Location: Home > Bio

Click here for a printable resume.

Upon graduating from Brown University with a double major in political science and sociology, Karyn began her professional broadcasting career as a 22-year-old VJ for MTV. Aided by a sharp personality, and a profound passion for music, Karyn was tapped by the then fledgling FX Cable Network to host the live, daily music show 'Sound FX'.

Using live television to hone her skills as a broadcaster, Karyn was chosen by TNT to host an interstitial series of entertainment vignettes called 'Rough Cut.' The success of the vignettes prompted TNT to turn 'Rough Cut' into a weekly television series hosted by Karyn. Moreover, this marked the beginning of Karyn's professional relationship with Turner Broadcasting.

TBS soon launched the wraparound series 'Movies, For Guys Who Like Movies.' Strong enough for the action, and sexy enough to be a Bond girl, Karyn could be seen engaging the enemy in simulated dogfights, or piloting a Navy LCAC Hovercraft.

Ted Turner wasn't the only industry titan enamored with Karyn. Impressed with her on camera presence and her encyclopedic knowledge of music, Lorne Michaels hand picked Karyn to host his new daily game show for VH1, 'Name That Video'.

As Karyn's peers became stereotyped, or locked into fluff opportunities, it was time for Karyn to elevate her game. A stint hosting CNN's 'Talk Back Live' gave Turner further insight into this remarkable woman's capabilities. Thus, in 2004, Karyn was chosen to co-anchor CNN's revamped 'Showbiz Tonight.' 'Showbiz' was the country's only live, primetime, hour-long daily entertainment news show. When the series premiered in early 2005, Karyn earned the distinction of being the only African American woman anchoring in primetime on any cable news channel.

Music, entertainment and news are still not the whole story for Karyn. Growing up in the suburbs of Boston, Karyn became a rabid Patriots and Red Sox fan. That passion drew ESPN into her media fan base and she soon joined them for their first live New Years show as the countdown to 2006 began.

In 2006 Karyn joined the Showtime Championship Boxing announce team of Steve Albert, Al Bernstein and Jim Gray. Most recently, Karyn was invited by CBS to join their Elite Xtreme Combat announcer team, debuting mixed martial arts for the first time on primetime network television May 31, 2008.

Raised in Massachusetts, Karyn now lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Wade, and their daughter, Aurora.