Charlie Berens (born April 27, 1987) is an American journalist,[2] comedian, and creator of "Manitowoc Minute".[3] He has been featured on FOX, CBS, Funny or Die, TBS Digital, Variety, and MTV News. His observational humor often focuses on the Midwest.
Charlie Berens | ||||||||||
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 Charlie Berens in 2017 | ||||||||||
| Born | April 27, 1987 Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, U.S. | |||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison | |||||||||
| Years active | 2007–present | |||||||||
| Spouse | ||||||||||
| Comedy career | ||||||||||
| Medium |
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| Genres | Observational comedy | |||||||||
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YouTube information | ||||||||||
| Channel | ||||||||||
| Years active | 2013–present | |||||||||
| Genre | Comedy | |||||||||
| Subscribers | 2.25 million[1] | |||||||||
| Total views | 1.5 billion[1] | |||||||||
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Last updated: March 20, 2024 | ||||||||||
| Website | charlieberens | |||||||||
Early life edit
Berens was born into a Catholic family as one of twelve children. He grew up in the Wisconsin towns of Elm Grove and New Berlin. He graduated from Marquette University High School and studied broadcast journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.[3]
Career edit
Television journalism edit
Berens began his career working for the MTV News show Choose or Lose.[4] He covered Wisconsin state politics and was arrested while covering protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention.[5] In 2012, Tribune Media recruited Berens to host the comedic news show Nightcap.[6] While a reporter for KDAF-TV, Berens won his first Regional Emmy.[7]
In 2014, CBS Sports Network hired Berens to host the sports gameshow You're So Money and PMC made Berens the host of their comedy/entertainment news brand @Hollywood.[citation needed]
Berens has been featured on Funny or Die.[8] His comedic mashups, including "If Jack Dawson was Really from Wisconsin," have garnered more than thirteen million views.[9] He authored the book The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat...Everything with Ranch (2021).[10]
Manitowoc Minute edit
In 2017, Berens created Manitowoc Minute, a weekly comedic video series.[11] The name refers to the Wisconsin city of Manitowoc. His "Oh My Gosh!" Tour, inspired by the series, sold out theaters across Wisconsin.[12] Berens partnered with Madison brewery Ale Asylum to launch a beer inspired by Manitowoc Minute called Keep ‘Er Movin’.[13]
Other edit
Card Sale game edit
On September 1, 2022, Berens and Dane Schaefer launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for their project Card Sale, a card-based party game with a Yard Sale theme.[14] The campaign was fully funded in 48 hours,[15] and ultimately raised three times their original funding goal of US$11,700. Card Sale officially launched in January 2023[16] and is available on the game's official web site https://cardsalegame.com/.
UW-Madison winter commencement edit
On December 18, 2022, Berens gave the keynote speech for the UW-Madison Winter commencement at the Kohl Center. During the speech, Berens talked about his experiences struggling as a young journalist after graduation while working-in pieces of his Wisconsin comedy routine. Every graduating student received a free copy of his book and he held a signing event at the University Book Store on State Street.[17]
The CripesCast podcast edit
In June 2020, Berens launched The Cripescast, a podcast interviewing musicians, artists, comedians, and creators to discuss their stories and connections to the Midwest.[18]
Personal life edit
Berens married TV host, actress, and former Miss Wisconsin USA Alex Wehrley in 2015.[19][20] They divorced in late 2020.[21] He resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is Catholic.[22]
References edit
- ^ a b "About Charlie Berens". YouTube.
- ^ "2013 Lone Star EMMY Awardees | National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences – Lone Star". Retrieved 2019-04-09.
- ^ a b McCollum, Maureen (December 29, 2017). "'Manitowoc Minute' Creator Charlie Berens Keeps 'Er Movin'". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ MTV News Staff. "MTV's Choose Or Lose Taps Local Reporters To Cover Presidential Election". MTV News. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
- ^ "'Keep 'er movin:' Meet Charlie Berens; you know him best as the 'Manitowoc Minute' guy". FOX6Now.com. 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
- ^ "CW33: Nightcap".
- ^ "2013 Lone Star EMMY Awardees | National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences – Lone Star". Retrieved 2019-04-09.
- ^ Web, Best Of The (2019-03-08). "The Untold Story of 'Legends Of The Hidden Temple' Will Leave You Speechless". Funny Or Die. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
- ^ "If Jack Dawson Was Really From Wisconsin".
- ^ Berens, Charlie (2021). The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat...Everything with Ranch. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780063074965.
- ^ Prouty, Alyssa (2018-04-05). "Charlie Berens of 'Manitowoc Minute' Talks Sconnie Humor". Milwaukee Magazine. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
- ^ "Oh My Gosh! Tour".
- ^ "Keep Er Movin' Light Lager".
- ^ Jacobs, Kylie (2022-09-03). "Charlie Berens launches card game on Kickstarter with fellow Wisconsinite". nbc15.com. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ^ Newhouse, Ben (3 September 2022). "Charlie Berens launches Kickstarter for card game, fully funded within 48 hours". wearegreenbay.com. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ "Card Sale". boardgamegeek.com. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ^ UW–Madison Winter Commencement keynote speaker Charlie Berens, retrieved 2022-12-20
- ^ "CripesCast". CripesCast. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ "From Wisconsin, With Humor". UWAlumni. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ Todaybirthdays. "Alex Wehrley - Facts, Bio, Age, Personal life". www.todaybirthdays.com. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ VLOG: House Hacking, BRRRR Strategy, Buying in a Sellers Market & More, retrieved 2021-03-23
- ^ "Charlie Berens on Instagram: "Born Catholic, raised guilty...#standup #catholicfamily #miracle"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-06-21.