Gay celeb comedian and Star of Chelsea Lately, Ross Mathews is ready to MAN UP at the Wilbur this Saturday!
Photo: The Wilbur Theatre
ROSS MATHEWS HEADLINES THE WILBUR THEATRE ON MAY 11
Boston, Mass. — Gay comedic icon, Ross Mathews, is coming to The Wilbur Theatre on Saturday May 11th, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. to Man Up!
Over the last 9 years, Ross Mathews has interviewed some of the biggest stars in the world and has made the nation laugh all the while. Whether he was covering movie premieres, the Winter Olympic Games, the Academy Awards, jumping out of a plane or shopping in London with pal Gwyneth Paltrow, Ross’ unique approach is always fresh, outrageous and fun. E! Entertainment Television named Ross one of the 30 Most Outrageous Celebrities, solidifying his spot as one of the most exciting personalities on television today. Even as a child in the small town of Mount Vernon, Washington, Ross knew that he wanted to be on television, specifically as a talk show host. After graduating high school, Ross made the move to Southern California and attend the University of La Verne where he graduated in 2002 with departmental honors and a degree in Communications. It was in Ross’ senior year in college that he interviewed for a position that would change his life — as an intern at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the #1 rated late night talk show in the nation – and was hired!
Initially, the unpaid position came with duties that were in line with any internship: copies, faxes, coffee, etc. All of that changed, however, on Ross’ last day of internship when he was called into the office of the head writer who informed Ross that they were aware of his dream and that they believed he had what it took to be on television. Ross was told that he was to leave immediately with George Clooney to the premiere of Ocean’s Eleven where he would interview various celebrities as they walked down the red carpet. The Ocean’s Eleven segment was such a hit that the producers asked Ross to cover another premiere, followed by the 2002 Winter Olympics, with things snowballing from there.
Over 9 years later, Ross has traveled the world as a Tonight Show correspondent, interviewing everyone from Oscar winners to British royalty, quickly becoming a staple of late-night television and a favorite of the public. And late-night television is just the beginning! In addition to guest starring on NBC’s 1 Vs 100 and Phenomenon, Ross also appeared as a guest co-host of ABC’s The View, as a contestant on the fifth season of VH1’s highly popular Celebrity Fit Club, as a celebrity correspondent the entertainment news programs Extra and CBS’s The Insider, as the recurring character “Chris” on Days of Our Lives and as the co-host of The Game Show Network’s Big Saturday Night, E!’s Live From the Red Carpet: The Screen Actors Guild Awards and VH1’s Live Red Carpet: The Critic’s Choice Awards. [pullquote]The Ocean’s Eleven segment was such a hit that the producers asked Ross to cover another premiere, followed by the 2002 Winter Olympics, with things snowballing from there.[/pullquote]
In 2009-2010, Ross hosted and executive produced a daily web talk show for The Insider and CBS.com called Inside Dish with Ross Mathews, a show about covering Hollywood from the outside in. Inside Dish eventually became the official web shows of CBS hits Big Brother and the Emmy winning The Amazing Race. Currently, Ross continues his Tonight Show correspondent duties (he also serves as a “Creative Consultant” for the show) and is a weekly regular panelist on E!’s hit late-night talk show, Chelsea Lately.
Most recently, Ross was featured on OWN’s Ask Oprah’s All-Stars, played himself on ABC Family’s Christmas Cupid and will be guest-staring in the upcoming After Lately on E! It was also announced that Ross will co-star and produce a pilot for E! with Chelsea Handler’s production company, Borderline Amazing, alongside fellow Chelsea Lately roundtable regular, Heather McDonald. In February 2011, Mathews began touring colleges speaking about his experiences climbing the Hollywood ladder and discussing his humorous take on pop culture. In March 2011, it was announced that Ross is the newest spokesperson for Jenny Craig, having already shed 25 pounds in 12 weeks! Ross resides in Los Angeles with his family.
In his witty first book, MAN UP!: Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence, (Grand Central Publishing; May 7, 2013; $25.00 
hardcover), Mathews takes readers inside his unlikely journey as super-fan to super television commentator, revealing the most embarrassing and hilarious moments of his small-town life and big-city adventures. From his vast romantic history with women (until he realized that lady bits were not for him) and his $11 Panasonic TV that he bought at a garage sale (that he named Jessica Spano Mathews) to his encounter with Madonna (and a prayer circle that included Britney Spears), Mathews holds nothing back.
MAN UP! is filled with his brushes with celebrity including a much-anticipated department store signing with Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, which left him speechless, a best friendship with Gwyneth Paltrow, and an Olympic-dream meeting with Michelle Kwan. But it is just as much about the everyday moments that got him on tv—the moment that as a twelve-year-old, he stood up to the man that called him a “faggot” or his overdose with his friend Lisa during an unfortunate pot butter incident.
Mathews tackles everything he encounters in life with his signature wit and wisdom. “I hope to reflect back and be proud of the life I’ve lived from Balloon Day to this book and beyond,” he writes. “I want my kids and grandkids to know that every time I was scared of being mocked or put down or worried that I couldn’t do something, I did it anyway. I ‘manned up’.”
Bill Blumenreich presents … Ross Mathews on May 11th 2013 at 7:00pm at the Wilbur Theatre located at 246 Tremont St. in Boston’s Historic Theatre District. Tickets: $22.50-$29. Buy tickets at: http://tinyurl.com/ROSSRAINBOW. For more information on Ross Mathews visit http://www.helloross.com. For more information about the Wilbur and other great events visit http://thewilbur.com.
MORE ABOUT ROSS:
Ross began his television career on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” in 2001 where he remains as a correspondent. Additionally, he is a regular roundtable comic and occasional guest-host on E!’s “Chelsea Lately”, as well as a red carpet staple on E!. He resides in Los Angeles and Palm Springs with his partner, Salvador, and their two teeny tiny perfect puppies. To learn more, check out HelloRoss.com, Facebook.com/officialrossfanpage, and Twitter @helloross.
