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He has already been compared to Susan Boyle, another unassuming middle-aged person with a great voice who hit worldwide stardom via YouTube. Now Ted Williams, a homeless Ohio man showing off his great radio voice for a buck alongside a city street, has become an overnight sensation after the Columbus Dispatch posted a video of him on YouTube that has amassed almost 6 million hits. Williams is doing the morning show circuit, and he is reportedly getting numerous job offers. Who can blame the TV networks for jumping on the first feel-good story of the year, a talented man whose career and life were destroyed by drugs and alcohol on a path to redemption. (He claims he has been sober for 2 years now.) In addition to local NBA team the Cleveland Cavaliers, reported suitors for Williams’ services include the NFL/NFL Films, ESPN, MTV and local TV and radio stations. It will be interesting if the broadcast networks join in, the man practically auditioned for a voiceover job at Fox with his Family Guy announcement at the end of the segment. And his story is tailor-made for a Hollywood treatment ala The Pursuit of Happyness. If you haven’t seen the video, watch it below. It is guaranteed to move even the most jaded Hollywood types.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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Complete nonsense. Radio is dead, we all admit that, but there are countless hard working men and women, all with technical knowledge in Radio and golden throats, who are out of work. Our society is always looking for the next overnight sensation, and not for longstanding talent who have worked towards their place on the proverbial food chain.
He does have a good voice and someone who is homeless has a chance to turn their life around. Why rain on his parade?
Somebody got lumpy oatmeal this morning. Come on, brutha! This is a great story, and if someone has talent, let’s promote it, “traditional” training or not.
Honestly man, what’s the problem with being happy for the guy? Unless you, yourself, are an out of work radio personality…
radio may be dead but voiceover work is FAR from over and a GREAT way to make a living…
why be a jerk to a man who is trying to turn his life around?
Sounds like you are bitter about your own circumstances.
Don’t hate, congratulate!!
I know it must feel horrible knowing you and “The Bean” will someday be off the air of KROQ. Sorry someone pissed in your cheerios this morning dude.
Are you kidding me…radio is not dead…ever heard of XM!! I listen to radio all the time, as do millions and this guy’s voice is in a class of it’s own. He is in the league with Casey Kasem….I say Hell yes to helping this man and I hope he has a great life from this point on!
Radio may be dead but, but I bet Tim Allen is doing very well will all the Campbell’s Soup and Chevy commercials. If you had listen carefully you would see the perfect voice over for Family Guy on FOX, which is far from radio.
Kevin….COME ON!! have a heart!
kevin: you sound like a jealous bitter soul sucking toxic a__ hole. shut up, you don’t have anything nice to say keep your inner bitter angry world of words in your head. loser.
really, you bitter punk? this guy IS talented and he’s a lot more sincere and likely GRATEFUL than most people working out there. I’d hire him in a NY minute over you. Suck it. And happy new year.
What an absolutely rich voice, some of the follow-up stuff for this is great too. I wish the man luck in the future but with a voice like that I’m sure I’ll hear him announcing shows
This is a human interest story with little/no relevance to the Hollywood community or the entertainment industry at large.
There are a seemingly limitless supply of websites that trade in these little viral/quasi-viral human interest stories, there’s no reason to see Deadline heading down this path as well, and it’s not the reason people come to this website.
It’s on here because it’s only a matter of time before he gets a movie deal…and then once its announced Deadline will say they scooped it even though everyone else reported it too.
Relax HW and skip the post then. You aren’t running the site and they can print whatever they want. Jerk.
Two years sober and he’s still homeless? Let’s see how long he lasts at a real gig.
hey wrecktem: must feel great sitting snuggly and hidden behind your monitor writing nasty comments about feel good stories. your post has LOSER written all over it. jealous. rancid. lonely. loser.
Kevin is a dumbass, the guy could do voiceover and other jobs that will allow him to use his God-given talent. Don’t be a hater, people like you are what’s wrong with life in general.
Update: He received a full-time job offer and a house from the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to the New York Post.
Greatest bit of news I’ve heard in a while. He’s got a great voice and seems like great guy. Admire the guy for acknowledging how he fell down (alcohol and drugs) and has been clean for two years. Fantastic comeback and wish him the very best.
And, hat’s off also to the folks who helped him get back on track.
Anyone know if the same folks are available to help the most famous people who’ve fallen to drugs/alcohol lately?
All I want to hear him say is “TOLDJA!”
I thought he was Keith Richards.
If you’re the Kevin I think you are, you’re just pissed because you can’t buy a job right now. You burned the bridges dude, and if you were as humble as the man above, someone might give you a second chance as well.
And I thought I was cynical.
Kevin, maybe, you would feel better watching stories about abject poverty, genocide, battered women and other things which will make you much happier and content.
You, obviously, have been deeply hurt, but don’t take it out on everyone…lighten up!
This story and the video are both fucking awesome.
Any cynicial reactions to this piece reveal a blatant lack of compassion, empathy, and respect for the base levels of the human condition in one’s character.
If this video was shot in front of Von’s in the Palisades, you’d be pissed that it wasn’t you who shot the video! Jerks.
Thanks, Nellie. Never hesitate to throw a piece like this out there; creatives hard at work all need to relax once in a while and this gave me a good smile this afternoon.
Richard, I couldn’t have said it better myself, thanks!
YES..and Nellie is the best thing that ever happened to Nikki Finke! Brilliant hire/merger/braintrust.
Nellie…youre the best thing that ever happened to Nikki..Great hire and combo..the two of you plus the growing editorial team…of brainpower and talented sourcing //writing
Wish him luck! Great story. Maybe he can replace Ron Franklin at ESPN. Actually, Jay Leno could use him now that he got rid of Stuttering John.
Thank you Frank…we all know who “Kevin” is. What kevin needs to know is that we don’t actually care about him! Nellie, thank you for covering this story…this guy more than paid his dues…yes,a second chance.Isn’t that what all of us are secretly looking for…
Sorry, who’s Kevin? Full name not important, just interested in background – actor, writer, agent, producer?
Always, interested in linking comments with some background info. The anonymous nature of the internet has advantages and disadvantages.
What a great voice! Good for Mr. Williams!
I think it would be cool if Family Guy gave him a “walk-on” playing himself…
Someone pleeeeeeeease out Kevin for the rest of us!
yes…please lets find out who KEVIN is….:)
Radio is dead? I think not.
Yes, I concur – if this story doesn’t warm your heart, you have that heart the Grinch had until the end of “The Grinch Stole Christmas.”
How does talking qualify as “talent”? Does that mean supermodels are super talented cause they can walk?
It’s not just ‘talking’, and i’m pretty sure if you are on this site posting anything, you know it is about more then talking. Most everyone can talk….but not everyone has a voice for radio and voice-overs. And supermodels walk a specific way, so in their own regard, the way they walk is part of the talent needed to perform their given profession. you’re just being a downer. Christ. Just be happy for a down on his luck man, getting some help in this new year. I’ve had a crap year…most people I know in this industry have had a crap year, but still feel good and happy for people who get their second chance.
i first heard about this story about 12 hours ago, and im already tired of it. PLAYED.
Ted, good luck to you wherever your new path may lead.
What an amazing story. Things sure can happen fast with today’s technology!
After 31 years in radio in three top 10 markets, and having listened to hundreds of audition tapes, I can tell you that this man’s voice is better than our highest paid contract v/o talent. I have no idea whether he can pull his weight in a real job; but if were looking for talent right now, I’d absolutely invite this man to come in for a chat. I wish him luck and the strength of character to follow through on his dream.
He has a gift and a talent. He’s two years sober and trying to get his life back together. This makes him infinitely more interesting than any one of the Kardashians, Hiltons, Lohans, etc. that this society seems obsessed with. What have any of them done for their money?
Anyone hating on this guy is only reflecting the unhappiness in their own lives.
Wow!! He has a great voice!! God bless him and much love and success on his further journey….
I love this story regardless of the (very) few, jaded people who hate on him on this board and many others. I’m beyond happy that he was able to turn his life around. So many people complain about the homeless not trying to turn their lives around, but with some help this man (at 71 years old!) actually HAS and people are STILL negative about it! Such a sad society. I’m glad things are finally looking up for him, he seems like a genuine person and very grateful, unlike most of the people who have ‘made it’ in Hollywood, celeb or exec. We should take a cue that on any given day something could happen that may result in any one of us being in a bad situation and in need of help from strangers. Count your blessings, thank the universe or do whatever it is that you believe in because you never know what will go down.
Wait…I thought it was a viral video that someone edited paying a homeless guy to lip sync over a professional voiceover. Wow.