Alex McLeod

Infobox actor
name = Alex McLeod


imagesize =
caption = McLeod at the Segerstrom Hall Gala September 15, 2006
birthname = Alexandra Ann McLeod
occupation = Television Host, Entertainment News Correspondent
location = Galveston, Texas, U.S.
flagicon|Texas flagicon|USA
deathdate =
deathplace =
height =
othername =
homepage = http://www.alexmcleod.net
notable role = Host of "Trading Spaces"
Host of "Joe Millionaire"

Alexandra Ann McLeod is an American television host and entertainment news correspondent best known for being the original host of TLC’s hit cable show, "Trading Spaces".imdb name|0572771|Alex McLeod] She initially got her start as a comedic actress and became a household name by hosting the first forty episodes of the reality based home improvement series that launched the makeover show phenomenon.http://alexmcleod.net/all%5Fabout%5Falex%5Fmcleod/ Official Website Bio]

Biography

Early life

McLeod was born and raised in Galveston, Texas, in the United States. In Texas, her father was a politician and real estate developer and her mother a teacher. As a young girl she spent a lot of time on the campaign trail with her father, a former Texas state legislator. [ [http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legis/members/roster.cfm LRL | Research Tools | Members : 80th ({ts '2007-01-09 00:00:00'}) ] ]

McLeod attended the prestigious Kinkaid High School in Houston. Later, she attended The University of Texas at Austin where she received a degree in Communications. While in college on summer break, McLeod got her first broadcasting job as a news intern at KPRC-NBC in Houston. She began acting at UCLA where she took acting and film history classes.

Television career

McLeod began her career in Hollywood performing in numerous national commercial spots and sitcoms ("Married With Children", "Nightstand", and "Partners") McLeod’s first real break came as the cheeky Hollywood correspondent of the irreverent and popular film review series, "Moviewatch", which aired on Channel Four in the United Kingdom. From 1996 to 1998 McLeod spent two seasons as the sidekick to British TV personality and comedian, Johnny Vaughan ("The Big Breakfast, Passport To Paradise") engaging in interviews with A-list film stars, reporting movie news from Los Angeles, and performing in comedy sketches satirizing the entertainment industry. In 1999 McLeod went on to perform comedy sketches for the cable show IZ which aired late night and on the internet, the web site formerly named "IZ.com".

Mainstream success

In 2000, McLeod's demo reel caught the eye of a TLC network executive, during the casting for the first season of "Trading Spaces". After viewing a sketch entitled, "Will Model for Food", TLC offered her the job as host of their flagship show, "Trading Spaces". McLeod signed on for forty episodes. The show was a hit and McLeod shared in a daytime Emmy nomination with her Producers after one season on air in the Outstanding Special Class Series category. TLC Executive Producer Stephen Schwartz called Alex his “hands-down choice for host.” [ [http://alexmcleod.net/all_about_alex_mcleod/testimonials.html]

Linda Stasi of "The New York Post" described McLeod as the "perfect" host [ [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/nypost/access/129211821.html?dids=129211821:129211821&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+27%2C+2002&author=Linda+Stasi&pub=New+York+Post&edition=&startpage=082&desc=NICE+DECOR+(PITY+ABOUT+THE+HOST) New York Post Online Edition: News ] ] and Daniel McGinn of "Newsweek" compared McLeod to Classic Coke, truly an "original." [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NWEC&p_theme=nwec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_siteloc=nwsearchmain&p_field_label-0=Edition&s_dispstring=allfields(Alex%20McLeod)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22Alex%20McLeod%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no Newsweek Archives ] ] When she made the decision to leave the show in the summer of 2001, McLeod told Newsweek she chose to “lay down her own paintbrush” and leave her Alex-cam and the demanding road schedule behind.

After leaving "Trading Spaces" in 2002 McLeod performed in back to back reality TV projects making the move into major network television with a hosting role on FOX's controversial first season of "Joe Millionaire" shot on location in France's Loire Valley. On the first Joe Millionaire, single women competed for the affection of a would-be millionaire who in reality was a manual laborer making only $19,000 annually. The show was wildly successful with over 40 million viewers in the US tuning in to the season one finale. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Millionaire]

Next, McLeod became the co-host of "A&E Network"'s "Best of Both Worlds" alongside Phil Koeghan ("The Amazing Race"). In this two part reality travel special, McLeod agreed to "rough it" on an economy tour of Hawaii and then to experience the reward of a luxury tour through Hong Kong.

In 2003 McLeod landed a guest co-host spot for two episodes on ABC's all-female talk show, "The View" as a candidate to fill outgoing host, Lisa Ling’s chair. McLeod's appearance was also used again in another episode of "The View" featuring “Strong Women.”

McLeod guest hosted on 20th Century Fox's nationally syndicated morning show, "Good Day Live". She appeared on the Sci Fi Channel as a correspondent for "The Belzer Connection", a two part special on conspiracies based on comedian/actor Richard Belzer’s book, entitled "UFOs, JFK, and Elvis". She has appeared as a celebrity guest on Soap Talk on Soapnet and was a celebrity guest panelist on "The Test" on FX. She has been featured in publications such as "Newsweek", and "Entertainment Weekly".

Often McLeod returns to her roots as an entertainment news correspondent. From 2003 to 2004, McLeod covered numerous movie premieres as a red-carpet correspondent for "Starz Movie News". She also hosted "The Weekend", a weekend of academy award winning movies celebrating Oscar winners past and present. Both aired on the Starz family of channels. McLeod was also a spokeswoman for a Starz/DirectTV weekend promotional campaign.

In 2008, McLeod worked as a red-carpet correspondent for the TV Guide Network’s "Hollywood 411" daily entertainment news show.

Philanthropy

McLeod is involved with a number of charities in Southern California (UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity and "GRID Alternatives") and she has said giving back to her community has been what she considers one of her greatest accomplishments.

Since 2001 McLeod has worked as a fundraiser for a number of charity events benefiting UNICEF [ [http://alexmcleod.net/sweet_charity/ Alex McLeod, Alex McLeod and Sweet Charity ] ] [ [http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Los_Angeles_Entertainment_109/_Get_Your_Grape_On_for_UNICEF.php "Get Your Grape On!" for UNICEF ] ] and she has given motivational speeches in K-12 schools to encourage America's children to help children at risk in developing nations as part of UNICEF's annual "Trick or Treat" campaign. In 2004 the Southern California chapter of UNICEF gave Alex a "President's Volunteer Award" issued by The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation in recognition of her "commitment to the strengthening of the nation and making a difference through volunteer service".

McLeod has lent her home-improvement skills to several "Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity Blitz Builds" including a "Power Women, Power Tools Build" hosted by First Lady of California, Maria Shriver. [http://www.hollywoodforhabitat.com/user/06-23-05%20PWPT%20Release.doc.pdf] McLeod's "Trading Spaces" background also came in handy in 2005 when she partnered with Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church to create a sizeable charity decorating/furniture drive for 15 Katrina families seeking refuge in her hometown of Galveston. McLeod spent several weeks with the recipients and personally delivered the items with Moody Memorial church volunteers. [ [http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=cf88b89dd32868dc The Galveston County Daily News ] ]

In 2007, McLeod participated in the Los Angeles "Habitat for Humanity-Jimmy Carter Work Project" as a volunteer builder and co-host of a reception honoring 39th President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. [http://www.habitat.org/jcwp/2007/blog/Tuesday.aspx]

References

External links

* [http://www.alexmcleod.net/ Official site]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0572771/ Alex McLeod at the Internet Movie Database]