Tommy Owen
Show Director
I’m Tommy Owen, the Show Director of The Bert Show. A 1992 graduate of North Carolina State University, I began my radio career the summer after my freshman year working at WKNC (N.C. State’s campus radio station). After graduation, I spent the first five years of my professional radio career as a promotions director at several radio stations in N.C.
In 1997, literally the day after watching the Howard Stern movie, Private Parts, I pursued my first radio morning show gig as Executive Producer of the Bob & Madison Showgram on G105 in Raleigh. In 2003, I moved to Miami to be Executive Producer of the highly successful Paul & Young Ron Show on Zeta 94.9 and Big 105.9. In 2006, I traded one warm climate for another and moved to Los Angeles to become the Executive Producer for radio Hall of Famer Rick Dees in the Morning.
While in L.A., I pursued a TV Writing certificate at UCLA and took Improv classes at Upright Citizen’s Brigade. I also worked as a VIP Tour Guide at Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, giving tours of movie sets and TV show sets like Gilmore Girls, Pretty Little Liars, and Ellen. I love movies and TV. My favorite movies are The Shawshank Redemption, Back to the Future and Forrest Gump. My favorite current TV shows include The Walking Dead, Fear of the Walking Dead and Stranger Things. My all-time favorite TV show is The Wonder Years. When I lived in Burbank, I lived right around the corner from Kevin Arnold’s house. As The Bert Show’s resident movie know-it-all, I use my useless knowledge to host The Bert Show’s recurring movie trivia game Suck It Tommy Trivia.
In June 2011, I left Hollywood to join The Bert Show. As an integral cog in the behind the scenes operation of The Bert Show, I help keep things running smoothly.
Having spent 2 decades (1988-1992, that is two decades) in the world renown rap group, The Def Force (short for Definitely Forceful), I showcase my skills each Friday when I morph into DJ Willie T and rap The Bert Show's Weekly Wrap Rap (a recap of what happened during the week on The Bert Show).
An accomplished DJ, you can hear my music mixes on The Bert Show. I’ve mobile DJ’d for 25 years and am available to DJ your wedding reception, corporate event or party. Contact me at tommy@thebertshow.com or at www.radiodjs.com. I am probably one of the most musically diverse people you'd ever meet. I love Michael Jackson (I cried for 4 days straight after MJ died) and the Bee Gees (I proved to Bert that they still stand the test of time). I’m probably one of the few people who enjoys old school rap and bluegrass.
An N.C. State alumnus, I am a HUGE Wolfpack fan. My entire basement is dedicated to my alma mater... aka Quarterback U. I am constantly buying N.C. State stuff for my fan cave. As far as pro teams, I cheer for teams with N.C. State players. I love the L.A. Chargers (Go Philip Rivers!) and Seattle Seahawks (Go Russell Wilson!). This year, I became a Dallas Mavs fan when Dennis Smith, Jr. was drafted.
I’ve been married to my wife, Renée, for over 21 years. We’ve been together for over 30 years. I picked her out of my third grade yearbook and waited 9 years to ask her out. I definitely outkicked my coverage. Renée is an ordained minister and the Director of Spiritual Care at a local hospital. We enjoy dining out, traveling as much as we can, and watching movies and TV in our home theater.