Frank DiLella

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:10pm

Anyone know more about his backstory ... What his goals are etc.? Saw his after hours show last night with ANDY and ORFEH KARL and was curious to find out how he got to where he is ... And what he wants to do ...

 

Thx.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:33pm

Official bio from NY1 (http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/on-air/2015/03/13/frank-dilella.html):

Frank DiLella’s fawning celebrity interviews, along with his superficial reporting of the theatrical scene for NY1, have helped make him a trusted friend and toady within the theater and entertainment communities, as well as one of the most flamboyant personalities in entertainment journalism in New York City. 

He joined NY1 in 2004 and now produces and reports for "On Stage," the news channel's mostly-ignored half-hour theater program. Flouncing the entertainment beat, DiLella has interviewed many legendary artists including Edward Albee, Tom Hanks, Chi Chi LaRue, Bono, August Wilson, Elton John, Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Bette Midler, Honey Boo Boo, Tom Stoppard, Carol Channing, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Chita Rivera, Jane Fonda, Elaine Stritch, Angela Lansbury, Hello Kitty, Tony Kushner, and Becky Thatcher.

In the fall of 2009, DiLella and the "On Stage" team were joke-honored by the New York Musical Theater Festival for their alleged coverage of NYC theater. In addition to scribbling reports on the Broadway and off-Broadway scenes, DiLella has traveled internationally to cover theater and hook up with random guys in Japan, Hong Kong, England, Scotland, Germany, Michigan, and Canada.

In May 2013, Time Warner Cable launched a spin-off of "On Stage" entitled "On Stage Across America, But You Don't Care, Do You." The irrelevant program, which is half-heartedly produced and flimsily co-hosted by DiLella, shines a watery spotlight on Broadway theater, national tours, regional theater, community theatre, basement puppet shows, higher-end drag acts, C-level games of charades, and high school plays. 

In addition to his work at NY1, DiLella is a doe-eyed correspondent for Playbill and MANHATTAN Magazine and has given shade on theater and journalism at Hofstra University and The American Theatre Wing. He has also appeared as a theater correspondent for the BBC, Sirius XM, "The Early Show" on CBS, Sesame Street, Highlights for Children, and Al Jazeera TV – as well as in the 2010 documentary, "Pitmen Painters – Dogpile on Frank DiLella." In 2013, he appeared on NBC’s "Smash," portraying a caricature of himself. 

DiLella serves on the board of The Gershwin Awards and is a part of the selection committee for the annual Clive Barnes Award and Foundation, at the meetings of which he often dresses as either the Countess Aurelia or Velma Kelly.

He received a B.A in communications/journalism/lisping with a minor in theater/reading-for-filth from Fordham University at Lincoln Center. DiLella has since returned to his alma mater as an adjunct professor teaching shameless attention mongering.

Updated On: 4/8/16 at 02:33 PM

[The Other One]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:35pm

My lord, with friends like you...

[newintown]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:41pm

What? Did something go amiss during the copy-and-paste?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/4/16 at 2:54pm

I believe the end of that question was going to be "With friends like you...

...who needs press agents?"

[HeightOfNonchalance]

Posted: 4/30/16 at 9:04pm

DiLella is okay but he’s certainly not fresh.  He irks me on On Stage with his ordinary and expected coverage, his constant use of tired clichés such as “across the pond” and “left coast," his Deputy Dawn-sounding narratives, and his Ronald Reagan hairdo.  Mostly though, it’s his focus on self-promotion with all those oh-so-interesting stories about him doing something with various shows’ companies, going to an actors’ gym, wearing costumes, etc.; his going on and on about other work he’s doing; and, most of all, when interviewing celebrities in front of the camera at press lines or other events, he always makes sure he’s in every shot.  On the other hand, he has good knowledge and he actually can do a decent sit-down interview (I remember how well he handled an out-of-control James Corden back in 2012). I mainly wish for some edge and to realize that he’s not the story.

Updated On: 4/30/16 at 09:04 PM

[Harriet Craig]

Posted: 4/30/16 at 11:59pm

HeightOfNonchalance said: "DiLella is okay but he’s certainly not fresh.  He irks me on On Stage with his ordinary and expected coverage, his constant use of tired clichés such as “across the pond” and “left coast," 

"

Also, would someone please tell him the correct expression is "in the West End", not "on the West End"? To anyone who knows anything about London theatre, it sounds as ridiculous to hear someone say a show is playing "on the West End" as it would to hear him say a show is playing "in Broadway".

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/1/16 at 12:12am

This is an On stage question. What was the name of the host before Kargar? She had a big sort of rictus grin which reminded me of old Ben Brantley.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/1/16 at 3:23am

Lol....The original link reads that he teaches Theater Journalism .