A Travel Channel Academy Success Story

From cop who watches TV to TV cop…

About a year ago, Jay Russell, a former South Carolina State Trooper appeared at one of our Travel Channel Academy classes in NY.

He was the kind of State Trooper who would pull your car over for speeding, look at you through those reflective sunglasses and in a deep southern accent say “boy, you in a mess of trouble”

Then you would crap in your pants.

In short, he was the real deal.

But he wanted to be in the TV business instead of the cop business. So he took the course. Then he went home and started making videos, of himself.

Last week, Southern Fried Sting, the Jay Russell show, began airing on TruTV.

That’s right.

The Jay Russell show.

And guess what? In it’s first airing, it got the highest rating a new show has ever gotten on TruTV.

Ever.

It’s a whole new career for Jay Russell – think of him as Dog the Bounty Hunter, but smarter.

And it speaks volumes about what you can do after the TCA is over.

If you work hard.

And have a southern accent.

And can scare the crap out of people.

Michael Rosenblum

For more than 30 years, Michael Rosenblum has been on the cutting edge of the digital video journalism revolution. During this time, he has lead a drive for video literacy, and the complete rethinking of how television is made and controlled. His work has included: The complete transitioning of The BBC's national network (UK) to a VJ-driven model, starting in 2002. The complete conversion of The Voice of America, the United State's Government's broadcasting agency, (and the largest broadcaster in the world), from short wave radio to television broadcasting and webcasting using the VJ paradigm (1998-present). The construction of NYT Television, a New York Times Company, and the largest producer of non-fiction television in the US. Rosenblum was both the founder and President of NYT TV, (all based on this paradigm (1996-1998). The President and Founder of Video News International, a global VJ-driven newsgathering company, with more than 100 journalists around the world. (1993-1996). Other clients include Spectrum News, Verizon and CBS News.

8 Comments
  • Kevin April 24, 2010

    Way to go Jay! Just goes to show how empowering the TCA can be.

  • Michael Rosenblum April 24, 2010

    Well, let’s say the first iteration of the pitch reel. 😉

  • pencilgod April 24, 2010

    Now Michael we know that’s not true. 🙂

  • Michael Rosenblum April 23, 2010

    He shot and cut and made the pitch reel himself. That’s how he got the gig. Sorry.

  • $ April 23, 2010

    A success?

    You bet!

    Once he realized he needed a real production crew with multiple cameras to produce a show with enough quality to make a buck!

    He sure didn’t do this as a VJ!

    He sure learned a lot from the class!

    Don’t be a VJ if you want to succeed.

    Even if it’s on a low budget cable channel!

  • Ralph April 23, 2010

    This very encouraging. Thanks for sharing; it pushes us all to shot more and edit more.
    Thanks,
    Ralph

  • Elletra April 23, 2010

    Wow! That’s fantastic! Congratulations Jay!

  • Avery April 23, 2010

    Fantastic!

    I missed the premier, in fact I just caught part of the promo the other night and wondered: “Hey! Wasn’t that the cop that Rosenblume was talking about on his blog?”
    Sure enough, it is. Very cool.

    I work hard but I don’t have a Southern accent and usually only scare myself so I guess working behind the scenes producing video will have to do.

    Mr. Russell’s success is well deserved I’m sure and serves to keep the dream alive for me.

    The TCA training can be life changing, it has been for me and obviously is for Jay, I hope the show has a long and profitable run.

    Thanks Michael!