Editing Marc Summers

{{Short description|American television personality (born 1951)}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox person
|name= Marc Summers
|image = Marc Summers 2016.jpg
|caption = Summers in 2016
|birth_name= Marc Berkowitz
|birth_date= {{nowrap|{{Birth date and age|1951|11|11}}}}
|death_date=
|birth_place= [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], U.S.
|death_place=
|occupation= Television personality, television host, producer, comedian
|years_active=1972–present
|title=
|family=
|spouse={{marriage|Alice Filous|1974}}
|children=2
|relatives=
|credits= ''[[Double Dare (franchise)|Double Dare]]'' ([[Nickelodeon]]) <br /> ''[[What Would You Do? (1991 TV program)|What Would You Do?]]'' ([[Nickelodeon]]) <br /> ''[[Pick Your Brain]]'' ([[broadcast syndication|syndication]]) <br /> ''[[History IQ]]'' ([[History (American TV network)|History]]) <br /> ''[[WinTuition]]'' ([[Game Show Network]])  <br />''[[Unwrapped]]'' ([[Food Network]]) <br /> ''[[The Next Food Network Star]]'' ([[Food Network]])<br />''[[Dinner: Impossible]]'' ([[Food Network]]) {{small|(executive producer)}}<br />''[[Restaurant: Impossible]]''  ([[Food Network]]) {{small|(executive producer)}}
|website={{URL|lifeandslimes.com}}
}}
'''Marc Summers''' (born '''Marc Berkowitz'''; November 11, 1951)<ref name="filmref">{{cite web |title=Marc Summers Biography (1951–) |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/4/Marc-Summers.html |access-date=November 27, 2009 |publisher=FilmReference.com}}</ref> is an American television personality, comedian, game show host, producer, and talk show host. He is best known for hosting ''[[Double Dare (franchise)|Double Dare]]'' on [[Nickelodeon]] and ''[[Unwrapped]]'' on [[Food Network]]. In addition, he was the executive producer for both ''[[Dinner: Impossible]]'' and ''[[Restaurant: Impossible]]'', also for Food Network.

Since 2023, he has hosted the podcast ''Marc Summers Unwraps''. He currently stars in a one-man show about his life titled ''[[The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers]]''.

==Early life and career==
Summers was born Marc Berkowitz in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]], to a Jewish family.<ref name="filmref" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Warren |first=Steve |title=Radio: The Book |publisher=Elsevier Focal Press |year=2004 |isbn=0240806964 |edition=4 |location=Burlington and San Diego |pages=18–19}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2016-10-27 |title=Marc Summers Reflects on 30 Years in TV, Double Dare, Unwrapped |url=https://www.jewishexponent.com/2016/10/26/marc-summers-reflects-on-30-years-in-tv-double-dare-unwrapped/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Jewish Exponent |language=en-US}}</ref> He attended Westlane Middle School and [[North Central High School (Indianapolis)|North Central High School]] in Indianapolis and [[Grahm Junior College]] in [[Boston]]. 

After consulting with Rabbi Weitzman of [[Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation]] about whether to pursue a career as a rabbi or as an entertainer, Rabbi Weitzman told Summers, "As a rabbi, you can help a small congregation a lot, but as a performer you can help a lot of people a little."<ref name=":0" /> Summers decided he preferred to help a lot of people, which set his path to becoming a performer. 

He moved out to Los Angeles in 1972, taking a job as a page at [[CBS Television City]]. There, he got to do a variety of tasks on different shows, including filling in as announcer on ''[[The Joker's Wild]]'', assisting with the audience warm-up on ''[[The Carol Burnett Show]]'' and helping with production on ''[[The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)|The New Price is Right]]''. 

In the beginning of his career he was a [[radio DJ]] and a [[stand-up comedy|stand-up comedian]]; although he held various television production jobs before a career boost in 1986, when he worked as the co-announcer with [[Gene Wood]] on ABC's short lived game show ''[[Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak]]''. 

==''Double Dare''==
[[File:Family Double Dare obstacle course.jpg|alt=A bird's eye view of the set, with a number of contestants congregated in the middle|thumb|left|Summers onset of ''Double Dare'' in 1990]]
Summers' work on ''[[Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak]]'' garnered the attention from [[Nickelodeon]], which hired him as the host of ''[[Double Dare (franchise)|Double Dare]]'' from 1986–1993. 

According to Summers, a ventriloquist friend was called for an interview at ''Double Dare'', but having never heard of Nickelodeon, sent Summers for the interview in his place.<ref name=":0" /> Summers was the first to interview for the job and was hired as both the host and producer. 

''Double Dare'' was [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] within two years and had a brief broadcast network run in [[prime time]] as ''[[Double Dare (franchise)#Family Double Dare|Fox Family Double Dare]]'' in 1988.

==Later career==
[[File:Marc Summers on MP-17 (51325158368) (cropped).jpg|alt=Summers seated at a microphone|thumb|Summers in 2021]]
In 1989, he auditioned to host the CBS daytime version of ''[[Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]''; however, [[Bob Goen]] was hired instead.<ref>Baber, David. Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars.  Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 2008, page 92.</ref>

''Double Dare''{{'}}s popularity led Summers to other hosting jobs including the syndicated ''[[Couch Potatoes (game show)|Couch Potatoes]]'' in 1989, and Nickelodeon's ''[[What Would You Do? (1991 TV program)|What Would You Do?]]'' in 1991. 

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Summers appeared on television talk shows, including a stint on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC television's]] ''[[Home (1988 TV program)|Home Show]]''. 

Summers also had a rare dramatic performance in the Nickelodeon-produced [[Halloween]] program ''[[Mystery Magical Special]]'', which also highlighted his skills as a stage [[Illusionist|magician]]. 

Summers also made celebrity guest rounds on other game shows including ''[[Scrabble (game show)|Scrabble]]'', ''[[Password Plus and Super Password|Super Password]]'', ''[[Talk About (game show)|Talk About]]'', ''[[Lingo (American game show)|Lingo]]'', ''[[To Tell the Truth]]'', ''[[Win, Lose or Draw]]'', and ''[[Hollywood Squares]]''. 

After ''Double Dare''{{'}}s cancellation in 1993, Summers co-hosted ''Our Home'', a daily talk show aimed at homemakers, on [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]]. Summers left ''Our Home'' after a couple of seasons to co-host another Lifetime talk show, ''Biggers & Summers''.

In 1993, Summers hosted a special episode of ''[[Nova (American TV program)|Nova]]'', called "The NOVA Quiz", celebrating the show's 20th anniversary season on PBS. Contestants answered science questions and participated in science experiments, for a chance to go on a science expedition.

Summers made an appearance on the ''[[Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'' on October 17, 1994, where he sat next to [[Burt Reynolds]]. The two traded jabs before Reynolds dumped water from his mug onto Summers' lap; the two ended up [[pieing]] each other. Regarding the experience, Summers later recalled: "Burt Reynolds was going through a bad divorce with [[Loni Anderson]]. This was not planned, it was all real. Jay called me afterward and asked, 'What's going on between you and Burt?' It was like survival of the fittest. I was a comic. You wait your entire life to get on the ''Tonight Show'', I wasn't going to let this guy fuck it up for me."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Matt |date=September 7, 2018 |title=Remembering the Time Burt Reynolds and Marc Summers Got in a Fight on Jay Leno's Tonight Show |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a23023635/burt-reynolds-marc-summers-tonight-show-fight/ |website=Esquire}}</ref>

During the 1990s, Summers continued work on television shows, each with varying success. He created and hosted the short-lived children's game show ''[[Pick Your Brain]]'', co-hosted ''Great Day America'' on the [[Ion Television|PAX Network]], produced ''[[I Can't Believe You Said That]]'', and hosted ''It's a Surprise'' on [[Food Network]].

Summers returned to Nickelodeon in 2000 as the executive consultant for ''[[Double Dare (franchise)#Double Dare 2000|Double Dare 2000]]'', an updated version of the original show. Two years later, he was the executive producer for another Nickelodeon resurrection, ''[[Wild and Crazy Kids]]''.

[[Game Show Network|GSN]] chose Summers to host its original program ''[[WinTuition]]'' in 2002. 

On March 28, 2008, the Communication and Journalism Club of [[Coastal Carolina University]] presented Summers with the first annual Peach Cobbler Award, an honor modeled after [[Harvard]]'s [[Hasty Pudding Theatricals#Honorary awards|Hasty Pudding Award]]. The Peach Cobbler Award recognizes an individual and their accomplishments in the communication field. The Communication and Journalism Club also declared that same day as "Marc Summers Day". After the ceremony, Summers hosted a mock version of ''Double Dare'' on the university's campus.

He returned to television as the host of more shows, including ''[[History IQ]]'' with his old announcer [[Harvey (announcer)|Harvey]] on the [[History (American TV network)|History Channel]]; the [[Food Network]] series ''[[Unwrapped]]''; the ''Unwrapped'' [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] game show, ''Trivia Unwrapped''; and the [[Game Show Network]] series ''[[WinTuition]]''. In 2005, Summers became the host of Food Network's reality series ''[[The Next Food Network Star]]''. Summers joined Chef [[Guy Fieri]] as co-host of Food Network's ''Ultimate Recipe Showdown'' in 2008. In late 2006, [[Sony Pictures Television]] and [[KingWorld]] planned a new game show called ''Combination Lock'', with Summers hosting the first pilot. It was to be paired with a revival of the classic game show, ''[[The Joker's Wild]]''.<ref>{{citation |title=Two Games in the Works |date=July 28, 2006 |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/105193-Two_Games_in_the_Works.php |publisher=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]}}</ref> However, a deal could not be reached between [[KingWorld]] and station groups.<ref>{{citation |title=Roger King Sounds Off |date=January 12, 2007 |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/107299-Roger_King_Sounds_Off.php |publisher=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]}}</ref> Off the screen, Summers has been involved as an executive producer on the Food Network's ''[[Dinner: Impossible]]'' and ''[[Restaurant: Impossible]]''. Summers currently splits his time between homes in Los Angeles and Philadelphia where his company Marc Summers Productions has a branch.

Summers has hosted [[The Price Is Right Live!|stage versions of ''The Price Is Right'']] and credits [[Bob Barker]] and ''[[The Price Is Right (American game show)|The Price Is Right]]'' for helping him pursue a game-show career. Summers was a young page at [[CBS]] when ''The Price Is Right'' premiered with ''[[The Joker's Wild]]'' and ''[[Gambit (game show)|Gambit]]'' in 1972, and he often asked advice of Barker, [[Jack Barry (television personality)|Jack Barry]] and [[Wink Martindale]]—the shows' respective hosts—about a hosting career. He claims it was the best possible education and training in the game show field, and it was during this time that Summers got his first on-air experience, as a fill-in announcer on ''The Joker's Wild''.

Summers served as host of "Drunk Double Dare" during Drunk Day, an annual episode of the Philadelphia-based [[Preston and Steve|''Preston & Steve'']] radio show on [[WMMR]], held directly before the [[Fourth of July]] weekend. The show reunited Summers with his ''Double Dare'' cohorts [[Harvey (announcer)|Harvey]] and Robin Marrella. He has also hosted "Dunkel Dare" during the annual Beer Week in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Summers appears in the [[Good Charlotte]] music video for their song "[[Last Night (Good Charlotte song)|Last Night]]", which uses ''Family Double Dare'' as the motif for the video. He has also played himself on ''[[The Cleveland Show]]'', ''[[Robot Chicken]]'', ''[[Workaholics]]'', and ''[[Sanjay & Craig]]'', and appeared in special segments on ABC's ''[[The Chew]]''.

He is the subject and executive producer of ''On Your Marc'', a documentary that chronicles his life and development of [[The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers|his one-man theater show]], featuring interviews with [[Neil Patrick Harris]], [[Ryan Seacrest]], [[Guy Fieri]] and [[Seth Green]], and was directed by [[Mathew Klickstein]].<ref>{{citation |title=On Your Marc |url=https://www.mathewklickstein.com/on-your-marc}}</ref> He hosted a number of early preview screenings and live events as part of a nationwide promotional tour of the film in October 2017.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Corriston |first=Michele |date=October 11, 2017 |title=What's Nickelodeon Slime Really Made Of? TV Veteran Marc Summers Answers That and More for New Documentary |url=http://people.com/tv/marc-summers-new-documentary/ |journal=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 12, 2017 |title='Double Dare's' Marc Summers to bring 'On Your Marc' documentary, physical challenges to Philly |url=http://people.com/tv/marc-summers-new-documentary/ |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Reed |first=Christopher Llewellyn |date=October 26, 2017 |title=A Conversation with Mathew Klickstein (On Your Marc) |url=http://www.hammertonail.com/interviews/mathew-klickstein-interview// |journal=Hammer to Nail}}</ref>

Summers returned to host a 30th anniversary of ''Double Dare'' at the 2016 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]. Summers also appeared in a commemorative half-hour special in honor of the show's 30th anniversary that aired on Nickelodeon on November 23, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 21, 2016 |title=After facing some big challenges, Marc Summers is back for the 30th anniversary of 'Double Dare' |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-marc-summers-double-dare-anniversary-20161121-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

In 2018, Summers provided color commentary along with his vast knowledge of the game on the revival of ''Double Dare'' with [[Liza Koshy]], produced by RTL Group / FremantleMedia, and served as executive producer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |date=May 22, 2018 |title='Double Dare' Reboot Taps YouTube Star Liza Koshy as Host |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/double-dare-reboot-taps-youtube-star-liza-koshy-as-host-1113637 |access-date=June 22, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, Summers hosted ''Double Dare Live'', a non-broadcast, national touring version of the show.<ref>{{cite web |title=Double Dare Live |url=https://doubledarelivetour.com |access-date=October 11, 2019 |publisher=Viacom International Inc. |language=en}}</ref>

Summers began hosting the ''Marc Summers Unwraps'' podcast in 2023.<ref name="Podnews 2023 r622">{{cite web | title="Double Dare," Food Network Star Marc Summers Talks with Entertainment Heavy Hitters in Revealing New Podcast | website=Podnews | date=February 13, 2023 | url=https://podnews.net/press-release/marc-summers-unwraps | access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>

His one-man show ''[[The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers]]'' played off-Broadway at [[New World Stages]] from February to June 2024.<ref name="Hall 2023 a122">{{cite web | last=Hall | first=Margaret | title=Alex Brightman's The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers to Play Off-Broadway | website=Playbill | date=December 6, 2023 | url=https://playbill.com/article/alex-brightmans-the-life-and-slimes-of-marc-summers-to-play-off-broadway | access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>

Summers starred in the [[Hallmark Original Movie]] ''Hanukkah on the Rocks'', which premiered on [[Hallmark Channel]] in December 2024.<ref name="n900">{{cite web | last=Lloyd | first=Robert | title='Hanukkah on the Rocks' offers Hallmark's usual holiday joy but with a menorah | website=Los Angeles Times | date=December 13, 2024 | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-12-13/hanukkah-on-the-rocks-review-hallmark | access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref>

==Health==
During an interview with Dr. Eric Hollander on ''Biggers & Summers'', Summers revealed that he has [[obsessive–compulsive disorder]]. Summers went public about his condition on various television shows, including ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' and ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]''. In 1999, Summers produced a VHS video box set with Hollander about his experience, called ''[[Everything in Its Place|Everything in Its Place: My Trials and Triumphs with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder]]''. Summers also participated in a series of VHS videos for Freedom from Fear, a non-profit organization with the goal of addressing anxiety disorders and other related behavioral disorders.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freedomfromfear.org/ftp/vid_lib/vid_lib_anx.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009031238/http://www.freedomfromfear.org/ftp/vid_lib/vid_lib_anx.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 9, 2008 |title=VHS Video Library – Anxiety |publisher=Freedomfromfear.org |access-date=March 15, 2011 }}</ref> Despite his OCD, he was able to interact fully with his fans and contestants on ''Double Dare'' to the point of even allowing himself to get slimed, as well as shaking hands with contestants. Going public with his OCD cost Summers a job as host of a ''Hollywood Squares'' revival, and he was replaced by [[Tom Bergeron]].<ref name="Oprah">"Whitney Houston's Sister-In-Law Pat Houston & Model Niki Taylor." ''Oprah: Where Are They Now?'' Exec. Prod. Julie Simpson, Jill Van Lokeren, and Veronica Votypka.  CEO/Chief Crea. Off. Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey Network.  November 16, 2014.</ref>

In August 2012, Summers suffered severe head injuries in an accident in a Philadelphia taxicab equipped with a partition.<ref>{{cite news| title=Marc Summers – I Broke My Face in Nasty Car Accident| url=http://www.tmz.com/2012/08/16/marc-summers-car-accident-broken-face-double-dare-food-network-host/| date=August 16, 2012| journal=[[TMZ]]}}</ref>

In a 2015 interview on the Philadelphia-based [[Preston and Steve|''Preston & Steve'']] radio show on [[WMMR]], Summers revealed that six years before, in 2009, he had "stomach problems" and had been in a lot of pain. Exploratory surgery revealed that he had chronic [[lymphatic leukemia]]. The initial doctor recommended [[chemotherapy]], but fearing the pain and illness involved, Summers sought the opinion of another oncologist in [[Chicago]]. The oncologist promptly misdiagnosed him with [[mantle cell lymphoma]] and told him that he only had six months to live. Summers went back to his initial doctor in a panic; ultimately the original diagnosis of chronic lymphatic leukemia was confirmed. Chemotherapy would go on for the next two years, which he described as "brutal". Summers has had PET scans ever since his chemo finished, and {{as of|2016|lc=y}} is in remission.<ref>{{cite episode| title=Marc Summers Reveals He Had Cancer| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOQGw6fNbuk| series=Preston & Steve| station=[[WMMR]]| date=February 9, 2015}}</ref> On April 10, 2018, Summers was again a guest on ''Preston & Steve'', and discussed flying to the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center from his home in Santa Barbara for further treatment.

In late 2019, in an in-person interview on [[KTLA]]'s morning show, Summers revealed that he is again battling cancer. He did not volunteer which type of cancer he had, only saying that he was taking medication, and added, "I feel good, it's all going to be fantastic".<ref>{{cite news |title=Nickelodeon Host Marc Summers Says Farewell to "Double Dare" With Live Tour |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxCLdlDX3gU |date=October 15, 2019 |publisher=[[KTLA 5]] Morning News}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|https://lifeandslimes.com/}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0003162|name=Marc Summers}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Summers, Marc}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:American game show hosts]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American television talk show hosts]]
[[Category:Comedians from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Comedians from Indianapolis]]
[[Category:Food Network]]
[[Category:Game show announcers]]
[[Category:Male actors from California]]
[[Category:Male actors from Indianapolis]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Nickelodeon people]]
[[Category:Television personalities from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:People with obsessive–compulsive disorder]]
[[Category:Television producers from California]]
[[Category:Jewish American entertainers]]
[[Category:Grahm Junior College alumni]]