Ron Maestri
Biography
Ron Maestri's career began in radio as part-time Public Affairs Director/Promotions Manager for a mellow rock FM radio station in Las Vegas, Nevada, KUDO-FM 93. It was this opportunity that connected him to the needs of dozens of non-profit organizations providing them the voice to communicate their message to the local community. Ron created and hosted groundbreaking shows that sought to be entertaining and not typical public affairs tune-outs. Shows like "FM Magazine" utilized the skills of Maestri, along with every other on-air talent as a means of utilizing the station's resources and to garner a larger audience, which the show did successfully, eventually moving into primetime. The station's commitment to the FCC was for 6 hours per week of original public affairs programming. Ron created 3 one-hour shows and directed they each be double run.
Becoming on camera spokesman for Desert GMC trucks, Ron remained their spokesman for 10 years. It was through this exposure that led Ron to KRLR TV, "Vusic", the nation's first full power 24hour music video television station, where Ron Maestri became their first male VJ, hosting "Wake-Up with Ron" weekday mornings (the only music video show on the station's schedule to get ratings) and a weekly Saturday night show. He also hosted their one-hour show, "Vegas 21", syndicated to multiple station's throughout the U.S.
Relocating to Los Angeles, Ron created and hosted "RocQuiz", an all rock n' roll trivia game show pilot. Directed by Byl Carruthers ("Press Your Luck"), the show was quickly optioned by Shelley Duvall's Think Entertainment for national cable distribution.
Ron hosted 130 episodes of "Quicksilver" for Stone-Stanley and the USA Network, which became their #1 rated original gameshow series. Before the show was sold to Stone-Stanley, Ron hosted presentations for Kushner-Locke ("1st and Ten"), CBS and Merv Griffin.
Spotting an ad in Hollywood Reporter for a QVC open call searching for Program Hosts, Ron auditioned and ultimately won the position from thousands of applicants nationwide. He specialized in cooking, fitness, jewelry, fashion, health/beauty, collectibles & automotive shows. Ron was also voice of QVC's main ID as well as on-going spots promoting shows and exciting new products to be featured. He hosted their groundbreaking latenight series "Extreme Shopping", and Q2, their hipper MTV-style sister network which couldn't get their anchor/hosts to remove themselves from the TelePrompTer. After Ron's arrival, they never used it again.
When Ron's contract with QVC ended, Ron returned to Los Angeles to continue producing and to pursue stand-up comedy. With an act described as "If stand-up comedy is all about honesty, Ron Maestri corners the market", Ron performed regularly at The Comedy Store, The Hollywood Improv, The World Famous Ice House in Pasadena, Ha Ha Comedy Cafe, Second City and in San Diego at their 2000-seat 4th & B Theatre. His Saturday night shows, which he produced and MC'd at Comedy Union, an all-black comedy club in L.A., consistently filled seats to capacity every week for a year.
He became voice of Honda's satellite navigation system in all U.S. vehicles, including Acura and continued to record TV & radio ads for Taster's Choice, Universal Studios, Orlando, Washington Apples, AmeriQuest, Petco, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Honda & Anthony Robbins.
Relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, Ron became Show Host for the Shop-at-Home Television Network, becoming their lead cookware host, credited with helping to triple sales in that
product category.
Returning to NYC where he was born, Ron is acting in film and in television. He can be seen in "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "Gossip Girl", "The Smurfs Movie" (he was also Tim Gunn's stand-in for the film), "Arthur", "Win Win", "Law & Order: SVU", "White Collar", "The Big Year", "Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You", "The Miraculous Year", "Mildred Pierce", "Big Lake", "Premium Rush", "The Big C", "Rescue Me", "Something Borrowed", and multiple characters on "The Onion News Network".
