Kent Shocknek

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Kent Shocknek, TV & film personality USC BA, Phi Beta Kappa Shocknek '21.jpg
Kent Shocknek, TV & film personality USC BA, Phi Beta Kappa

Kent Shocknek is an American television and film personality who branched into acting toward the end of a successful career as a TV newscaster. Because of the length of his journalism career, duration of his broadcasts, and breaking news events, by the time of his departure from news, he is credited with having logged more hours as an anchor than anyone else in Los Angeles. [1] The city has designated two separate days "Kent Shocknek Day" in his honor. Before anchoring prime-time newscasts on CBS-TV owned stations, Shocknek was Southern California's first and longest-running television news morning news anchor. [1] Because of his recognizability, he has been sought out to appear in more than 100 feature films and television dramas –often as a newscaster or commentator –giving rise to a popular second career that continues currently. [2] On radio, Shocknek has narrated daily commentaries in L.A., and has hosted a nationally syndicated entertainment program. Viewers and magazine readers also recognize him as an authority on automotive issues. [1]

Contents

Career

Born Kent Schoknecht in Berkeley, California, he simplified the on-air spelling of his name upon arrival to Los Angeles television. After working at the Long Beach Press Telegram while attending the University of Southern California, Shocknek's first TV reporting job was in Sioux City, Iowa (KCAU-TV), followed by a three-year stint as anchor and Space Shuttle reporter in Orlando, Florida (WFTV). [3]

In 1983, Shocknek joined KNBC-TV as a reporter and fill-in anchor for what was then known as News4LA. Three years later, he anchored the start-up of L.A.'s first TV morning news program, Today in LA on KNBC-TV. [4] Over the years, he broadcast —frequently single-handedly— such marathon events as the Los Angeles riots, O.J. Simpson murder trial, and numerous natural disasters.

Shocknek first made national news headlines anchoring the 1986 launch and explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger; and a strong aftershock to the deadly 5.9 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. The threat of falling studio lights forced Shocknek to take cover under his set's desk for several seconds as he continued reporting about ground- and studio movement. [5] [6]

After helming the consistently top-rated KNBC program for 15 years, Shocknek moved to KCBS-TV and began anchoring the morning editions of CBS 2 News in 2001. There, L.A. Confidential magazine named him one of L.A.'s top three anchors. He anchored live the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, and subsequently reported live on the War in Iraq, Michael Jackson's funeral, presidential inaugurations; plus Southern California's seasonal wildfires and frequent high-speed freeway chases. [1] In November 2013, Shocknek and his popular morning coanchor Suzie Suh moved to prime-time spots on Los Angeles CBS TV-owned station KCAL-TV, anchoring #1-rated newscasts, KCAL 9 News at 8 pm and 10 pm. In a move that surprised viewers, he retired from newscasting in late 2014. Shocknek's final newscast —including a 10-minute career retrospective and farewell video featuring L.A. newsmakers and Hollywood celebrities— aired September 26, 2014. [7] [8] [9] Various local governments and agencies, including the City and County of Los Angeles, as well as the State of California, have honored him for his work.

Shocknek on production location Shocknek2.jpg
Shocknek on production location

Shortly after Shocknek retired from news anchoring, the short film "The 6 O'Clock" premiered, starring Shocknek as the male lead in the role of a highly focused individual. He has acted in more than 100 major Hollywood film & TV productions, working for directors Steven Spielberg, Adam McKay in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Barry Levinson, and Justin Lin, among others. In television, Shocknek has marked more than a dozen appearances as newsman "Guy Ross" in the crime procedural drama NCIS and its spin-off series, NCIS: Los Angeles . He also has held recurring roles in Criminal Minds , and the Amazon series, Bosch .

Shocknek's voice is almost as well known as his image; he began writing and delivering the 60-second daily radio commentary Just A Minute with Kent Shocknek on CBS all-news radio station KNX-1070 AM in Los Angeles, in 2003. [1] Later, he launched Premiere Magazine Live! , a weekly national radio show about movies, in approximately 50 markets countrywide, [1] with his wife Karen, using the on-air surname Walters, working as co-host. [3]

Filmography

Film
TitleYearRoleNotes
The SubContractors2024James
Raveland2023Jacobed's father
Very Close Friends2021ManShort film, also co-producer
The Chosen One?2021Solemn Leader
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon 2021TV New AnchorCannes Film Festival official entry
Take Me to Tarzana2021Himself4 film festival official entry
Lucy in the Sky 2019HimselfAlso known as Pale Blue Dot
Speeeed Dating2018Man No. 4Short film
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 2016Himself
The Vatican Tapes 2015TV InterviewerUncredited
Nightcrawler 2014Himself
The Six O'Clock2014ManShort film
Jobs 20131980 Newscaster
The Amazing Spider-Man 2012TV NewscasterUncredited
Ultraman Saga 2012Capt. HibikiVoice
Brake 2012News Anchor Jack Stern
Fast Five 2011News Anchor
The Chosen One 2010Newscaster
The Company Men 2010Rittenour
Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy 2010BattlenizerVoice
Imagine That2009Financial Reporter
Eagle Eye 2008Newscaster
Winged Creatures 2008Hospital ReporterOriginally titled Fragments, released on DVD as Winged Creatures
Superhero Movie 2008News Anchor
Parasomnia 2008Himself
Disturbia 2007News Anchor
Primeval 2007Newscaster
xXx: State of the Union 2005Newscaster
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie 2004Network Reporter Direct-to-video
First Daughter 2004Contentious Reporter
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy 2004Network Reporter
The Terminal 2004Newscaster #1Uncredited
Envy 2004Newscaster
A View to a Kill 1985FishermanUncredited
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
2022BullInterviewer, badgering reporterSeason 4 ep17: "The Invisible Woman," and Season 6 episode 16: "The Diana Affair"
2022Sherman's ShowcaseKent ShocknekIFC/Hulu
2022Bosch SpinoffL.A. NewscasterIMDb TV/Amazon
2021Psycho Sweet 16Local newscasterFeifer Worldwide Entertainment
2021ShrillLocal newscasterHulu
2021SpongeBob DocuPantsHostNickelodeon: 8 episodes
2015-2021 Bosch Himself/Newscaster/News Anchor10 episodes
2021 Secrets of Sulphur Springs News AnchorSeason 1
2020TommyNews AnchorSeason 1: episodes 7, 10
2020Manhunt: Dangerous GamesAnchor No. 1The title of the second Manhunt: Unabomber
Season 2 episodes 1,2,5
2019ManifestNews AnchorSeason 2 episode 5: "Coordinated Flight"
2019Liberty FallsPierce BrennanTV movie
2004-2019 NCIS Guy Ross/Male Reporter10 episodes
2019 The Righteous Gemstones AnnouncerHBO
2019 Documentary Now! TV ReporterSeason 3 episodes 1 and 2: "Batsh*t Valley, Parts 1 & 2"
2016-2018 Madam Secretary News Anchor #1/News Anchor/Anchor5 episodes
2016 Supergirl NewscasterSeason 1 episode 12: "Bizarro"
2016 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Slade AustinSeason 4 episode 3: "Coral Palms Pt. 3"
2012-2015 NCIS: Los Angeles News Reporter/Reporter/News Anchor6 episodes
2014 Intelligence Reporter/Newscaster4 episodes
2014 Legends CBN ReporterSeason 1 episode 8: "Iconoclast"
2013 Under the Dome NewscasterSeason 1 episode 1: "Pilot"
2005–2013 Criminal Minds News Reporter/News Anchor Kent/Reporter John Jenkins3 episodes
2012 The Mentalist NewscasterSeason 4 episode 15: "War of the Roses"
2010 CSI: NY ReporterSeason 6 episode 12: "Criminal Justice"
2009-2010 True Jackson, VP HimselfSeason 1 episode 17: "Max Mannequin" and season 2 episode 13: "True Royal"
2009 Medium NewscasterSeason 6 episode 10: "You Give Me Fever"
2009 FlashForward Hansen/Medical Correspondent4 episodes
2009Washington FieldDavid SumnerTV movie
2009 Meteor WNN Overnight Anchor/AnchormanEpisodes: #1.1 and #1.2
2008 The Sarah Silverman Program TV Reporter/AnchorSeason 2 episode 10: "Patriot Tact" and Season 2 episode 16: "Vow Wow"
2008 The Unit TV NewscasterSeason 4 episode 1: "Into Hell: Part One"
2008 Dirty Sexy Money Channel 10 ReporterSeason 2 episode 12: ""The Family Lawyer"
2008 Grave Misconduct TV ReporterTV movie
2008 ER News ReporterSeason 14 episode 17: "Under Pressure"
2008 Monk TV ReporterSeason 6 episode 12: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Bank"
2006–2008 Shark Newscaster/TV Reporter/Reporter3 episodes
2006 Commander in Chief News Anchor Ben/News AnchorSeason 1 episode 11: "No Nukes Is Good Nukes" and Season 1 episode 16: The Elephant in the Room
2005 The West Wing AnchormanSeason 6 episode 20: "In God We Trust"
1993 Blossom HimselfSeason 4 episode 14: "Big Doings: Part 2"

Awards

Education

B.A., University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kent Shocknek". KCBS/KCAL Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  2. ↑ Kent Shocknek at IMDb
  3. 1 2 Kent Shocknek's Web Site: http://kentshocknek.com
  4. ↑ Braxton, Greg (February 9, 2001). "News Shift Results in Shake-Up at KNBC". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  5. ↑ Kent Shocknek video bio . Retrieved July 11, 2019– via YouTube.
  6. ↑ Earthquake captured on LIVE TV – TV Anchor freaks out!. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2019– via YouTube.
  7. ↑ Kent Shocknek video bio . Retrieved July 11, 2019– via YouTube.
  8. ↑ "Longtime Anchor Kent Shocknek Signs Off From Local News". KCAL/KCBS. September 26, 2014.
  9. ↑ Morrison, Patt (September 30, 2014). "No more Mr. News Guy – L.A. anchor Kent Shocknek signs off". Los Angeles Times .
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