Micah Jesse
Encyclopedia
Micah Jesse Koffler better known as Micah Jesse is an American
blog
ger and television personality. His blog, MicahJesse.com, is known for positive celebrity and lifestyle news. He launched the site in April 2007.
to parents from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. His father, Barry A. Koffler, is an orthopedic surgeon, and mother, Marcie Koffler, is an artist.
Micah swam competitively from an early age, through part of high school. Micah's preliminary education was spent at The Epstein School
, a Jewish day school
, in Sandy Springs, Georgia
. In 2001, Micah enrolled at North Springs High School, a public school. There, Micah continued to swim competitively for Swim Atlanta, participating in competitions around the country, including Hawaii
. He was also the co-captain of the North Springs High School swim team for two consecutive years.
During his first year in high school, he landed the part of Linus' understudy in the school's production of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
". He also participated in several organized educational trips to Israel including a study-abroad program at Alexander Muss High School
in Hod Hasharon
, Israel
, and The March of the Living, an annual educational program which brings students from all over the world to Poland, where they explore the remnants of the Holocaust. Micah's grandfather, Ben Gross, was a Holocaust survivor, along with his seven brothers and sisters. Gross' parents, however, were murdered. He graduated in 2005 from North Springs High School
.
in September 2005 and quickly became a recognizable face among the student body. Pulse, the campus magazine, wrote a full-page feature article about Micah titled, “True Life: I’m A Hofstar. A Glimpse Into The Life Of Hofstra’s Own Celebrity Student,” chronicling Micah’s superior grades and internship with music mogul Tommy Mottola
. Jesse continued his studies of the Hebrew language while at Hofstra. During college, Jesse attended charity events such as Rip The Runway For Darfur, which Gawker covered, dubbing Micah Jesse a "publicistgay [sic
]." On May 17, 2009, he received his BA
in public relations
from Long Island's Hofstra University
.
, New York
, where he currently resides. The lifestyle and entertainment website focuses on celebrities including Justin Bieber
, Rihanna
, Beyonce, and Kim Kardashian
, as well as Jesses' own activities. The website's slogan is "The Georgia Peach in the Big Apple," highlighting Jesse's approach to celebrity news. "What attracts me about celebrities is the unknown, or what the media rather, doesn't care to focus on," he said in an interview. The blog has been published via Wordpress
since its inception.
Once dubbed "the Perez Hilton
of the East Coast" by OK!
magazine, Micah Jesse has since created a niche market for himself by focusing on positive celebrity news. MicahJesse.com is listed as one of Page Six Magazine's favorite gossip blogs. In July 2009, Jesse was dubbed a "divo" by Time Out New York. In December 2009, OK! Magazine listed Micah Jesse's New Years Eve party as a party to watch for celebrities.
“I think beautiful is being happy no matter who you are or whatever stage you are in your life,” Jesse told The New York Observer at Paper Magazine's 2009 "Most Beautiful People Party."
In the August 2010 issue of 944 Magazine
, the "Nightlife Issue," Micah Jesse was dubbed the "Social Butterfly" in a list of "Nightlife's Freshest Faces." The magazine said: "it's that same infectious down home personality and big city drive that has landed the social media-savvy Micah Jesse promoting gigs at the hottest nightclubs in NYC over the last five years -- garnering an A-list celeb entourage and regular press hits in major magazines and blog sites."
In the December/January 2010-11 issue of Blackbook magazine
, neightlife impressario Steve Lewis dubbed Micah an "unlikely heir to New York's nightlife kingdom." In the article, Jesse says, "I dream about one day being the openly gay celebrity BFF to Ryan Seacrest
.”
Micah Jesse announced in January 2011 that he was being sponsored by Chevrolet
. As one of six bloggers chosen to promote the newest car from General Motors
, the Chevrolet Cruze
, Micah is responsible for covering the Entertainment beat.
where he talked to hosts Derek Hartley
and Romaine Patterson
about his blog.
Jesse launched his online radio show
, The Micah Jesse Show, which included updates from his blog and interviews with celebrities such as Kat DeLuna
and Shontelle
, on Jan 20, 2009.
Micah has also appeared as a spokesperson for the It Gets Better
Project on two radio shows; on Dec 10, 2010 on Oprah Radio program "The Derrick Ashong
Experience" and on Dec 11, 2010 on LA Talk Radio program "The Alternative with Terry Le Grand."
channel on the network's on-demand show "Certified." Micah has appeared on the following episodes: "Justin Bieber
vs. Ke$ha," "Usher
vs. Usher
," "Making The Grade," "Shakira
vs. Aventura," "Paramore
vs. Avenged Sevenfold
," "Certified: Rap Star" and "Certified: Artist of the Year.".
In April 2011, Micah signed on for another year at the network, instead hosting his own embedded segment called "Plus One!" on ""Speaking Of..." featuring red carpet interviews.
.
In 2010, Micah Jesse appeared in Matt White
's music video, "Falling In Love (With My Best Friend).". He also appeared in a viral web commercial for Def Jam Rapstar
with Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola from the MTV
reality show Jersey Shore
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger and television personality. His blog, MicahJesse.com, is known for positive celebrity and lifestyle news. He launched the site in April 2007.
Early and personal life
Jesse was born in Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
to parents from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. His father, Barry A. Koffler, is an orthopedic surgeon, and mother, Marcie Koffler, is an artist.
Micah swam competitively from an early age, through part of high school. Micah's preliminary education was spent at The Epstein School
The Epstein School
The Epstein School is an independent Jewish day school located in Sandy Springs, Georgia for children from 18 months through eighth grade and is a member of the Solomon Schechter Day School Association. The Head of School is Stan Beiner. The school has two campuses, and has a summer camp.- History...
, a Jewish day school
Jewish day school
A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of "day school" meaning a school that the students attend for an entire day and not on a part time...
, in Sandy Springs, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. In 2001, Micah enrolled at North Springs High School, a public school. There, Micah continued to swim competitively for Swim Atlanta, participating in competitions around the country, including Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He was also the co-captain of the North Springs High School swim team for two consecutive years.
During his first year in high school, he landed the part of Linus' understudy in the school's production of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts...
". He also participated in several organized educational trips to Israel including a study-abroad program at Alexander Muss High School
Alexander Muss High School (Israel)
The Alexander Muss High School is a school in Hod Hasharon, Israel that runs special programs for Jewish high school students from overseas....
in Hod Hasharon
Hod HaSharon
Hod HaSharon is a city in the Center District of Israel.Officially declared a city in 1990, Hod HaSharon was created from the union in 1964 of four neighboring villages: Magdiel, Ramatayim, Hadar, and Ramat Hadar...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and The March of the Living, an annual educational program which brings students from all over the world to Poland, where they explore the remnants of the Holocaust. Micah's grandfather, Ben Gross, was a Holocaust survivor, along with his seven brothers and sisters. Gross' parents, however, were murdered. He graduated in 2005 from North Springs High School
North Springs High School
North Springs Charter High School North Springs Charter High School North Springs Charter High School (formerly North Springs High School (1963–2007) and North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences is a public secondary school located in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Students may participate in...
.
University
Jesse enrolled at Hofstra UniversityHofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
in September 2005 and quickly became a recognizable face among the student body. Pulse, the campus magazine, wrote a full-page feature article about Micah titled, “True Life: I’m A Hofstar. A Glimpse Into The Life Of Hofstra’s Own Celebrity Student,” chronicling Micah’s superior grades and internship with music mogul Tommy Mottola
Tommy Mottola
Thomas Daniel "Tommy" Mottola is an American music executive, co-owner of Casablanca Records in a joint venture with the Universal Music Group. He is the ex-husband of Mariah Carey and is married to Mexican singer Thalía...
. Jesse continued his studies of the Hebrew language while at Hofstra. During college, Jesse attended charity events such as Rip The Runway For Darfur, which Gawker covered, dubbing Micah Jesse a "publicistgay [sic
Sic
Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
]." On May 17, 2009, he received his BA
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...
in public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
from Long Island's Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
.
MicahJesse.com
In August 2009 Jesse moved to 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...
, 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...
, where he currently resides. The lifestyle and entertainment website focuses on celebrities including Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
, Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
, Beyonce, and 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...
, as well as Jesses' own activities. The website's slogan is "The Georgia Peach in the Big Apple," highlighting Jesse's approach to celebrity news. "What attracts me about celebrities is the unknown, or what the media rather, doesn't care to focus on," he said in an interview. The blog has been published via Wordpress
WordPress
WordPress is a free and open source blogging tool and publishing platform powered by PHP and MySQL. It is often customized into a content management system . It has many features including a plug-in architecture and a template system. WordPress is used by over 14.7% of Alexa Internet's "top 1...
since its inception.
Once dubbed "the Perez Hilton
Perez Hilton
Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr. , better known as Perez Hilton , is an American blogger and television personality. His blog, Perezhilton.com , is known for posts covering gossip items about celebrities...
of the East Coast" by OK!
OK!
OK! is a British weekly magazine specializing in celebrity news. Originally launched as a monthly, its first issue was published in April 1993. In September 2004, OK! publishers Northern and Shell launched in Australia as a monthly title – the magazine went weekly in October 2006...
magazine, Micah Jesse has since created a niche market for himself by focusing on positive celebrity news. MicahJesse.com is listed as one of Page Six Magazine's favorite gossip blogs. In July 2009, Jesse was dubbed a "divo" by Time Out New York. In December 2009, OK! Magazine listed Micah Jesse's New Years Eve party as a party to watch for celebrities.
“I think beautiful is being happy no matter who you are or whatever stage you are in your life,” Jesse told The New York Observer at Paper Magazine's 2009 "Most Beautiful People Party."
In the August 2010 issue of 944 Magazine
944 Magazine
944 Magazine was a regional fashion, entertainment and lifestyle publication that operated in the United States from 2001 to 2011.-History:The original 944 Media company was founded in 2002 by Mark Gorzen and Marc Lotenberg....
, the "Nightlife Issue," Micah Jesse was dubbed the "Social Butterfly" in a list of "Nightlife's Freshest Faces." The magazine said: "it's that same infectious down home personality and big city drive that has landed the social media-savvy Micah Jesse promoting gigs at the hottest nightclubs in NYC over the last five years -- garnering an A-list celeb entourage and regular press hits in major magazines and blog sites."
In the December/January 2010-11 issue of Blackbook magazine
BlackBook Magazine
BlackBook is an American arts and culture magazine published 8x a year. Founded in 1996 as a quarterly publication, BlackBook has now expanded to a circulation of roughly 150,000. The magazine covers topics ranging from art, music, and literature to politics, popular culture, and travel guides....
, neightlife impressario Steve Lewis dubbed Micah an "unlikely heir to New York's nightlife kingdom." In the article, Jesse says, "I dream about one day being the openly gay celebrity BFF to Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
.”
Micah Jesse announced in January 2011 that he was being sponsored by Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
. As one of six bloggers chosen to promote the newest car from General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, the Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a General Motors automobile, spanning two unrelated models. The original iteration, a subcompact crossover SUV, was manufactured by Suzuki in Japan between 2001 and 2008 under joint venture with GM...
, Micah is responsible for covering the Entertainment beat.
Radio
In 2008, Micah Jesse was a guest on OutQ on Sirius Satellite RadioSirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
where he talked to hosts Derek Hartley
Derek Hartley
Derek Hartley is an American talk show host, who serves as co-host of the Derek and Romaine Show, a talk radio show on Sirius XM Satellite Radio's Gay/Lesbian channel, OutQ. The show has a national audience with a potential reach of 18,000,000 listeners. The show can also be heard worldwide on the...
and Romaine Patterson
Romaine Patterson
Romaine Patterson is an American gay rights activist, radio personality, and author. She first received national attention for her activism at the funeral of murdered gay student Matthew Shepard; the two were friends in high school...
about his blog.
Jesse launched his online radio 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...
, The Micah Jesse Show, which included updates from his blog and interviews with celebrities such as Kat DeLuna
Kat DeLuna
Kathleen Emperatriz "Kat" DeLuna is an American pop singer of Dominican heritage. DeLuna has a soprano vocal range. Her debut single, "Whine Up", reached the top ten in Belgium and France, peaked inside the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Her...
and Shontelle
Shontelle
Shontelle Layne , known professionally as Shontelle, is a Barbadian singer, and songwriter. She released her debut album Shontelligence in November 2008. Her sophomore album, No Gravity, was released in September 2010...
, on Jan 20, 2009.
Micah has also appeared as a spokesperson for the It Gets Better
It Gets Better
It Gets Better is an Internet-based project founded in the United States by Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller on September 21, 2010, in response to the suicides of teenagers who were bullied because they were gay or because their peers suspected that they were gay...
Project on two radio shows; on Dec 10, 2010 on Oprah Radio program "The Derrick Ashong
Derrick Ashong
Derrick N. Ashong, also known as "DNA", , is a musician, artist, activist, and entrepreneur.-Background:Born in Accra, Ghana in 1975, Derrick Ashong is the son of a pediatrician...
Experience" and on Dec 11, 2010 on LA Talk Radio program "The Alternative with Terry Le Grand."
Music Choice
In June 2009, Micah became a co-host on Music ChoiceMusic Choice
Music Choice is a United States company that programs music and produces music-related content for digital cable, cell phones, and cable modem subscribers in the US. Music Choice programs dozens of audio music channels for digital cable subscribers, as well as programs and produces music-related...
channel on the network's on-demand show "Certified." Micah has appeared on the following episodes: "Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
vs. Ke$ha," "Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
vs. Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
," "Making The Grade," "Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
vs. Aventura," "Paramore
Paramore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
vs. Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
," "Certified: Rap Star" and "Certified: Artist of the Year.".
In April 2011, Micah signed on for another year at the network, instead hosting his own embedded segment called "Plus One!" on ""Speaking Of..." featuring red carpet interviews.
Television appearances
In September 2009, Micah Jesse became a weekly entertainment contributor on the WNYW-TV (FOX 5) show "Good Day New York Online" with host Brett LarsonBrett Larson
Brett Larson is an Emmy Award winning reporter. His career has covered all aspects of broadcast: radio, television and internet. He used to be anchoring radio news at, 1010 WINS in New York, and can be heard on the Fox News Radio Network across the United States...
.
In 2010, Micah Jesse appeared in Matt White
Matt White (musician)
Matt White is an American singer-songwriter based in New York City. His full-length debut album, Best Days, released by Geffen Records, reached No. 4 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.-Biography:...
's music video, "Falling In Love (With My Best Friend).". He also appeared in a viral web commercial for Def Jam Rapstar
Def Jam Rapstar
Def Jam Rapstar is a rapping game produced by 4mm Games and developed by Terminal Reality. The game was released on October 5, 2010 in the United States of America , and released on November 26, 2010 in Europe. An official launch event was held at New York's Hudson hotel on October 6, 2010 to...
with Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola from the 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....
reality show Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore (TV series)
Jersey Shore is an American reality television series that premiered on MTV on December 3, 2009 in the United States. The series follows the lives of eight housemates spending their summer at the Jersey Shore in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Season 2 followed the cast escaping the cold northeast...
.
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Channel 5 (UK TV channel) | Himself | Guest appearance on "Celebrity Shock List 2009." |
| 2010 | Live with Regis and Kelly Live with Regis and Kelly Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception... |
Himself | Credited as Micah Jesse. |
| 2010 | Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell is a current affairs TV show on HLN hosted by Jane Velez-Mitchell. It airs weekdays in the 7-8 PM EST time slot and repeats at 4-5AM ET. It replaced the Glenn Beck program in late 2008... |
Himself | Guest appearance to discuss New York nightlife. |
| 2011 | E4 (channel) | Himself | Guest appearance as a showbiz reporter on '50 Greatest Wedding Shockers' special. |