Tom Bodett
Encyclopedia
Thomas Edward "Tom" Bodett (icon ; born February 23, 1955 in Sturgis, Michigan
) is an American
author
, voice actor and radio host. He is also the current spokesman for the hotel chain Motel 6
, whose commercials end with the phrase, "I'm Tom Bodett for Motel 6, and we'll leave the light on for ya."
show. A creative director at the Richards Group ad agency heard him on NPR and hired him to do a commercial for Motel 6
. Bodett ad-libbed the famous line "We'll leave the light on for you" and has been the spokesperson for the chain ever since then. The director, David Fowler, hired him because he "sound[ed] like the kind of person who stays there."
Bodett hosted the public television program, Travels on America’s Historic Trails, in 1997.
In 1999, Bodett started The Loose Leaf Book Company, a radio program that centered around author and book interviews, discussions, and dramatizations. He also published his first children's book, titled Williwaw!
In 2005, Motel 6 began using Bodett for their wake-up calls. The chain hoped to bring a more personal touch to people's day by using their spokesperson's voice. Bodett was also featured on the first Motel 6 podcast
, released for the holidays.
Bodett resides in Dummerston, Vermont
, where he currently is a member of the town's Selectboard
.
Bodett was a regular columnist for the webzine Mr. Showbiz. He also did the voiceover for "Mime Time" and the "Good Idea/Bad Idea" segments featuring Mr. Skullhead
on Animaniacs
and a brief cameo in Pinky and The Brain
as well as narrating the 1999 direct to video Animaniacs movie Wakko's Wish
.
As a broadcaster, Bodett hosted two radio programs. The End of the Road from 1988 to 1990 and Bodett & Company in 1993.
He is currently a regular contributor to The Bob Edwards Show
on XMPR and a member of the stable of panelists on Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
, a National Public Radio news quiz show.
Sturgis, Michigan
Sturgis, is a city in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,994 at the 2010 census. The city is located at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township and at the intersection of US 12 and M-66....
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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:...
, voice actor and radio host. He is also the current spokesman for the hotel chain Motel 6
Motel 6
Motel 6 is a major chain of budget motels with more than 1,000 locations in the United States and Canada, and is the largest owned and operated hotel chain in North America. It is owned and operated by Accor Hotels.-History:...
, whose commercials end with the phrase, "I'm Tom Bodett for Motel 6, and we'll leave the light on for ya."
Career
In 1986, Bodett was both building houses in Alaska and contributing content to NPR's All Things ConsideredAll Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
show. A creative director at the Richards Group ad agency heard him on NPR and hired him to do a commercial for Motel 6
Motel 6
Motel 6 is a major chain of budget motels with more than 1,000 locations in the United States and Canada, and is the largest owned and operated hotel chain in North America. It is owned and operated by Accor Hotels.-History:...
. Bodett ad-libbed the famous line "We'll leave the light on for you" and has been the spokesperson for the chain ever since then. The director, David Fowler, hired him because he "sound[ed] like the kind of person who stays there."
Bodett hosted the public television program, Travels on America’s Historic Trails, in 1997.
In 1999, Bodett started The Loose Leaf Book Company, a radio program that centered around author and book interviews, discussions, and dramatizations. He also published his first children's book, titled Williwaw!
In 2005, Motel 6 began using Bodett for their wake-up calls. The chain hoped to bring a more personal touch to people's day by using their spokesperson's voice. Bodett was also featured on the first Motel 6 podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
, released for the holidays.
Bodett resides in Dummerston, Vermont
Dummerston, Vermont
Dummerston is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,915 at the 2000 census. Dummerston is home to the longest covered bridge still in use inside the state borders of Vermont.-History:...
, where he currently is a member of the town's Selectboard
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
.
Bodett was a regular columnist for the webzine Mr. Showbiz. He also did the voiceover for "Mime Time" and the "Good Idea/Bad Idea" segments featuring Mr. Skullhead
Mr. Skullhead
Mr. Skullhead is a character from the animated television series Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs. He originated on Tiny Toons when the character Elmyra Duff removed the tiny skull in the center of the bow she wears and imagined he had a show and created his theme song. Later he made the...
on Animaniacs
Animaniacs
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, usually referred to as simply Animaniacs, is an American animated series, distributed by Warner Bros. Television and produced by Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The cartoon was the second animated series produced by the collaboration of Steven...
and a brief cameo in Pinky and The Brain
Pinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain is an American animated television series.The characters Pinky and the Brain first appeared in 1993 as a recurring segment on the show Animaniacs...
as well as narrating the 1999 direct to video Animaniacs movie Wakko's Wish
Wakko's Wish
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish, usually referred to as Wakko's Wish is a 1999 American direct-to-video animated tragicomedy film based on the Warner Bros. 1993-98 animated series, Animaniacs, and also the swan song to the series...
.
As a broadcaster, Bodett hosted two radio programs. The End of the Road from 1988 to 1990 and Bodett & Company in 1993.
He is currently a regular contributor to The Bob Edwards Show
The Bob Edwards Show
The Bob Edwards Show is an American radio program presented by Sirius XM Satellite Radio every weekday morning at 8 a.m. Eastern, with repeats at 8 a.m. Central, 7 a.m. Pacific, 6 p.m. Mountain, and the next morning at 7 a.m. Eastern...
on XMPR and a member of the stable of panelists on Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is an hour-long weekly radio news panel game show produced by Chicago Public Radio and National Public Radio. It is distributed by NPR in the United States, internationally on NPR Worldwide and on the Internet via podcast, and typically broadcast on weekends by member...
, a National Public Radio news quiz show.
External links
- Tom Bodett's website
- Motel 6's info on Bodett
- Another photo of Bodett
- Radiotapes.com Featuring an unedited recording Bodett's "The End of the Road" radio show broadcast from the Old Log Theater near Minneapolis in 1989. In addition to the show as it was broadcast nationally, also heard is the interaction and dialog with the audience before the show started and between the segments that radio listeners never heard including retakes, audience instructions, recording of show promo, off-air performances and much more.
