Marc Summers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marc Summers
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Summers in 2016
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| Born |
Marc Berkowitz
November 11, 1951 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
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| Occupation | Television personality, television host, producer, comedian |
| Years active | 1972–present |
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Notable credit(s)
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Double Dare (Nickelodeon) What Would You Do? (Nickelodeon) Pick Your Brain (syndication) History IQ (History) WinTuition (Game Show Network) Unwrapped (Food Network) The Next Food Network Star (Food Network) Dinner: Impossible (Food Network) (executive producer) Restaurant: Impossible (Food Network) (executive producer) |
| Spouse(s) |
Alice Filous
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 2 |
Marc Summers (born Marc Berkowitz; November 11, 1951) is a well-known American television personality. He is a comedian, game show host, producer, and talk show host. Marc Summers is most famous for hosting Double Dare on Nickelodeon. He also hosted Unwrapped for Food Network. He was an executive producer for other Food Network shows like Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible.
Since 2023, he has hosted a podcast called Marc Summers Unwraps. He also performs in a one-man show about his life, titled The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers.
Marc Summers' Early Life and Career
Marc Summers was born Marc Berkowitz in Indianapolis, Indiana. He grew up in a Jewish family. He went to Westlane Middle School and North Central High School in Indianapolis. Later, he attended Grahm Junior College in Boston.
When he was young, Marc Summers thought about becoming a rabbi or an entertainer. A rabbi told him that as a performer, he could help many people a little bit. This advice helped him choose to become an entertainer.
In 1972, he moved to Los Angeles. He got a job as a page at CBS Television City. This job let him work on different TV shows. He helped with the audience warm-up for The Carol Burnett Show. He also helped with production on The New Price is Right. Sometimes, he even filled in as an announcer on The Joker's Wild.
Early in his career, Marc Summers worked as a radio DJ and a stand-up comedian. In 1986, his career got a big boost. He worked as a co-announcer on a game show called Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak.
Hosting Double Dare
Marc Summers' work on Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak caught the eye of Nickelodeon. They hired him to host Double Dare from 1986 to 1993.
Marc Summers says he got the job by accident! A friend was asked to interview for Double Dare. But his friend had never heard of Nickelodeon, so he sent Marc Summers instead. Marc was the first person to interview for the job. He was hired as both the host and a producer.
Double Dare became very popular. Within two years, it was shown on many TV stations across the country. It even had a short run during prime time as Fox Family Double Dare in 1988.
Marc Summers' Later Television Work
Throughout the 1990s, Marc Summers continued to work on many television shows. He created and hosted a children's game show called Pick Your Brain. He also co-hosted Great Day America. He produced a show called I Can't Believe You Said That. He even hosted It's a Surprise on Food Network.
In 1993, Marc Summers hosted a special episode of Nova called "The NOVA Quiz." This episode celebrated the science show's 20th anniversary. Contestants answered science questions and did experiments. They competed for a chance to go on a science trip.
Marc Summers returned to Nickelodeon in 2000. He was an executive consultant for Double Dare 2000. This was an updated version of his original show. Two years later, he was the executive producer for another Nickelodeon show, Wild and Crazy Kids.
He hosted more shows, including History IQ on the History Channel. He became very well-known for hosting the Food Network series Unwrapped. This show explored how different foods are made. He also hosted a spin-off game show called Trivia Unwrapped. He hosted WinTuition on the Game Show Network.
In 2005, Marc Summers became the host of Food Network's reality series The Next Food Network Star. In 2008, he joined Chef Guy Fieri as co-host of Ultimate Recipe Showdown. Marc Summers has also worked behind the scenes as an executive producer for Food Network's Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible.
Marc Summers has hosted live stage versions of The Price Is Right. He gives credit to Bob Barker and The Price Is Right for helping him pursue a game show career. When he was a young page at CBS, he often asked for advice from game show hosts like Bob Barker. He says this was the best training for a game show career.
Marc Summers has also appeared in music videos and played himself on cartoon shows. He was in the Good Charlotte music video for their song "Last Night". He has also appeared on The Cleveland Show, Robot Chicken, Workaholics, and Sanjay & Craig.
A documentary called On Your Marc tells the story of his life and how he created his one-man theater show. It includes interviews with famous people like Neil Patrick Harris and Guy Fieri.
In 2016, Marc Summers returned to host a 30th Anniversary of Double Dare at the San Diego Comic-Con International. He also appeared in a special TV show celebrating the 30th anniversary of Double Dare.
In 2018, Marc Summers provided commentary for the new version of Double Dare with Liza Koshy. He also served as an executive producer for the show. In 2019, he hosted Double Dare Live, which was a touring stage version of the show.
On July 20, 2020, Marc Summers appeared as himself in an episode of Nickelodeon's The Loud House. The episode was called "How Double Dare You!". In it, the Loud family tried to get on Double Dare.
