Ben Mankiewicz

Last updated

Ben Mankiewicz
BenMankiewicz2012.jpg
Mankiewicz in 2012
Born
Benjamin Frederick Mankiewicz

(1967-03-25) March 25, 1967 (age 57)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Education Tufts University (BA)
Columbia University (MS)
Occupations
  • Television host
  • podcast host
  • film critic
  • journalist
Political party Democratic [1]
Movement Progressive
Spouses
Contessa Kellogg
​
​
(m. 2005;div. 2009)​
Lee Russo
​
(m. 2013)​
Parent(s) Frank Mankiewicz
Holly Mankiewicz
Family Mankiewicz

Benjamin Frederick Mankiewicz [2] (born March 25, 1967) is an American television personality, progressive political commentator, and film critic. He is a host on Turner Classic Movies [3] and has been a commentator on The Young Turks and What the Flick?!

Contents

Early life

Mankiewicz was born in Washington, D.C., to press secretary Frank Mankiewicz and Holly Mankiewicz (née Jolley) [4] of German–Jewish descent. [5] He is the cousin of screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz and filmmaker/television producer Nick Davis, [6] the grandson of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, the grand-nephew of screenwriter, producer, and director Joseph L. Mankiewicz, [6] [7] and the brother of NBC News reporter Josh Mankiewicz.

He attended Georgetown Day School for his primary and secondary education and received his undergraduate degree from Tufts University. In 1992, he received a Master of Science degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism with an emphasis in broadcast journalism. [8]

Career

Mankiewicz began his career as a reporter and an anchor for WCSC-TV (a CBS affiliate) in Charleston, South Carolina. He joined WAMI in Miami, Florida, in 1998, where he served as anchor of The Times, a daily news magazine show and the station's highlight program. [9]

In 2003, Mankiewicz was hired as a host for Turner Classic Movies, making his debut appearance on September 6. [10] [11] At the time, he was the network's second host with Robert Osborne being the first. To avoid imitating Osborne's style, Mankiewicz chose a loose, more casual demeanor, including sporting a goatee. According to Charles Tabesh, TCM's senior vice president of programming, this was encouraged. He reflected: "we really emphasized the differences [between them]. We asked him to have a goatee. We had him in a set that was a downtown loft, and his scripts were much less reverential." [12] Regardless, his early appearances was disliked among older network audiences. Years since, he started wearing more formal attire and adopted a clean-shaven image. [13]

In 2012, Osborne began delegating weekday primetime hosting appearances over to Mankiewicz. [14] Additionally, Mankiewicz hosted the network's late-night weekend series: Silent Sunday Nights and TCM Imports. In 2019, he transferred these duties to his colleagues Jacqueline Stewart and Alicia Malone, respectively. [15] [16] As of 2024, Mankiewicz hosts the primetime lineup from Wednesdays to Sundays (his colleagues Dave Karger and Alicia Malone host the primetime lineup on Mondays and Tuesdays, respectively). [17]

In 2008, Mankiewicz was hired to co-host the nationally syndicated television series At the Movies , alongside Ben Lyons. [18] While Lyons's credentials as a film critic was criticized, Mankiewicz received a favorable reception among television viewers. [19] Regardless, this incarnation was cancelled after one season, and they were replaced by A. O. Scott and Michael Phillips. In response, Mankiewicz stated: "I loved working on this show, every moment of it ... It was an honor to continue a broadcast legacy not merely started by Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, but created by them. No doubt the show is in good hands." [20]

He co-hosted the online film review show What the Flick?! on The Young Turks Network. [21] In 2020, TCM and Mankiewicz launched an original podcast titled The Plot Thickens, with the first season chronicling Peter Bogdanovich's ( The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon ) filmmaking career. [22] Subsequent seasons focused on the tumultuous production of The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990), Lucille Ball, and Pam Grier. [23] A fifth season is set to decipher the filmography of film director John Ford. [24] In 2023, Mankiewicz began co-hosting a second podcast series Talking Pictures, in which he interviewed Mel Brooks, Nancy Meyers, and Patty Jenkins among others. [25] A second season has since been renewed. [26]

Mankiewicz has made cameo appearances in the Lifetime television movie The Bling Ring (2011) and the action film White House Down (2013). He also appears regularly on other shows as a political and media commentator, including The Michael Brooks Show in 2017. [27] In 2019, he became a news contributor for CBS News Sunday Morning . [3] He was among the people interviewed for the documentary film Memory: The Origins of Alien (2019).

Personal life

Mankiewicz married his second wife, Lee Russo, aboard the Disney Magic during the 2013 TCM Classic Cruise. [12] They live in Santa Monica, California with their daughter, Josie. [3] [28]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011The Bling RingHostTV movie
2012Ten Years of the Young TurksHimself
2013 White House Down Reporter
The Screenwriters: The Stars Behind the CameraHimself
2014TCM: Twenty Classic MomentsHostTV movie
Mad as Hell Himself
I Am Steve McQueenFilm critic
Hannibal: This Is My DesignHimself
2015Robert Osborne's 20th Anniversary TributeHimself
2017Faye Dunaway: Live from the TCM Classic Film FestivalHost
2018Michael Douglas: Live from the TCM Classic Film FestivalHost
The Great Buster Himself
The Producers: Q&A with Mel Brooks from the TCM Classic Film FestivalModerator/Interviewer
2019 Memory: The Origins of Alien Host, Turner Classic Movies
2020 Mank Broadcaster, Academy AwardsVoice role
Stuntwoman: The Untold Hollywood StoryHimself
2021I Am Alfred HitchcockHimselfVoice role
Film, the Living Record of our MemoryHimself
TBAUntitled Mad As Hell Anthology FilmHimselfPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003 The Practice News AnchorEpisode: "Les Is More"
Summer Under the Stars Host
2004 Cartoon Alley Host
2006–2020 The Young Turks Host/Himself/Guest18 episodes
2007–2008 TMZ on TV Himself3 episodes
2007 Big Love News presenterEpisode: "Good Guys and Bad Guys"
2008–2009 At the Movies Co-Host25 episodes
2009 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Guest Expert3 episodes
The Bonnie Hunt Show Himself1 episode
2010–2015TYT SportsHost/Anchor21 episodes
2010–2017What the Flick?!Host154 episodes
2010 Party Down SportscasterEpisode: "Cole Landry's Draft Day Party"
The Rotten Tomatoes Show Himself4 episodes
2011; 2014 The Point Himself2 episodes
2012TYT Arm Wrestling TournamentCompetitorEpisode: "Michael vs. Ben"
AM NorthwestHimselfEpisode: "Ernest Borgnine"
Hot Set HostEpisode: "Alien Queen"
SAG Foundation ConversationsHostEpisode: "Illeana Douglas"
2013 The War Room with Michael Shure Guest1 episode
2014–2019 Jeopardy! Clue Giver/Video Clue Presenter4 episodes
2015Mad as Hell: The SeriesHimself4 episodes
AFI Life Achievement Award HimselfEpisode: "AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Steve Martin"
2016–2019TCM Guest Programmer21 episodes
2016The CowboyHimself2 episodes
2017TCM Spotlight: 50 Years of HitchcockHost10 episodes
TCM Co-HostHimselfEpisode: "George Pal Tribute"
The Michael Brooks Show Himself1 episode
2018 Good Day L.A. Himself1 episode
2019–2020The Very Very Best of the 70sHimself/Commentator2 episodes
2019–present CBS News Sunday Morning Himself/CBS News Correspondent17 episodes
2019 Private Screenings HostEpisode: "The Best of Private Screenings"
TCM Presents: Never Surrender - WWII in the MoviesHost27 episodes
TCM Presents: Out of This WorldHost3 episodes
The Movies Himself6 episodes
TCM Spotlight: Gridiron Glory - College Football in the MoviesHost13 episodes
TCM Spotlight: Pets on SetsHost12 episodes
2020 The Simpsons HimselfEpisode: "Treehouse of Horror XXXI" [29]
Now ShowingHost48 episodes
AFI Movie ClubHimselfEpisode: "Ben Mankiewicz announces Ben Hur"
Well, This Isn't NormalHimselfEpisode: "Ben Mankiwicz Has a Voice for Storytelling"
The Essentials Host20 episodes
2021 Cartoon Network's Cartoonito Himself
2022The Big LieNarratorPodcast series
2023 AEW Dynamite PresenterIntroduced 'Timeless' Toni Storm to the ring in a pre-taped video
2024HimselfAppearanced in a pre-taped promo with 'Timeless' Toni Storm

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References

  1. ↑ "How the Mankiewicz Family Got Their Hollywood Ending".
  2. ↑ Broadcasting – Google Books. 1957. Retrieved July 11, 2013– via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ben Mankiewicz". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  4. ↑ Mankiewicz, Josh. "What Mom taught me... – Inside Dateline". MSNBC. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  5. ↑ Friedman, Gabe (December 4, 2020). "The real story behind 'Mank,' the new movie about the Jewish screenwriter who brought us 'Citizen Kane'". Jewish Telegraphic Agency . Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Bonnett, Margie. "Frank Mankiewicz". People.com. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Ben's Top Pick for October 2015". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Ben Mankiewicz". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  9. ↑ TV.com. "Ben Mankiewicz profile". Tv.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Interview With Ben Mankiewicz, TCM's Daytime Weekend Host". Turner Classic Movies (Interview). Archived from the original on December 14, 2003. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  11. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (April 9, 2019). "TCM at 25: Ben Mankiewicz on How to Make the Perfect Introduction". Variety . Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  12. 1 2 King, Susan (August 1, 2015). "Classic Hollywood: TCM host Ben Mankiewicz's path from snarky newbie to a classic in his own right". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  13. ↑ Keegan, Rebecca (April 6, 2017). "How TCM Is Navigating a Post–Robert Osborne World". Vanity Fair . Archived from the original on April 9, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  14. ↑ Osborne, Robert (October 1, 2012). "A Note from Robert Osborne to his fans". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  15. ↑ "TCM Imports with Host Alicia Malone". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  16. ↑ Bitran, Tara (September 9, 2019). "Jacqueline Stewart Becomes First African American Host at Turner Classic Movies". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  17. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (April 9, 2019). "How Turner Classic Movies Built a Marquee Brand by Catering to Film Fans". Variety. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ Thompson, Anne (July 22, 2008). "Lyons, Mankiewicz to host 'Movies'". Variety. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  19. ↑ Lee, Chris (December 28, 2008). "Dumbing Down the Film Critic". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  20. ↑ Rosenthal, Phil (August 5, 2009). "Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips, N.Y. Times' A.O. Scott take over 'At the Movies'". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Home Page - TYT Network". TYT Network. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  22. ↑ "TCM Launches Podcast 'The Plot Thickens' in April" (Press release). WarnerMedia Podcast Network. March 30, 2020. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  23. ↑ Barnes, Mike (April 20, 2022). "TCM's Next 'Plot Thickens' Podcast: Pam Grier". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  24. ↑ "TCM's Acclaimed Podcast The Plot Thickens Returns for Season Five Focusing on John Ford" (Press release). Warner Bros. Discovery. April 17, 2024. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  25. ↑ Spangler, Todd (November 16, 2023). "TCM's Ben Mankiewicz Sets New Podcast Series Interviewing Filmmakers Including Mel Brooks, Nancy Meyers, Patty Jenkins (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 16, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  26. ↑ Spangler, Todd (March 19, 2024). "Ben Mankiewicz's 'Talking Pictures' Movie Interview Podcast Renewed for Season 2 at TCM and Max". Variety. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  27. ↑ The Majority Report with Sam Seder (November 14, 2017), TMBS - Ep. 15 – Why Evangelicals Can't Quit Roy Moore ft. Ben Mankiewicz & Sarah Jones, archived from the original on December 19, 2021, retrieved January 9, 2018
  28. ↑ Bernstein, Adam (June 14, 2013). "Grandson of 'Citizen Kane' co-writer continues a family tradition as a TCM host". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  29. ↑ "(SI-3117) "Treehouse of Horror XXXI"". The Futon Critic . October 20, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
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