superstar and has since been a regularly featured iReporter for CNN TV and online news coverage. To date more than 40 of Dinant's videos have been used in CNN news coverage. Dinant has been seen on "American Morning" - "News to Me" - "MOOSt Unusual" - "This Week in iReport!" - Today in iReport!" and several other CNN.com articles. Dinant was one of fifteen voters that CNN profiled on Election Day, November 4, 2008. CNN used his video footage on air throughout the day as well as on CNN.com. Dinant was profiled as an undecided voter, who stood Naked in Times Square asking people who to vote for. In the End Dinant voted for Barack Obama.
Starting in January 2009, Dinant was followed by CNN Health as he follows his 2009 resolution of getting six-pack abs by summer. Going from 500 sit ups a day to a well regulated diet and fitness plan, Dinant saw results after three months. The CNN Health series concluded in June 2009.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, 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...
and Reality TV personality best known for his appearances on MTV's Fear
MTV's Fear
MTV's Fear is an American paranormal reality television series that originally aired from 2000 to 2002 on MTV. The program follows a group of 5 or more contestants being left at an allegedly haunted location and led them on a series of dares over two nights to explore and confirm whether or not the...
and A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
's Inked
Inked
Inked is a documentary television series about the employees of the Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The series was created by Jeff Bowler in 2005, and was broadcast by the A&E Network...
as well as his online series "Naked Boy News".
Early life and education
Baldwinsville, New York
Baldwinsville is a village in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,053 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area....
a suburb of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. He nearly died at birth; his lung collapsed and his heart stopped. Dinant is a 1999 graduate of Baldwinsville's CW Baker High School. Dinant moved to Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in 1999 to attended the University of Las Vegas, NV for a dual major in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and Theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
/Performing Arts.
Las Vegas
Dinant is a well known MC and event host in Las Vegas. Known best for hosting the Temptation Sundays pool party at Luxor Hotel & Casino, for which he was on the cover of Las Vegas Magazine on May 22, 2011 Dinant has also hosted events for several nightclubs in Las Vegas including CatHouse nightclub.Dinant celebrated his 30th birthday on July 31, 2011. His birthday party at Piranha nightclub in Las Vegas got a lot of attention on celebrity gossip blogs. The attention was caused when Melissa Molinaro
Melissa Molinaro
Melissa Molinaro also credited or known as Melissa S. or Melissa Smith is a Canadian, pop singer, actress, choreographer and model. She is perhaps best known for her reality TV appearances on Making The Band 3 and Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll...
sang him Happy Birthday, she is the Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
model who looks like Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian
Kimberly Noel "Kim" Kardashian is an American socialite, television personality, model, actress and businesswoman. She is known for the E! reality series that she shares with her family—Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and its spin-offs including Kourtney and Kim Take New York...
and is the reason Kardashian is suing the retailer.
Comedy
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...
to be closer to his family. While there he began writing theatrical plays and created the Got Theater? Project, a charitable theater company. The Project raised money for various charities, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, often referred to as simply Komen, is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the US....
, Children's Miracle Network
Children's Miracle Network
The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children's health issues. The organization, founded in 1982 by the Osmond family and John Schneider, is headquartered in...
and several others. The creation of this company earned Dinant the Jefferson Award for outstanding community and public service in 2004. He returned to Las Vegas in June 2004 where he got a job with the production company of the Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
show.
Dinant started his comedy career with his first show at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, previously known as The Aladdin, is a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip, in the unincorporated locale of Paradise, Nevada, United States. Westgate Resorts operates the condo portion of the property, known as PH Towers by Westgate.Planet Hollywood is owned by Caesars...
(formerly the Aladdin Hotel & Casino) in December 2005. The show called "The Laugh Corner of Comedy" was created by Dinant and was the collaboration of several comedians. The show included stand up, Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
-style skits and improv. He hosted a weekly show by the same name at a smaller venue in Las Vegas. Dinant was the MC/host of the Weekly THURSTdaze party at Krave nightclub in Las Vegas located inside the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, previously known as The Aladdin, is a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip, in the unincorporated locale of Paradise, Nevada, United States. Westgate Resorts operates the condo portion of the property, known as PH Towers by Westgate.Planet Hollywood is owned by Caesars...
from September 2008 to August 2009.
Dinant's comedy is a mix of MC/Host, StandUp, improv, parody, political and celebrity humor. Dinant was named a "Hot 12 Comedian" by the World Comedy Network. Dinant's comic mentor Carole Montgomery
Carole Montgomery
Carole Montgomery is an American standup comedian, writer, and actress. She was born April 19, 1958 in Brooklyn, New York, where she lived until she moved into New York City in the early 1980s....
(from TV's Funniest Mom in America) gave him the nickname "The New Funny!" for his use of several comedy styles all in one. Dinant has been seen 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....
, A&E, TV Guide Network, WB-TV, PBS and several local stations. Dinant lists his comic inspirations as: Arte Johnson, Minnie Pearl
Minnie Pearl
Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon , known professionally as Minnie Pearl, was an American country comedienne who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and on the television show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1991.-Early life:Sarah Colley was born in Centerville, in Hickman County, Tennessee,...
, George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
, David Brenner
David Brenner
David Brenner is an American standup comedian, actor, author, and filmmaker.-Career:Born and raised in poor areas of Philadelphia, Brenner found comedy a major source of relief from the daily trials and tribulations he faced in his youth. His neighborhood has been one of the top-ranked crime...
Dinant's latest project is his celebrity blog in which he uses his comedy characters to report news and gossip. Dinant has been featured in the Las Vegas Weekly magazine several times including: "CineVegas Film Festival", "Beautiful Person" and "Comedy issues. In 2006 he was named "Las Vegan Most in Need of a Reality Show".
Politics
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
he had a love for American politics
American politics
American politics is an area of study within the academic discipline of political science. It is primarily, but not exclusively, studied by researchers in the United States...
. At a very young age he stated "I'm going to be President someday". During the 2008 US Presidential Campaign Dinant created a series of videos
Vlog
Video blogging, sometimes shortened to vlogging or vidding or vidblogging is a form of blogging for which the medium is video, and is a form of Web television. Entries often combine embedded video or a video link with supporting text, images, and other metadata. Entries can be recorded in one take...
that earned him the name "Hillary Clinton Boy!" In one of the videos Dinant remixes the theme song to the TV show The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
, "Movin' On Up", to promote then-candidate Hillary Clinton. Dinant supported John McCain for president and created a video entitled "I'm Gay and I Love John McCain!" which aired on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
. Fredricka Whitfield said of Dinant, "So, I think he wanted to get a little bit more attention for what he was not wearing than what he said." This comment referred to his Naked Boy News. Dinant later pulled his support from McCain after he picked Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
as a running mate and considered voting for Obama in the presidential election.
Dinant did a publicity stunt
Publicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
in New York's Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
on November 2, 2008 in which he stood naked asking people whether he should vote for McCain or Obama. International media including Radio2 Holland and AftonBladet on Swedish TV interviewed him during the stunt.
TV
Dinant has appeared on Fear (MTV), Faces of Fear (MTV), Caesars 24/7 (A&E), Real World Vegas: Reunited (MTV) Inked (A&E), Open Call: The Next Will & Grace (TV Guide Network), Choose or Loose (MTV), and One Tree Hill (WB).From Summer 2007 to Spring 2008 Dinant hosted a live web TV show on the Blog TV network entitled the J Dot Report. On May 21, 2008 Dinant launched Naked Boy News, an online TV show where Dinant talks about celebrity gossip and political news. The tag line for the show is: "The NAKED Truth About Today's Hottest Headlines!"
Dinant started posting his Naked Boy News videos to CNN's iReport during the 2008 election cycle. He quickly became an iReport Superstar and has since been a regularly featured iReporter for CNN TV and online news coverage. To date more than 40 of Dinant's videos have been used in CNN news coverage. Dinant has been seen on "American Morning" - "News to Me" - "MOOSt Unusual" - "This Week in iReport!" - Today in iReport!" and several other CNN.com articles. Dinant was one of fifteen voters that CNN profiled on Election Day, November 4, 2008. CNN used his video footage on air throughout the day as well as on CNN.com. Dinant was profiled as an undecided voter, who stood Naked in Times Square asking people who to vote for. In the End Dinant voted for Barack Obama.
Starting in January 2009, Dinant was followed by CNN Health as he follows his 2009 resolution of getting six-pack abs by summer. Going from 500 sit ups a day to a well regulated diet and fitness plan, Dinant saw results after three months. The CNN Health series concluded in June 2009.