Kent Shocknek

Last updated

Kent Shocknek, TV & film personality. USC BA, Phi Beta Kappa. Shocknek 24.png
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 the 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.

Kent Shocknek KShocknek2.jpg
Kent Shocknek

Shocknek has continued his presence in front of the camera, portraying newscasters and various authority figures in more than 100 major Hollywood film & TV productions and independent films. He has worked directors Steven Spielberg, Adam McKay in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Barry Levinson, and Justin Lin, among others. On 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
Lake Jesup: Bonecrusher's Revenge2025Paul
The SubContractors2025JamesFeature film, also co-producer
Lilly2024Man at grocery store
Raveland2023Jacobed's father
Very Close Friends2021ManShort film, male lead, 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, male lead
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
TitleRoleNotes
Bosch: LegacyL.A. Newscaster3 episodes IMDb TV/Amazon
NCIS Guy Ross/Male Reporter11 episodes
BullInterviewer, badgering reporterSeason 4 ep17: "The Invisible Woman," and Season 6 episode 16: "The Diana Affair"
Sherman's ShowcaseKent ShocknekIFC/Hulu
ShrillLocal newscasterHulu
SpongeBob DocuPantsHostNickelodeon: 8 episodes
Secrets of Sulphur Springs News AnchorFeifer Worldwide Entertainment
Bosch Himself/Newscaster/News Anchor10 episodes
TommyNews AnchorSeason 1: episodes 7, 10
Manhunt: Dangerous GamesAnchor No. 1The title of the second Manhunt: Unabomber
Season 2 episodes 1,2,5
ManifestNews AnchorSeason 2 episode 5: "Coordinated Flight"
Liberty FallsPierce BrennanTV movie
The Righteous Gemstones AnnouncerHBO
Documentary Now! TV ReporterSeason 3 episodes 1 and 2: "Batsh*t Valley, Parts 1 & 2"
Madam Secretary News Anchor #1/News Anchor/Anchor5 episodes
Supergirl NewscasterSeason 1 episode 12: "Bizarro"
Brooklyn Nine-Nine Slade AustinSeason 4 episode 3: "Coral Palms Pt. 3"
NCIS: Los Angeles News Reporter/Reporter/News Anchor6 episodes
Intelligence Reporter/Newscaster4 episodes
Legends CBN ReporterSeason 1 episode 8: "Iconoclast"
Under the Dome NewscasterSeason 1 episode 1: "Pilot"
Criminal Minds News Reporter/News Anchor Kent/Reporter John Jenkins3 episodes
The Mentalist NewscasterSeason 4 episode 15: "War of the Roses"
CSI: NY ReporterSeason 6 episode 12: "Criminal Justice"
True Jackson, VP HimselfSeason 1 episode 17: "Max Mannequin" and season 2 episode 13: "True Royal"
Medium NewscasterSeason 6 episode 10: "You Give Me Fever"
FlashForward Hansen/Medical Correspondent4 episodes
Washington FieldDavid SumnerTV movie
Meteor WNN Overnight Anchor/AnchormanEpisodes: #1.1 and #1.2
The Sarah Silverman Program TV Reporter/AnchorSeason 2 episode 10: "Patriot Tact" and Season 2 episode 16: "Vow Wow"
The Unit TV NewscasterSeason 4 episode 1: "Into Hell: Part One"
Dirty Sexy Money Channel 10 ReporterSeason 2 episode 12: ""The Family Lawyer"
Grave Misconduct TV ReporterTV movie
ER News ReporterSeason 14 episode 17: "Under Pressure"
Monk TV ReporterSeason 6 episode 12: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Bank"
Shark Newscaster/TV Reporter/Reporter3 episodes
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
The West Wing AnchormanSeason 6 episode 20: "In God We Trust"
Blossom HimselfSeason 4 episode 14: "Big Doings: Part 2"

Awards

Education

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTTV</span> TV station in Los Angeles

KTTV is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast flagship of the Fox network. It is owned and operated by the network's Fox Television Stations division alongside MyNetworkTV outlet KCOP-TV. The two stations share studios at the Fox Television Center in West Los Angeles; KTTV's transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCAL-TV</span> TV station in Los Angeles

KCAL-TV is an independent television station in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is owned by the CBS News and Stations group alongside CBS West Coast flagship KCBS-TV. The two stations share studios at the Radford Studio Center on Radford Avenue in the Studio City section of Los Angeles; KCAL-TV's transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNBC</span> TV station in Los Angeles

KNBC is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast flagship of the NBC network. It is owned and operated by the network's NBC Owned Television Stations division alongside Corona-licensed Telemundo outlet KVEA. The two stations share studios at the Brokaw News Center in the northwest corner of the Universal Studios Hollywood lot off Lankershim Boulevard in Universal City; KNBC's transmitter is located on Mount Wilson.

KCBS-TV, branded CBS Los Angeles, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast flagship of the CBS network. It is owned and operated by the network's CBS News and Stations division alongside independent outlet KCAL-TV. The two stations share studios at the Radford Studio Center on Radford Avenue in the Studio City section of Los Angeles; KCBS-TV's transmitter is located on the western side of Mount Wilson near Occidental Peak.

Jerry Dunphy was an American television news anchor in the Los Angeles/Southern California media market. He was best known for his intro "From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California, a good evening."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KABC-TV</span> TV station in Los Angeles

KABC-TV is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast flagship of the ABC network. Owned and operated by the network's ABC Owned Television Stations division, the station maintains studios in the Grand Central Business Centre of Glendale, and its transmitter is located on Mount Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTLA</span> TV station in Los Angeles

KTLA is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast flagship of The CW. It is the largest directly owned property of the network's majority owner, Nexstar Media Group, and is the second-largest operated property after WPIX in New York City. KTLA's studios are located at the Sunset Bronson Studios on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.

Sharon Tay is a retired American television news anchor reporter. She was anchor of the KTLA Morning News and with KCBS-TV/KCAL-TV, and did entertainment news reporting with MSNBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leyna Nguyen</span> Vietnamese-American podcaster and former television anchor and reporter

Leyna Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American podcaster and former television anchor and reporter in Los Angeles, California.

James Webster Hill is an American sportscaster, currently lead sports anchor and sports director at KCBS-TV Los Angeles. He is a former American football defensive back who played in the National Football League.

The KTLA 5 Morning News is an American morning television news program airing on KTLA, a CW-owned-and-operated station in Los Angeles, California owned by Nexstar Media Group. The program broadcasts each weekday from 4 am to 12 pm Pacific Time. The 4-7 am portion is a general news/traffic/weather format; the 7 am-12 pm portion also features news, traffic, and weather but emphasizes entertainment and other light-hearted stories. Weekend editions of the program also air on Saturday and Sunday from 6-11 a.m.

Myron Jess Marlow was an American journalist. He was best known for his work on television in Los Angeles, California, where he spent the bulk of his career.

Harold Greene is a journalist and news anchor at KCAL 9 News and CBS 2 News in Los Angeles. Before joining the CBS duopoly, Greene had a television news career, mostly in Southern California.

Today in L.A. is a local morning news and entertainment television program airing on KNBC, an NBC owned-and-operated television station in Los Angeles, California that is owned by the NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations division of NBCUniversal. The program is broadcast each weekday morning from 4:00 to 7 a.m. Pacific Time, immediately preceding NBC's Today. Weekend editions of the program also air on Saturday and Sunday from 7 to 8 a.m..

Ann Martin is a former journalist and a news anchor for the CBS owned-and-operated KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV television stations in Los Angeles, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Lange</span> American journalist

Kelly Lange is an American journalist, most notable for being the first woman to be a nightly news anchor in Los Angeles. Lange, a Shakespeare major in college, is a longtime news anchor in Los Angeles, a veteran radio and TV news reporter, NBC talk show host, former Tournament of Roses parade co-host, and a best-selling mystery author.

Elita A. Loresca, is a Filipino-American newscaster. She has worked for KGET-TV, the NBC affiliate in Bakersfield, California, WSVN 7 in Miami, Florida, and KNBC in Los Angeles, California. Loresca currently works at KTRK-TV in Houston, Texas.

David Sheehan was an American broadcaster, interviewer, host and reporter. Starting in 1970 on CBS, Sheehan was a reviewer and interviewer covering movies and television on a daily local newscast. He went on to host three annual national specials: Summer Movie Magic, Holiday Movie Magic and Academy Awards Movie Magic. Sheehan worked the 1970s and early-1980s on CBS, moved to NBC from 1984-1994, and finished up his 34 years of daily newscasting back at CBS from 1994-2004. Sheehan was the author of the novel Before I Wake, published under the pen-name David Dury.

Tritia Toyota is a former Los Angeles television news anchor and a current adjunct assistant professor in anthropology, Asian American studies and the media at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Frank Mottek is an American broadcast journalist known as “The Voice of Business News in Los Angeles” for his business reports on radio and television stations in Los Angeles, and hosting business news shows including "Mottek On Money." His broadcasts and podcasts have provided business, consumer and financial news to millions in the Greater Los Angeles area. Mottek also serves as moderator and master of ceremonies at business events and conferences. He is also known for his reporting and anchoring on TV stations KCAL-TV, KCBS-TV and KTLA in Los Angeles as well as the Nightly Business Report on PBS.

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 .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.