Kalen Allen

Last updated

Kalen Allen
Kalen Allen May 2024.jpg
Allen in 2024.
Born
Education Temple University [2]
Occupations
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2017–present
Subscribers877 thousand [3]
Total views46 million [3]

Last updated: October 3, 2024

Kalen Allen is an American actor, comedian, and internet personality who gained widespread recognition and fame through his viral food reaction videos. His social media popularity led to regular appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show . He subsequently appeared on the 2020 film An American Pickle , the Amazon Prime series With Love , and HBO Max's A Black Lady Sketch Show . He also stars in the Netflix film, Meet Me Next Christmas. Kalen is currently starring in the Elf, The Musical on Broadway, in the role of Store Manager.

Contents

Early life and education

Kalen Allen was born and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. He attended Sumner Academy of Arts & Science, a high school in Kansas City. [1] He subsequently went to Temple University where he majored in film, theater, and media arts. [4] Using Temple University's Los Angeles Study Away program, he graduated in 2018 soon after his rise in popularity. [2] As of 2022, Allen is enrolled in a master's in journalism program at New York University. [5]

Career

In 2017, while still a college student, Allen stumbled upon a video tutorial for a peculiar dish called 7-Up Salad. The recipe consisted of soda, marshmallows, lime Jell-O, cream cheese, and other unlikely ingredients. Intrigued by the absurdity of the recipe, Allen recorded his reaction and posted it on social media, adding humorous commentary. The video went viral. [4] [6]

Allen started the YouTube channel Kalen Reacts, [7] which primarily featured him reacting to other bizarre and unconventional videos of people making food with unusual recipes. [8] He posted his first Kalen Reacts video in November 2017. [9] But these videos quickly gained traction, garnering millions of views and attracting widespread attention. [10] Ellen DeGeneres took notice of them and expressed her admiration on her talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show , in an episode that aired on December 7, 2017. [7] [9] She invited him to appear on her show and later also offered him a job opportunity. During his appearance on January 2, 2018, Allen was officially hired to create reaction videos for the show. [9]

Allen won a Webby Award in 2020 for OMKalen. [5] He made his film acting debut the same year in An American Pickle starring Seth Rogen. [11] The film's plot revolves around a man who falls into a vat of pickles in 1918, is preserved, and reemerges in present-day Brooklyn. Allen plays one half of a Brooklyn gay couple who help the man establish a successful pickle business. [1] In November 2020, Allen released debut album For Christmas Sake! [12]

In 2021, Allen became a judge on Cakealikes [13] which aired on Food Network and the streaming service Discovery+. [14] In 2022, he was also a judge on the network's Supermarket Stakeout . [5] Allen also hosted Buddy vs Duff , a competition between Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman. [5] He has appeared in episodes the Amazon Prime series With Love . and HBO Max's A Black Lady Sketch Show . [5] In September 2022, Allen began co-hosting Raised by Ricki, a podcast with Ricki Lake. [15] At the end of 2022, Allen became a judge, along with Stephanie Boswell and Carla Hall, on Food Network's Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown, a spin off of Holiday Baking Championship . [16]

In 2023, Allen hosted the year's GLSEN Respect Awards. [17]

Personal life

Allen is openly gay. [2] [18]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleRefs.
2018–2021 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Guest contributor
2021–2023 With Love Cyn [5]
2021CakealikesPanel judge [13]
2022 Buddy vs Duff Host [5]
Snack on ThisHost
Supermarket Stakeout Judge [5]
A Black Lady Sketch Show Arms dealer [5]
2022–2023Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread ShowdownJudge [16]

Film

YearTitleRoleRefs.
2020 An American Pickle Kevin [11]
For Christmas Sake: The Movie MusicalKokoa Klaus

Discography

YearTitleRefs.
2020For Christmas Sake! [12]
2024Christmas Memories

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Palmer</span> Canadian player of American football

Jesse James Palmer is a Canadian television personality, sports commentator, and former professional football player who was a quarterback for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) in the early 2000s. Palmer played college football for the Florida Gators under coach Steve Spurrier, and thereafter, he played professionally for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL before spending half of the 2006 season with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gingerbread</span> Spiced dough used for baking

Gingerbread refers to a broad category of baked goods, typically flavored with ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon and sweetened with honey, sugar, or molasses. Gingerbread foods vary, ranging from a moist loaf cake to forms nearly as crisp as a ginger snap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gingerbread house</span> Model house made of gingerbread

A gingerbread house is a novelty confectionery shaped like a building that is made of cookie dough, cut and baked into appropriate components like walls and roofing. The usual base material is crisp gingerbread, hence the name. Another type of model-making with gingerbread uses a boiled dough that can be moulded like clay to form edible statuettes or other decorations. These houses, covered with a variety of candies and icing, are popular Christmas decorations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoofly pie</span> Molasses pie

Shoofly pie is a type of American pie made with molasses associated with Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. While shoo-fly pie has been a staple of Moravian, Mennonite, and Amish foodways, there is scant evidence concerning its origins, and most of the folktales concerning the pie are apocryphal, including the persistent legend that the name comes from flies being attracted to the sweet filling.

<i>The Ellen DeGeneres Show</i> American syndicated talk show (2003–2022)

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. The show ran for nineteen seasons from September 8, 2003, to May 26, 2022, in which it broadcast 3,339 episodes. It was produced by Telepictures Productions. The majority of stations owned by NBC Owned Television Stations, along with Hearst Television and Tegna, served as the program's largest affiliate base. For its first five seasons, the show was taped in Studio 11 at NBC Studios in Burbank, California. From season 6 onwards, the show moved to being taped at Stage 1 on the nearby Warner Bros. lot. Since the beginning of the sixth season, The Ellen DeGeneres Show was broadcast in high definition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spice cake</span> Cake flavored with spices

Spice cake is a type of cake that is traditionally flavored with a mixture of spices. The cake can be prepared in many varieties. Predominant flavorings include spices such as cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger, and nutmeg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Branston (brand)</span> British food brand known for its pickled chutney

Branston is an English food brand best known for the original Branston Pickle, a sweet pickle first made in 1922 in the village of Branston near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, by Crosse & Blackwell. The Branston factory proved to be uneconomical, and production was moved to Crosse & Blackwell subsidiary, E Lazenby & Sons in Bermondsey, London, where it invested in new buildings in 1924 and 1926, which remained in use until 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parkin (cake)</span> Cake made from ginger, oats and treacle

Parkin is a gingerbread cake traditionally made with oatmeal and black treacle, which originated in Northern England. Often associated with Yorkshire, it is widespread and popular elsewhere, notably in Lancashire. Parkin is baked to a hard cake but with resting becomes moist and even sometimes sticky. There are regional differences; for example, in Hull and East Yorkshire, it has a drier, more biscuit-like texture than in other areas, whereas in Lancashire it is generally made with golden syrup rather than with the treacle used elsewhere. Parkin is traditionally eaten on Guy Fawkes Night, 5 November, and when celebrating "Yorkshire Day" on 1 August, and it is also enjoyed throughout the winter months. It is baked commercially throughout Yorkshire but is mainly a domestic product in other areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pfeffernüsse</span> German cookie

Pfeffernüsse are small spice cookies, popular as a holiday treat with Germans and ethnic Mennonites in North America. Similar cookies are made in Denmark, and The Netherlands, as well. They are called Pfeffernüsse in German, pepernoten in Dutch, päpanät in Plautdietsch, pfeffernusse or peppernuts in English, and pebernødder in Danish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lekach</span> Jewish cake

Lekach is a honey-sweetened cake made by Jews, especially for the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. Known in Hebrew as ugat dvash, the word lekach is Yiddish. Lekach is one of the symbolically significant foods traditionally eaten by Ashkenazi Jews at Rosh Hashanah in hopes of ensuring a sweet New Year.It is also customary to ask for and receive Lekach on Erev Yom Kippur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen DeGeneres</span> American comedian and television host (born 1958)

Ellen Lee DeGeneres, also known mononymously as just Ellen, is an American retired comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer. She starred in the television sitcoms Ellen (1994–1998) and The Ellen Show (2001–2002). She also hosted the syndicated television talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003–2022), for which she received 33 Daytime Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosanna Pansino</span> American YouTuber (born 1985)

Rosanna Jeanne Reardon, known online as Rosanna Pansino is an American YouTuber, actress, author, businesswoman, and singer. She is known for hosting her baking series Nerdy Nummies on YouTube (2011–present). She has written two cookbooks and released a baking line based on the show. She has won a Shorty Award and five Streamy Award nominations for Nerdy Nummies. She was listed first on Forbes'Top Influencers: Food list in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How to Cook That</span> Australian website and YouTube channel

How To Cook That is an Australian website and YouTube baking channel that provides video recipes on baking and decorating themed cakes, desserts, chocolate creations and other confectionery. Launched as a website in 2011 by founder Ann Reardon, it later gained more than 4 million followers on YouTube, surpassing more than 15.3 million video views per month. The channel has been featured in major publications, including Forbes, The Huffington Post, and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Franco Noriega Haltenhof is a Peruvian entrepreneur based in New York City who has branched out into the restaurant business, modelling, television, and the music industry. He is also a retired professional swimmer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babish Culinary Universe</span> American online cooking series

Babish Culinary Universe, formerly Binging with Babish, is a YouTube cooking channel created by American cook and filmmaker Andrew Rea that recreates recipes featured in film, television, and video games in the Binging with Babish series, as well as more traditional recipes in the Basics with Babish series. The first video in the series was uploaded on February 10, 2016.

<i>An American Pickle</i> 2020 film directed by Brandon Trost

An American Pickle is a 2020 American comedy-drama film directed by Brandon Trost and written by Simon Rich, based on his 2013 short story "Sell Out". The film stars Seth Rogen as an Eastern European Jewish immigrant who gets preserved in a vat of pickles and wakes up a century later in modern-day New York City, attempting to fit in with the assistance of his last remaining descendant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabitha Brown (actress)</span> American actress and internet celebrity (born 1979)

Tabitha Bonita Brown is an American actress, Emmy winning host, social media personality, entrepreneur, & author. She creates online video content incorporating veganism, humor and motivational speaking. Brown has over 5 million followers on TikTok and over 4.2 million followers on Instagram as of March 2023. She has been described by HuffPost as "America's Mom" and her content has been characterized by critics as being "comforting" and "calming". She is the host of the Food Network’s first plant-based cooking competition It’s CompliPlated and host of the Emmy winning YouTube children’s show Tab Time.

TikTok food trends are specific food recipes and food-related fads on the social media platform TikTok. This content amassed popularity in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, given that many were inclined to eat at home while simultaneously turning to social media as a form of entertainment. While some TikTok users share their diets and recipes, others expand their brand or image on TikTok through step-by-step videos of easy and popular recipes. Users often refer to food-related content as "FoodTok."

<i>Is It Cake?</i> 2022 television game show

Is It Cake? is an American game show–style cooking competition television series created by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz, and hosted by Mikey Day. The series premiered on Netflix on March 18, 2022. Contestants create cakes that replicate common objects in an effort to trick celebrity judges. Winners of each episode receive $5,000 and a chance to win more money by identifying which display of cash is real and which is cake.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Randle, Aaron (November 29, 2018). "New movie, viral videos and Ellen: This KCK native won't admit it, but he's famous". The Kansas City Star . Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Hatmaker, Julia (January 7, 2019). "Temple grad Kalen Allen celebrates one year anniversary with Ellen DeGeneres". The Patriot-News . Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "About TheKalenAllen". YouTube.
  4. 1 2 McCoy, Kimeko (October 14, 2019). "It Started With a 7-Up Salad for Viral Video Star Kalen Allen". AdWeek . Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Vlessing, Etan (September 22, 2022). "Kalen Allen Signs With WME (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  6. Harris, Vincent (November 6, 2019). "How Kalen Allen turned 15-minute internet fame into a budding entertainment career". Post and Courier. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Hatmaker, Julia (January 5, 2018). "Temple student 'may be the best thing on the internet,' according to Ellen DeGeneres". The Patriot-News . Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  8. Davenport, Emily (July 29, 2020). "Kalen Allen talks landing a job on 'Ellen' and new role in An American Pickle". AM New York Metro . Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 Jones, Gayneté (March 31, 2023). "TV's Funny, New 'It Man' Kalen Allen Is on a Mission to Spread Joy". Black Enterprise . Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  10. Harden, Brandon T (October 6, 2023). "Kalen Allen's first movie was 'An American Pickle'". The Columbian. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Harden, Brandon T. (July 31, 2020). "Temple grad Kalen Allen landed his first movie gig, alongside Seth Rogen". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Daw, Stephen (November 2, 2020). "Kalen Allen Wants to Light Up Your Holiday With Debut Album 'For Christmas Sake:' Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Totiyapungprasert, Priscilla. "3 Arizona teams will compete on this new Food Network cake show. Here's how to watch". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  14. Garrity, Katie (April 26, 2021). "Comedian Kalen Allen Steals the Spotlight on Cakealikes". Distractify. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  15. Seemayer, Zach (September 22, 2022). "Ricki Lake Talks New Podcast, Looking Back at Her Old Show and Reveals Her Dream Guests". CBS8. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Bobic, Chrissy (November 1, 2021). "The 'Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown' Judges Are Here to Crown a Winner". Distractify. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  17. Ring, Trudy (May 31, 2023). "60 Photos of Your Favorite Celebs Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth at GLSEN Respect Awards". Advocate. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  18. Artavia, David (November 24, 2019). "Is Kalen Allen The New Gay King of Media?". Advocate. Retrieved October 8, 2023.