Charlie Berens#Manitowoc Minute

Berens was born into a Catholic family as one of twelve children. He grew up in the Wisconsin towns of Elm Grove and New Berlin. He graduated from Marquette University High School and studied broadcast journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Berens began his career working for the MTV News show Choose or Lose.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1576844/mtvs-choose-or-lose-taps-local-reporters-to-cover-presidential-election/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123020744/http://www.mtv.com/news/1576844/mtvs-choose-or-lose-taps-local-reporters-to-cover-presidential-election/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 23, 2015|title=MTV's Choose Or Lose Taps Local Reporters To Cover Presidential Election|author=MTV News Staff|website=MTV News|language=en|access-date=2019-04-09}} He covered Wisconsin state politics and was arrested while covering protests at the 2008 Republican National Convention.{{Cite web|url=https://fox6now.com/2018/05/14/keep-er-movin-meet-charlie-berens-you-know-him-best-as-the-manitowoc-minute-guy/|title='Keep 'er movin:' Meet Charlie Berens; you know him best as the 'Manitowoc Minute' guy|date=2018-05-15|website=FOX6Now.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-09}} In 2012, Tribune Media recruited Berens to host the comedic news show Nightcap.{{cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/CW33/photos/10151703436038725|title=CW33: Nightcap|access-date=2019-02-06|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412132106/https://www.facebook.com/CW33/photos/10151703436038725|url-status=live}} While a reporter for KDAF-TV, Berens won his first Regional Emmy.{{Cite web|url=http://lonestaremmy.org/awards/archives/2013-lone-star-emmy-awardees/|title=2013 Lone Star EMMY Awardees {{!}} National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences – Lone Star|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-09}}

In 2014, CBS Sports Network hired Berens to host the sports gameshow You're So Money and PMC made Berens the host of their comedy/entertainment news brand @Hollywood.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

Berens has been featured on Funny or Die.{{Cite web|url=https://www.funnyordie.com/2019/3/8/18250751/legends-of-the-hidden-temple-30-for-30-parody|title=The Untold Story of 'Legends Of The Hidden Temple' Will Leave You Speechless|last=Web|first=Best Of The|date=2019-03-08|website=Funny Or Die|access-date=2019-04-09|archive-date=2019-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409155555/https://www.funnyordie.com/2019/3/8/18250751/legends-of-the-hidden-temple-30-for-30-parody|url-status=live}} His comedic mashups, including "If Jack Dawson was Really from Wisconsin," have garnered more than thirteen million views.{{cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/charlieberensTV/videos/if-jack-dawson-was-really-from-wisconsin/1109193155801357/|title=If Jack Dawson Was Really From Wisconsin|access-date=2019-02-06|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412130349/https://www.facebook.com/charlieberensTV/videos/if-jack-dawson-was-really-from-wisconsin/1109193155801357/|url-status=live}} He authored the book The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat...Everything with Ranch (2021).{{cite book|first=Charlie|last=Berens|title=The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat...Everything with Ranch|year=2021|isbn=9780063074965|publisher=HarperCollins}}

In 2017, Berens created Manitowoc Minute, a weekly comedic video series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milwaukeemag.com/charlie-berens-manitowoc-minute-sconnie-humor/|title=Charlie Berens of 'Manitowoc Minute' Talks Sconnie Humor|last=Prouty|first=Alyssa|date=2018-04-05|website=Milwaukee Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-09|archive-date=2019-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409155556/https://www.milwaukeemag.com/charlie-berens-manitowoc-minute-sconnie-humor/|url-status=live}} The name refers to the Wisconsin city of Manitowoc. His "Oh My Gosh!" Tour, inspired by the series, sold out theaters across Wisconsin.{{cite news|url=https://www.wearegreenbay.com/local-5-live/local-5-live-features/manitowoc-minute-oh-my-gosh-tour/1622100437|title=Oh My Gosh! Tour}} Berens partnered with Madison brewery Ale Asylum to launch a beer inspired by Manitowoc Minute called Keep ‘Er Movin’.{{cite news|url=https://www.channel3000.com/news/manitowoc-minute-launches-new-beer-at-madison-brewery/826742470|title=Keep Er Movin' Light Lager}}

In 2024, Charlie Berens launched his own signature spirit—Berens Old Fashioned Brandy, a nod to his Wisconsin roots and love for supper club culture. The brand quickly gained traction across the Midwest and beyond.

On September 1, 2022, Berens and Dane Schaefer launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for their project Card Sale, a card-based party game with a Yard Sale theme.{{cite web |url=https://www.nbc15.com/2022/09/04/charlie-berens-launches-card-game-kickstarter-with-fellow-wisconsinite/ |title=Charlie Berens launches card game on Kickstarter with fellow Wisconsinite |last=Jacobs |first=Kylie |date=2022-09-03 |website=nbc15.com |access-date=2023-03-02 }} The campaign was fully funded in 48 hours,{{Cite web |url=https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/charlie-berens-launches-kickstarter-for-card-game-fully-funded-within-48-hours/ |title=Charlie Berens launches Kickstarter for card game, fully funded within 48 hours |last=Newhouse |first=Ben |website=wearegreenbay.com |date=3 September 2022 |access-date=March 2, 2023}} and ultimately raised three times their original funding goal of US$11,700. Card Sale officially launched in January 2023{{cite web |url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/377665/card-sale |title=Card Sale |website=boardgamegeek.com |access-date=2023-03-02 |archive-date=2023-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302185303/https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/377665/card-sale |url-status=live }}

On December 18, 2022, Berens gave the keynote speech for the UW-Madison Winter commencement at the Kohl Center. During the speech, Berens talked about his experiences struggling as a young journalist after graduation while working-in pieces of his Wisconsin comedy routine. Every graduating student received a free copy of his book and he held a signing event at the University Book Store on State Street.{{Citation |title=UW–Madison Winter Commencement keynote speaker Charlie Berens |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5wkLh54Vqw |language=en |access-date=2022-12-20 |archive-date=2022-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220025311/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5wkLh54Vqw |url-status=live }}

During Super Bowl LIX, Berens appeared in an ad for Nicolet Law.{{Cite web |title=Charlie Berens feigns bean casserole injury in Nicolet Law ad during Super Bowl |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2025/02/11/charlie-berens-co-stars-in-nicolet-law-commercial.html |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=bizjournals.com}}

In June 2020, Berens launched The Cripescast, a podcast interviewing musicians, artists, comedians, and creators to discuss their stories and connections to the Midwest.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cripescast.com/ |title=CripesCast |website=CripesCast |access-date=2023-06-01 |archive-date=2023-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602011623/https://www.cripescast.com/ |url-status=live }}

Berens married TV host, actress, and former Miss Wisconsin USA Alex Wehrley in 2015.{{cite web |title=From Wisconsin, With Humor |url=https://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/features/from-wisconsin-with-humor/ |website=UWAlumni |accessdate=17 June 2020}}{{Cite web|last=Todaybirthdays|title=Alex Wehrley - Facts, Bio, Age, Personal life|url=https://www.todaybirthdays.com/famous/alex-wehrley.html|access-date=2021-03-23|website=www.todaybirthdays.com|language=en|archive-date=2023-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412130349/https://www.todaybirthdays.com/famous/alex-wehrley.html|url-status=live}} They divorced in late 2020.{{Citation|title=VLOG: House Hacking, BRRRR Strategy, Buying in a Sellers Market & More|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYf5XdFhbRg|language=en|access-date=2021-03-23|archive-date=2021-03-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313121501/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYf5XdFhbRg|url-status=live}} He resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is Catholic.{{cite web|title=Charlie Berens on Instagram: "Born Catholic, raised guilty...#standup #catholicfamily #miracle"|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CrTklzIAKla/|access-date=2023-06-21|website=Instagram|language=en|archive-date=2023-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621182229/https://www.instagram.com/p/CrTklzIAKla/|url-status=live}}

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• [https://www.charlieberens.com/ Official website]
• [https://manitowocminute.com/ Manitowoc Minute Website]
• [https://cardsalegame.com/ Card Sale Website]

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Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:American male journalists

Category:American male comedians

Category:Comedians from Wisconsin

Category:People from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Category:YouTubers from Wisconsin