Mark & Brian
Encyclopedia
The Mark & Brian Show is an American
radio talk show
hosted by Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps
, known on the air as "Mark & Brian." The syndicated program originates weekday mornings from KLOS-FM
in Los Angeles, California
, and blends comedy sketches, listener phone calls, interviews with in-studio guests, and the occasional road trip.
In 1985, Thompson was working as a disc jockey
when he was introduced to Phelps, whose background was in improvisational comedy. Their first joint on-air appearance was on WAPI-FM
(I-95) in Birmingham, Alabama
. An offer to move west and take over the morning slot at KLOS culminated in the premiere of The Mark & Brian Show in September 1987.
Mark & Brian are two-time winners of the Billboard Magazine "Air Personalities of the Year" award, and received a 1991 National Association of Broadcasters
Marconi Award
as "Air Personalities of the Year." They have also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
.
The Mark & Brian Show includes various sketches and annual events (including a golf tournament). Popular sketches include "The Red Carpet Minute" with Edward Gordon, "Miniature Theater", and other celebrity-based sketches. In 2006, they conducted a reality TV-based contest called "Two Strangers and a Wedding," in which single women auditioned to be the bride, then chose from five male finalists to marry--without ever meeting prior to the wedding. In 2007, the concept was modified to "Three Strangers and a Wedding," in which the bride chose two of the five male finalists to come to the wedding. Upon meeting the bride at the wedding, the grooms had the option of proposing to the bride, who could then accept either proposal or decline them both. Both resulting marriages were brief, and ended in divorce.
Mark & Brian released three CD compilations of material from their morning show: All of Me (1995), You Had To Be There (1997), and Little Drummer Boys (2000). All proceeds were donated to their favorite charities.
The popularity of their radio show gave Mark & Brian several opportunities to branch out into other entertainment media. In 1991-92, they hosted a short-lived NBC
TV series, The Adventures of Mark & Brian. The duo also appeared in several motion pictures
, notably Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
(the 1993 ninth installment of the Friday the 13th series), the documentary Trekkies (1997), and The Princess Diaries
(2001). The duo appeared as concerned onlookers in the made for TV movie A Very Brady Christmas
during one of the scenes at the collapsed building. They also appeared unbilled as caterers in the Married with Children episode "Married...with Prom Queen".
Mark & Brian convinced Frank Jordan
, mayor of San Francisco, California
to shower with them, completely nude, during a live radio show just prior to election day.
Former producers include Nicole Sandler, Johnny Vega, Rosemary Jimenez and Frank Murphy (Radio)
(aka "Mr. Owl"). Their current producer is Ted Lekas.
Mark and Brian signed a three-year contract extension in August 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio talk show
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
hosted by Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps
Brian Phelps
Brian Wayne Phelps is an American radio personality and occasional actor, best known for the nationally-syndicated Mark & Brian morning show....
, known on the air as "Mark & Brian." The syndicated program originates weekday mornings from KLOS-FM
KLOS
KLOS is an FM rock music radio station based in Los Angeles, California, that debuted in 1969. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. It is home to the nationally broadcast Mark & Brian radio show, and Off The Record host Uncle Joe Benson.-History:...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and blends comedy sketches, listener phone calls, interviews with in-studio guests, and the occasional road trip.
In 1985, Thompson was working as a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
when he was introduced to Phelps, whose background was in improvisational comedy. Their first joint on-air appearance was on WAPI-FM
WJOX
WJOX WJOX WJOX (690 AM, "Jox 94.5" (simulcasting WJOX-FM) is an all-sports radio station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama, with daytime licensed power of 50,000 Watts and 500 Watts at night. WJOX is the Birmingham affiliate of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide Sports Network (football only),...
(I-95) in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. An offer to move west and take over the morning slot at KLOS culminated in the premiere of The Mark & Brian Show in September 1987.
Mark & Brian are two-time winners of the Billboard Magazine "Air Personalities of the Year" award, and received a 1991 National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
Marconi Award
NAB Marconi Radio Awards
The Marconi Radio Awards are presented annually by the National Association of Broadcasters to the top radio stations and on-air personalities in the United States. The awards are named in honor of Guglielmo Marconi, the man generally credited as the "Father of Wireless Telegraphy." NAB member...
as "Air Personalities of the Year." They have also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
.
The Mark & Brian Show includes various sketches and annual events (including a golf tournament). Popular sketches include "The Red Carpet Minute" with Edward Gordon, "Miniature Theater", and other celebrity-based sketches. In 2006, they conducted a reality TV-based contest called "Two Strangers and a Wedding," in which single women auditioned to be the bride, then chose from five male finalists to marry--without ever meeting prior to the wedding. In 2007, the concept was modified to "Three Strangers and a Wedding," in which the bride chose two of the five male finalists to come to the wedding. Upon meeting the bride at the wedding, the grooms had the option of proposing to the bride, who could then accept either proposal or decline them both. Both resulting marriages were brief, and ended in divorce.
Mark & Brian released three CD compilations of material from their morning show: All of Me (1995), You Had To Be There (1997), and Little Drummer Boys (2000). All proceeds were donated to their favorite charities.
The popularity of their radio show gave Mark & Brian several opportunities to branch out into other entertainment media. In 1991-92, they hosted a short-lived 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...
TV series, The Adventures of Mark & Brian. The duo also appeared in several motion pictures
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, notably Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday is a 1993 slasher film, the ninth—and, as the title suggests, intended final—installment in the Friday the 13th film series and the first sequel to be distributed by New Line Cinema....
(the 1993 ninth installment of the Friday the 13th series), the documentary Trekkies (1997), and The Princess Diaries
The Princess Diaries (film)
The Princess Diaries is a 2001 comedy film produced by singer and actress Whitney Houston and directed by Garry Marshall. It is based on Meg Cabot's 2000 novel of the same name...
(2001). The duo appeared as concerned onlookers in the made for TV movie A Very Brady Christmas
A Very Brady Christmas
A Very Brady Christmas is a 1988 movie based on the television series The Brady Bunch, featuring all of the original actors who appeared in the series except Susan Olsen who was on her honeymoon when the film was being made; Jennifer Runyon took her place as Cindy...
during one of the scenes at the collapsed building. They also appeared unbilled as caterers in the Married with Children episode "Married...with Prom Queen".
Mark & Brian convinced Frank Jordan
Frank Jordan
Francis M. “Frank” Jordan is a U.S. politician, foundation executive and former Chief of Police.Jordan was born in San Francisco in 1935 and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1953...
, mayor of San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
to shower with them, completely nude, during a live radio show just prior to election day.
Former producers include Nicole Sandler, Johnny Vega, Rosemary Jimenez and Frank Murphy (Radio)
Frank Murphy (radio)
Frank Murphy is known as a radio personality and formerly as a producer for a number of popular radio programs such as the Don and Mike Show, Kevin and Bean, and Mark and Brian....
(aka "Mr. Owl"). Their current producer is Ted Lekas.
Mark and Brian signed a three-year contract extension in August 2009.