Kent Shocknek, TV & film personality USC BA, Phi Beta Kappa

Kent Shocknek is an American television and film personality who branched into acting toward the end of a successful career as a TV newscaster. Because of the length of his journalism career, duration of his broadcasts, and breaking news events, by the time of his departure from news, he is credited with having logged more hours as an anchor than anyone else in Los Angeles.[1] The city has designated two separate days "Kent Shocknek Day" in his honor. Before anchoring prime-time newscasts on CBS-TV owned stations, Shocknek was Southern California's first and longest-running television news morning news anchor.[1] Because of his recognizability, he has been sought out to appear in more than 100 feature films and television dramas –often as a newscaster or commentator –giving rise to a popular second career that continues currently.[2] On radio, Shocknek has narrated daily commentaries in L.A., and has hosted a nationally syndicated entertainment program. Viewers and magazine readers also recognize him as an authority on automotive issues.[1]

Career

Born Kent Schoknecht in Berkeley, California, he simplified the on-air spelling of his name upon arrival to Los Angeles television. After working at the Long Beach Press Telegram while attending the University of Southern California, Shocknek's first TV reporting job was in Sioux City, Iowa (KCAU-TV), followed by a three-year stint as anchor and Space Shuttle reporter in Orlando, Florida (WFTV).[3]

In 1983, Shocknek joined KNBC-TV as a reporter and fill-in anchor for what was then known as News4LA. Three years later, he anchored the start-up of L.A.'s first TV morning news program, Today in LA on KNBC-TV.[4] Over the years, he broadcast —frequently single-handedly— such marathon events as the Los Angeles riots, O.J. Simpson murder trial, and numerous natural disasters.

Shocknek first made national news headlines anchoring the 1986 launch and explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger; and a strong aftershock to the deadly 5.9 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. The threat of falling studio lights forced Shocknek to take cover under his set's desk for several seconds as he continued reporting about ground- and studio movement.[5][6]

After helming the consistently top-rated KNBC program for 15 years, Shocknek moved to KCBS-TV and began anchoring the morning editions of CBS 2 News in 2001. There, L.A. Confidential magazine named him one of L.A.'s top three anchors. He anchored live the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, and subsequently reported live on the War in Iraq, Michael Jackson's funeral, presidential inaugurations; plus Southern California's seasonal wildfires and frequent high-speed freeway chases.[1] In November 2013, Shocknek and his popular morning coanchor Suzie Suh moved to prime-time spots on Los Angeles CBS TV-owned station KCAL-TV, anchoring #1-rated newscasts, KCAL 9 News at 8 pm and 10 pm. In a move that surprised viewers, he retired from newscasting in late 2014. Shocknek's final newscast —including a 10-minute career retrospective and farewell video featuring L.A. newsmakers and Hollywood celebrities— aired September 26, 2014.[7][8][9] Various local governments and agencies, including the City and County of Los Angeles, as well as the State of California, have honored him for his work.

Shocknek on production location

Shortly after Shocknek retired from news anchoring, the short film "The 6 O'Clock" premiered, starring Shocknek as the male lead in the role of a highly focused individual. He has acted in more than 100 major Hollywood film & TV productions, working for directors Steven Spielberg, Adam McKay in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Barry Levinson, and Justin Lin, among others. In television, Shocknek has marked more than a dozen appearances as newsman "Guy Ross" in the crime procedural drama NCIS and its spin-off series, NCIS: Los Angeles. He also has held recurring roles in Criminal Minds, and the Amazon series, Bosch.

Shocknek's voice is almost as well known as his image; he began writing and delivering the 60-second daily radio commentary Just A Minute with Kent Shocknek on CBS all-news radio station KNX-1070 AM in Los Angeles, in 2003.[1] Later, he launched Premiere Magazine Live!, a weekly national radio show about movies, in approximately 50 markets countrywide,[1] with his wife Karen, using the on-air surname Walters, working as co-host.[3]

Filmography

Film
Title Year Role Notes
The SubContractors 2024 James
Raveland 2023 Jacobed's father
Very Close Friends 2021 Man Short film, also co-producer
The Chosen One? 2021 Solemn Leader
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon 2021 TV New Anchor Cannes Film Festival official entry
Take Me to Tarzana 2021 Himself 4 film festival official entry
Lucy in the Sky 2019 Himself Also known as Pale Blue Dot
Speeeed Dating 2018 Man No. 4 Short film
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 2016 Himself
The Vatican Tapes 2015 TV Interviewer Uncredited
Nightcrawler 2014 Himself
The Six O'Clock 2014 Man Short film
Jobs 2013 1980 Newscaster
The Amazing Spider-Man 2012 TV Newscaster Uncredited
Ultraman Saga 2012 Capt. Hibiki Voice
Brake 2012 News Anchor Jack Stern
Fast Five 2011 News Anchor
The Chosen One 2010 Newscaster
The Company Men 2010 Rittenour
Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy 2010 Battlenizer Voice
Imagine That 2009 Financial Reporter
Eagle Eye 2008 Newscaster
Winged Creatures 2008 Hospital Reporter Originally titled Fragments, released on DVD as Winged Creatures
Superhero Movie 2008 News Anchor
Parasomnia 2008 Himself
Disturbia 2007 News Anchor
Primeval 2007 Newscaster
xXx: State of the Union 2005 Newscaster
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie 2004 Network Reporter Direct-to-video
First Daughter 2004 Contentious Reporter
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy 2004 Network Reporter
The Terminal 2004 Newscaster #1 Uncredited
Envy 2004 Newscaster
A View to a Kill 1985 Fisherman Uncredited
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2022 Bull Interviewer, badgering reporter Season 4 ep17: "The Invisible Woman," and Season 6 episode 16: "The Diana Affair"
2022 Sherman's Showcase Kent Shocknek IFC/Hulu
2022 Bosch Spinoff L.A. Newscaster IMDb TV/Amazon
2021 Psycho Sweet 16 Local newscaster Feifer Worldwide Entertainment
2021 Shrill Local newscaster Hulu
2021 SpongeBob DocuPants Host Nickelodeon: 8 episodes
2015-2021 Bosch Himself/Newscaster/News Anchor 10 episodes
2021 Secrets of Sulphur Springs News Anchor Season 1
2020 Tommy News Anchor Season 1: episodes 7, 10
2020 Manhunt: Dangerous Games Anchor No. 1 The title of the second Manhunt: Unabomber
Season 2 episodes 1,2,5
2019 Manifest News Anchor Season 2 episode 5: "Coordinated Flight"
2019 Liberty Falls Pierce Brennan TV movie
2004-2019 NCIS Guy Ross/Male Reporter 10 episodes
2019 The Righteous Gemstones Announcer HBO
2019 Documentary Now! TV Reporter Season 3 episodes 1 and 2: "Batsh*t Valley, Parts 1 & 2"
2016-2018 Madam Secretary News Anchor #1/News Anchor/Anchor 5 episodes
2016 Supergirl Newscaster Season 1 episode 12: "Bizarro"
2016 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Slade Austin Season 4 episode 3: "Coral Palms Pt. 3"
2012-2015 NCIS: Los Angeles News Reporter/Reporter/News Anchor 6 episodes
2014 Intelligence Reporter/Newscaster 4 episodes
2014 Legends CBN Reporter Season 1 episode 8: "Iconoclast"
2013 Under the Dome Newscaster Season 1 episode 1: "Pilot"
2005–2013 Criminal Minds News Reporter/News Anchor Kent/Reporter John Jenkins 3 episodes
2012 The Mentalist Newscaster Season 4 episode 15: "War of the Roses"
2010 CSI: NY Reporter Season 6 episode 12: "Criminal Justice"
2009-2010 True Jackson, VP Himself Season 1 episode 17: "Max Mannequin" and season 2 episode 13: "True Royal"
2009 Medium Newscaster Season 6 episode 10: "You Give Me Fever"
2009 FlashForward Hansen/Medical Correspondent 4 episodes
2009 Washington Field David Sumner TV movie
2009 Meteor WNN Overnight Anchor/Anchorman Episodes: #1.1 and #1.2
2008 The Sarah Silverman Program TV Reporter/Anchor Season 2 episode 10: "Patriot Tact" and Season 2 episode 16: "Vow Wow"
2008 The Unit TV Newscaster Season 4 episode 1: "Into Hell: Part One"
2008 Dirty Sexy Money Channel 10 Reporter Season 2 episode 12: ""The Family Lawyer"
2008 Grave Misconduct TV Reporter TV movie
2008 ER News Reporter Season 14 episode 17: "Under Pressure"
2008 Monk TV Reporter Season 6 episode 12: "Mr. Monk Goes to the Bank"
2006–2008 Shark Newscaster/TV Reporter/Reporter 3 episodes
2006 Commander in Chief News Anchor Ben/News Anchor Season 1 episode 11: "No Nukes Is Good Nukes" and Season 1 episode 16: The Elephant in the Room
2005 The West Wing Anchorman Season 6 episode 20: "In God We Trust"
1993 Blossom Himself Season 4 episode 14: "Big Doings: Part 2"

Awards

  • 8 regional Emmy Awards (individual and group)
  • 2 L.A. Press Club Awards
  • Golden Mic. Award (Best Daytime Newscast)
  • Wm. Randolph Hearst Award (investigative reporting)

Education

B.A., University of Southern California, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kent Shocknek". KCBS/KCAL Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  2. Kent Shocknek at IMDb
  3. 1 2 Kent Shocknek's Web Site: http://kentshocknek.com
  4. Braxton, Greg (February 9, 2001). "News Shift Results in Shake-Up at KNBC". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  5. Kent Shocknek video bio. Retrieved July 11, 2019 via YouTube.
  6. Earthquake captured on LIVE TV – TV Anchor freaks out!. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2019 via YouTube.
  7. Kent Shocknek video bio. Retrieved July 11, 2019 via YouTube.
  8. "Longtime Anchor Kent Shocknek Signs Off From Local News". KCAL/KCBS. September 26, 2014.
  9. Morrison, Patt (September 30, 2014). "No more Mr. News Guy – L.A. anchor Kent Shocknek signs off". Los Angeles Times.
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