Taryn Winter Brill
Good Morning America
Mentor: Jeffrey Gurian
Taryn Winter Brill joined ABC News' "Good Morning America" as the morning news program's features
correspondent in March 2008. As "GMA's" "ambassador of fun," Brill searches the country for all things
interesting, exciting and unique — reporting live from ABC's Times Square Studios in the heart of
midtown Manhattan as well as various locations around the city.
TWB (as her friends like to call her, her middle name is Winter) joined "GMA" after spending two years
with "Good Day Sacramento," the top-rated local morning show in Sacramento, where Taryn anchored
the weekend broadcast and delivered lively feature reports on weekdays. From ice curling and skeet
shooting, to Oktoberfest dance lessons and learning the art of a good mud wrap, no live shot is off
limits — as Brill puts it "the quirkier the better!"
Some of her most memorable assignments include flying in a U.S. Air Force jet at 600 mph (the "hurl of
a lifetime" as Brill reported) and sky diving with the U.S. Army Golden Knights. Brill was also known in
Sacramento for her signature "Phat Tuesday" segments (a franchise she created) that explored the
world of luxury living — from cruising on private jets to sampling the most expensive shampoo in the
world, Tuesdays in Sacramento got a little bit fancier.
Through it all, Brill is known for her wacky sense of adventure, dry sense of humor and signature curly
hair. Before moving to Sacramento, Brill lived in Los Angeles where she got her start as a reporter for
Channel One News, a national news program broadcast in high school classrooms. She segued into
entertainment as the host of the Emmy-nominated channel AOL Music-on-Demand. Brill was also a host
for AOL Movies & Moviefone, interviewing all of Hollywood's biggest celebrities at press junkets, red
carpets and movie set visits.
Brill has appeared in several national commercial and print campaigns. She is an avid tennis player,
loves to bowl and is currently seeking a competitive ping pong league. She resides in New York City.
Good Morning America
Mentor: Jeffrey Gurian
Taryn Winter Brill joined ABC News' "Good Morning America" as the morning news program's features
correspondent in March 2008. As "GMA's" "ambassador of fun," Brill searches the country for all things
interesting, exciting and unique — reporting live from ABC's Times Square Studios in the heart of
midtown Manhattan as well as various locations around the city.
TWB (as her friends like to call her, her middle name is Winter) joined "GMA" after spending two years
with "Good Day Sacramento," the top-rated local morning show in Sacramento, where Taryn anchored
the weekend broadcast and delivered lively feature reports on weekdays. From ice curling and skeet
shooting, to Oktoberfest dance lessons and learning the art of a good mud wrap, no live shot is off
limits — as Brill puts it "the quirkier the better!"
Some of her most memorable assignments include flying in a U.S. Air Force jet at 600 mph (the "hurl of
a lifetime" as Brill reported) and sky diving with the U.S. Army Golden Knights. Brill was also known in
Sacramento for her signature "Phat Tuesday" segments (a franchise she created) that explored the
world of luxury living — from cruising on private jets to sampling the most expensive shampoo in the
world, Tuesdays in Sacramento got a little bit fancier.
Through it all, Brill is known for her wacky sense of adventure, dry sense of humor and signature curly
hair. Before moving to Sacramento, Brill lived in Los Angeles where she got her start as a reporter for
Channel One News, a national news program broadcast in high school classrooms. She segued into
entertainment as the host of the Emmy-nominated channel AOL Music-on-Demand. Brill was also a host
for AOL Movies & Moviefone, interviewing all of Hollywood's biggest celebrities at press junkets, red
carpets and movie set visits.
Brill has appeared in several national commercial and print campaigns. She is an avid tennis player,
loves to bowl and is currently seeking a competitive ping pong league. She resides in New York City.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Robert George
New York Post
Mentor: Mark Anthony Ramirez
Robert A. George is an incredible editorial writer for the New York Post and an occasional
stand-up comic and improv performer.
He is a former Senior Writer for Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and Coalitions Director
for the Republican National Committee.
His written work includes contributions to National Review, Reason, The New Republic and
The American Conservative. He also operates Ragged Thots and contributes to the Political
Capital blog.
New York Post
Mentor: Mark Anthony Ramirez
Robert A. George is an incredible editorial writer for the New York Post and an occasional
stand-up comic and improv performer.
He is a former Senior Writer for Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and Coalitions Director
for the Republican National Committee.
His written work includes contributions to National Review, Reason, The New Republic and
The American Conservative. He also operates Ragged Thots and contributes to the Political
Capital blog.
Rob Hoell
WPIX
Mentor: Billy Bingo
Rob Hoell joined the CW11 News Team in 2005 as the Long Island reporter for the CW11
news at Ten. Since that time he has been honored with 2 FOLIO awards for his outstanding
reporting and a New York Press Club Award for Best Anticipated New Story for his coverage
of "Flight 800 Ten Years Later."
Hoell grew up on Long Island and has been covering news there since the late 90's. He got
his start at WLNY and worked for News 12 Long Island and Westchester.
Hoell graduated from New York Institute of Technology with a Masters Degree in
communications. He lives in Nassau County, where he enjoys sailing with his wife and 2
children.
WPIX
Mentor: Billy Bingo
Rob Hoell joined the CW11 News Team in 2005 as the Long Island reporter for the CW11
news at Ten. Since that time he has been honored with 2 FOLIO awards for his outstanding
reporting and a New York Press Club Award for Best Anticipated New Story for his coverage
of "Flight 800 Ten Years Later."
Hoell grew up on Long Island and has been covering news there since the late 90's. He got
his start at WLNY and worked for News 12 Long Island and Westchester.
Hoell graduated from New York Institute of Technology with a Masters Degree in
communications. He lives in Nassau County, where he enjoys sailing with his wife and 2
children.
Tasha Harris
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
STAGE TIME
Tasha Harris is the founding editor of STAGE TIME, a leading online publication that covers
the craft and business of stand-up comedy. Best known for her revealing interviews and
acerbic commentary, she has established herself as one of the most outspoken comedy
critics. Harris was the former news editor of Two Drink Minimum and a contributing writer to
The Comic Bible. She also serves as the comedy editor of Talent in Motion magazine and is
credited for expanding the magazine's coverage of comedy and creating a new award
category, best comedian for their annual Timmy Awards.
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
STAGE TIME
Tasha Harris is the founding editor of STAGE TIME, a leading online publication that covers
the craft and business of stand-up comedy. Best known for her revealing interviews and
acerbic commentary, she has established herself as one of the most outspoken comedy
critics. Harris was the former news editor of Two Drink Minimum and a contributing writer to
The Comic Bible. She also serves as the comedy editor of Talent in Motion magazine and is
credited for expanding the magazine's coverage of comedy and creating a new award
category, best comedian for their annual Timmy Awards.
Ryan McCormick
Executive Producer
Ryan McCormick is President of Rising Sun Public Relations and Publicity Manager of the New
York Underground Comedy Festival (since 2004) and has appeared on ABC News, Fox News,
CBS, and NBC.
In June 2009, McCormick helped Media Training Worldwide break the Guinness World
Record for the "Most Radio Interviews Within 24 Hours." Both participants (authors)
appeared on 125 radio shows worldwide and the entire event was broadcast live on
FoxNews.com. In 2008, McCormick presided over Comic Strip Live's Guinness World
Record for the "Longest Stand Up Comedy Show In History" - an event where he unofficially set
the world record for the "Most Consecutive Hours Ever Worked By A Publicist."
McCormick has produced New York's Funniest Reporter Show since it's inception.
Executive Producer
Ryan McCormick is President of Rising Sun Public Relations and Publicity Manager of the New
York Underground Comedy Festival (since 2004) and has appeared on ABC News, Fox News,
CBS, and NBC.
In June 2009, McCormick helped Media Training Worldwide break the Guinness World
Record for the "Most Radio Interviews Within 24 Hours." Both participants (authors)
appeared on 125 radio shows worldwide and the entire event was broadcast live on
FoxNews.com. In 2008, McCormick presided over Comic Strip Live's Guinness World
Record for the "Longest Stand Up Comedy Show In History" - an event where he unofficially set
the world record for the "Most Consecutive Hours Ever Worked By A Publicist."
McCormick has produced New York's Funniest Reporter Show since it's inception.
Sean McCarthy
The Comic's Comic
In 2007, Sean L. McCarthy brought down the house and won the 2nd Annual New York's
Funniest Reporter Show. The creator of the Comic's Comic (an explosively popular blog about
all things comedy) has written about comedy for the New York Daily News, Entertainment
Weekly, the Boston Herald and other publications.
Before that, he also worked as a professional stand-up and improv comedian, opening for
many comedians you know and some you don't know but should. In June 2008, McCarthy
defied nature by blogging all 50 hours of the Comic Strip Live's Guinness World Record
"Longest Stand Up Comedy Show in History" event.
The Comic's Comic
In 2007, Sean L. McCarthy brought down the house and won the 2nd Annual New York's
Funniest Reporter Show. The creator of the Comic's Comic (an explosively popular blog about
all things comedy) has written about comedy for the New York Daily News, Entertainment
Weekly, the Boston Herald and other publications.
Before that, he also worked as a professional stand-up and improv comedian, opening for
many comedians you know and some you don't know but should. In June 2008, McCarthy
defied nature by blogging all 50 hours of the Comic Strip Live's Guinness World Record
"Longest Stand Up Comedy Show in History" event.
Dylan Gadino
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
Punchline Magazine
Dylan Gadino is the founder and editor in chief of PunchlineMagazine.com, an online
publication and major Internet hub for all things stand-up comedy. Launched in 2005, the
site has become the number one destination for interviews with the biggest comedians in
the country as well as breaking comedy news and reviews. Dylan is also the creator and the
host of A Tight 5, a video web series wherein he chats with well-known comedians on stage
at Comix comedy club in New York City.
Founder & Editor-In-Chief
Punchline Magazine
Dylan Gadino is the founder and editor in chief of PunchlineMagazine.com, an online
publication and major Internet hub for all things stand-up comedy. Launched in 2005, the
site has become the number one destination for interviews with the biggest comedians in
the country as well as breaking comedy news and reviews. Dylan is also the creator and the
host of A Tight 5, a video web series wherein he chats with well-known comedians on stage
at Comix comedy club in New York City.
Ellis Henican
Newsday / Fox News
Mentor: Billy Bingo
Ellis Henican is a staff columnist for Newsday, an electrifying political analyst at the Fox News
Channel and the voice of “Stormy Waters” on the prime-time Cartoon Network series, Sealab
2021.
Henican’s award-winning newspaper column -- a personal, opinionated look at the news of the
day – appears in the paper’s front section every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Before taking
on his current assignment, Henican wrote Newsday’s subway column, leading the paper to a
Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Union Square train wreck.
At Fox, Henican appears frequently on “The O’Reilly Factor,” “Hannity & Colmes,” “Fox &
Friends” and many of the network’s other programs. He also fills in as a guest host. Fox viewers
know Henican for his lively take on the news and for dissecting complex issues in an engaging,
understandable way.
His work has been recognized with the Meyer Berger Award for Distinguished Writing About
New York City, the National Clarion Award for Column Writing and shares of two Pulitzer Prizes
for spot news.
Newsday / Fox News
Mentor: Billy Bingo
Ellis Henican is a staff columnist for Newsday, an electrifying political analyst at the Fox News
Channel and the voice of “Stormy Waters” on the prime-time Cartoon Network series, Sealab
2021.
Henican’s award-winning newspaper column -- a personal, opinionated look at the news of the
day – appears in the paper’s front section every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Before taking
on his current assignment, Henican wrote Newsday’s subway column, leading the paper to a
Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Union Square train wreck.
At Fox, Henican appears frequently on “The O’Reilly Factor,” “Hannity & Colmes,” “Fox &
Friends” and many of the network’s other programs. He also fills in as a guest host. Fox viewers
know Henican for his lively take on the news and for dissecting complex issues in an engaging,
understandable way.
His work has been recognized with the Meyer Berger Award for Distinguished Writing About
New York City, the National Clarion Award for Column Writing and shares of two Pulitzer Prizes
for spot news.
Alison Rosen
Fox News / The Daily Alison
Mentors: Tim Krompier
An established journalist who has written for Rolling Stone, Vibe, Spin, The Village Voice,
People and Seventeen and a go-to TV guest commentator, Alison Rosen has a quick wit,
sharp tongue and a keen sense of pop culture, news and humor. Alison began her career as
a professional journalist early – scoring a contributing writer byline for the Los Angeles Times
while still in high school in California. A prodigious writer and guitarist in a punk rock band,
Alison worked at the OC Weekly in Orange County as a music writer and then as Features
Editor before moving to New York and helming the "Hot Seat" section of Time Out New York
where she worked from 2005 to 2008.
Previously, Alison’s weekly segment "Best Bets" ran on New York's WNBC-TV from 2005 to
2008, where she highlighted and discussed events going on in the city. She has appeared on
A&E's "Biography," "The Montel Williams Show," “Hannity & Colmes,” E!’s “Chelsea Lately,”
Fox & Friends,” Fox 5's “Good Day New York,” the CW 11 “Morning News,” the CBS 2 News
“This Morning” and hosted numerous “Time Out On Demand” segments.Her blog can be
found at http://alisonmrosen.blogspot.com/. Clips from her TV appearances are posted at
http://www.youtube.com/user/AlisonRosen. Alison lives and works in New York City.
Fox News / The Daily Alison
Mentors: Tim Krompier
An established journalist who has written for Rolling Stone, Vibe, Spin, The Village Voice,
People and Seventeen and a go-to TV guest commentator, Alison Rosen has a quick wit,
sharp tongue and a keen sense of pop culture, news and humor. Alison began her career as
a professional journalist early – scoring a contributing writer byline for the Los Angeles Times
while still in high school in California. A prodigious writer and guitarist in a punk rock band,
Alison worked at the OC Weekly in Orange County as a music writer and then as Features
Editor before moving to New York and helming the "Hot Seat" section of Time Out New York
where she worked from 2005 to 2008.
Previously, Alison’s weekly segment "Best Bets" ran on New York's WNBC-TV from 2005 to
2008, where she highlighted and discussed events going on in the city. She has appeared on
A&E's "Biography," "The Montel Williams Show," “Hannity & Colmes,” E!’s “Chelsea Lately,”
Fox & Friends,” Fox 5's “Good Day New York,” the CW 11 “Morning News,” the CBS 2 News
“This Morning” and hosted numerous “Time Out On Demand” segments.Her blog can be
found at http://alisonmrosen.blogspot.com/. Clips from her TV appearances are posted at
http://www.youtube.com/user/AlisonRosen. Alison lives and works in New York City.
Our Unbelievably Prestigious Judges
Our Unbelievably Courageous Reporters
Our Unbelievable Executive Producer
Nikki Egan
MSNBC
Mentor: Vanessa Hollingshead
Nikki Egan is an Emmy Award - winning senior producer at MSNBC. She's hoping
something else will happen in her lifetime so that won't be the first line of her obituary. Not
that she doesn't like MSNBC (she loves it), but she's milked that Emmy line for a while and
her friends are tired of it. As a producer, she's been right in the middle of some of the big
stories of the past (redacted) years, including the 2000 ballot debacle in Florida. (Don't ask
to see her hanging chads. She's shy.) Besides attempting standup comedy, Nikki also runs
around the park occasionally, dances better than Britney at the VMAs (who doesn't?), eats
her vegetables and sleeps. She'd like to thank Kermit the Frog, Walter Cronkite and Mary
Richards for inspiring her to become a journalist.
MSNBC
Mentor: Vanessa Hollingshead
Nikki Egan is an Emmy Award - winning senior producer at MSNBC. She's hoping
something else will happen in her lifetime so that won't be the first line of her obituary. Not
that she doesn't like MSNBC (she loves it), but she's milked that Emmy line for a while and
her friends are tired of it. As a producer, she's been right in the middle of some of the big
stories of the past (redacted) years, including the 2000 ballot debacle in Florida. (Don't ask
to see her hanging chads. She's shy.) Besides attempting standup comedy, Nikki also runs
around the park occasionally, dances better than Britney at the VMAs (who doesn't?), eats
her vegetables and sleeps. She'd like to thank Kermit the Frog, Walter Cronkite and Mary
Richards for inspiring her to become a journalist.
Lori Harfenist
The Resident
Mentors: Gina Brillon & Mark Anthony Ramirez
Lori Harfenist has been hosting and producing "The Resident" for TV and the web since
2000. She's one of YouTube's All-Time Most Subscribed, and she's been named one of the
the Best Internet Personalities by Yahoo!. Lori has produced work for NBC's NY Nonstop,
CNN, DirecTV, Russia Today, Al Jazeera, and many others over the years, bringing her
signature brand of sarcasm and fun to all the pieces she does. Check her out on her site at
http://www.theresident.net.
The Resident
Mentors: Gina Brillon & Mark Anthony Ramirez
Lori Harfenist has been hosting and producing "The Resident" for TV and the web since
2000. She's one of YouTube's All-Time Most Subscribed, and she's been named one of the
the Best Internet Personalities by Yahoo!. Lori has produced work for NBC's NY Nonstop,
CNN, DirecTV, Russia Today, Al Jazeera, and many others over the years, bringing her
signature brand of sarcasm and fun to all the pieces she does. Check her out on her site at
http://www.theresident.net.
Noelle Hancock
Mentors: Mark Anthony Ramirez & Carole Montgomery
Noelle Hancock was born and raised in Houston, TX, and graduated from Yale University in
2002. She is a former staff writer for the New York Observer and helped launch Us Weekly
magazine’s entertainment blog as well as Pagesix.com (R.I.P.). Her work has appeared in
Rolling Stone, GQ, Blender, Stuff, New York Post, Maxim (including three cover stories), Page
Six Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire U.K., Fashion Week Daily, Nymagazine.com, and
Gawker.com, among other publications. Her six-word memoir is featured in the book "Six-
Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak." Noelle has provided weighty commentary for such
shows as Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Access Hollywood, VH1 News, TV Guide Channel,
VH1’s The Fabulous Life Of, Studio B with Shepard Smith, Fox & Friends, Lips & Ears, and
Red Eye, on which she once defended a school teacher who was fired for making paintings
with his butt. She is currently at work on her first book, "My Year With Eleanor," to be
published by HarperCollins/Ecco Press in 2010. She lives in New York City with her
parakeets, Jesus and Stuart. Her parents are still holding out for law school.
Mentors: Mark Anthony Ramirez & Carole Montgomery
Noelle Hancock was born and raised in Houston, TX, and graduated from Yale University in
2002. She is a former staff writer for the New York Observer and helped launch Us Weekly
magazine’s entertainment blog as well as Pagesix.com (R.I.P.). Her work has appeared in
Rolling Stone, GQ, Blender, Stuff, New York Post, Maxim (including three cover stories), Page
Six Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire U.K., Fashion Week Daily, Nymagazine.com, and
Gawker.com, among other publications. Her six-word memoir is featured in the book "Six-
Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak." Noelle has provided weighty commentary for such
shows as Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Access Hollywood, VH1 News, TV Guide Channel,
VH1’s The Fabulous Life Of, Studio B with Shepard Smith, Fox & Friends, Lips & Ears, and
Red Eye, on which she once defended a school teacher who was fired for making paintings
with his butt. She is currently at work on her first book, "My Year With Eleanor," to be
published by HarperCollins/Ecco Press in 2010. She lives in New York City with her
parakeets, Jesus and Stuart. Her parents are still holding out for law school.
Jess Todtfeld
Media Training World Wide
Jess Todtfeld, President of Media Training Worldwide, is one of the leading speaking and
media training authorities in the U.S. with more than 15 years of experience. Todtfeld is a
former stand up comedian and television news producer. He has trained clients from IBM, AIG
Insurance, AARP, USAToday.com, The World Children's Wellness Foundation, Edelman
Public Relations, Rudder Finn Public Relations, The Fine Living Television Network, North
Face apparel, and the ASPCA.
Media Training World Wide
Jess Todtfeld, President of Media Training Worldwide, is one of the leading speaking and
media training authorities in the U.S. with more than 15 years of experience. Todtfeld is a
former stand up comedian and television news producer. He has trained clients from IBM, AIG
Insurance, AARP, USAToday.com, The World Children's Wellness Foundation, Edelman
Public Relations, Rudder Finn Public Relations, The Fine Living Television Network, North
Face apparel, and the ASPCA.
Marianne Schaberg
Mentor: Bernadette Pauley
Marianne Schaberg is a television producer and writer living in NYC. She got her start in TV
on the illustrious and inexplicably cancelled daytime talkshows, "The Caroline Rhea Show"
and "Living it Up! With Ali and Jack."
More recently, Marianne produced for CNBC's "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch" and CNN
Headline News' "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell." Her biggest achievement at "The Big Idea"
was using her producing magic to convince Richard Simmons to ride a scooter through the
studio, a past-time Richard had not engaged in since his 7th birthday. Now that is talent. For
the past three months, she got to cover every details of Michael Jackson's "murder" with
"Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" making it a truly banner summer.
On top of all that TV goodness, Marianne's first book, an amazing adaptation of a Jonas
Brother's TV show is set to be published in December, look out tweens everywhere!
Marianne grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Colgate University in
2002.
Mentor: Bernadette Pauley
Marianne Schaberg is a television producer and writer living in NYC. She got her start in TV
on the illustrious and inexplicably cancelled daytime talkshows, "The Caroline Rhea Show"
and "Living it Up! With Ali and Jack."
More recently, Marianne produced for CNBC's "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch" and CNN
Headline News' "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell." Her biggest achievement at "The Big Idea"
was using her producing magic to convince Richard Simmons to ride a scooter through the
studio, a past-time Richard had not engaged in since his 7th birthday. Now that is talent. For
the past three months, she got to cover every details of Michael Jackson's "murder" with
"Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell" making it a truly banner summer.
On top of all that TV goodness, Marianne's first book, an amazing adaptation of a Jonas
Brother's TV show is set to be published in December, look out tweens everywhere!
Marianne grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Colgate University in
2002.
