Draft:Alex Schmidt
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{{AFC submission|d|bio|u=Gullsgullsbri|ns=118|decliner=Qcne|declinets=20241206190150|small=yes|ts=20241120183746}}
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{{AFC comment|1=As stated in the comment below, the sources you have provided do not include any secondary sources talking about the subject, they are mostly confirmations that you did things (a podcast, a tiktok reel, went on Jeopardy etc). Until someone independent writes about Schmidt, you're going to struggle to meet the requirement for notability. Its a likely case of too soon Flat Out (talk) 04:49, 18 December 2024 (UTC)}}
{{AFC comment|1=If you remove the sources that are interviews, primary, or discuss the podcast you have very little that actually gives significant independent coverage of Alex himself. qcne (talk) 19:01, 6 December 2024 (UTC)}}
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{{Short description|American humorist, Jeopardy! champion and creator of the Secretly Incredibly Fascinating podcast}}
{{Draft topics|biography|internet-culture|media}}
{{AfC topic|blp}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Alex Schmidt
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|03|21}}
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = Syracuse University
| occupation = {{csv|podcaster|writer|humorist|video creator}}
| known_for = Jeopardy! winner, emoji creator, video creator, The New Yorker, The Onion, 1900HotDog.com
| notable_works = {{csv|Secretly Incredibly Fascinating|Kurt Vonneguys|"Hilarious Helmet History"|The Cracked Podcast}}
| website = {{URL|https://alexschmidty.com/}}
}}
Alex Schmidt is an American podcaster, writer, humorist, and emoji creator. He created and co-hosts the podcast "Secretly Incredibly Fascinating"{{cite web|url=https://lifehacker.com/podcasts-that-will-make-you-smarter-1850777961|title=Ten Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter|work=Lifehacker|date=28 August 2023 }} on the Maximum Fun podcast network.{{cite web|url=https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/secretly-incredibly-fascinating/|title=Secretly Incredibly Fascinating|date=26 January 2023 }} He also co-hosts the independent "Kurt Vonneguys" podcast. Schmidt writes humor pieces for The New Yorker{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/alex-schmidt|title=Contributors: Alex Schmidt|magazine=The New Yorker}} and for 1-900-HOTDOG,{{cite web|url=https://1900hotdog.com/author/patreon_4021952/|title = Alex Schmidt, Author at 1900HOTDOG}} and wrote for The Onion, as well as making comedy videos and podcasts as a staff member of Cracked.com. Schmidt also proposed the creation of the bison emoji{{Cite web|url=https://emojipedia.org/bison|title=🦬 Bison Emoji|website=Emojipedia}} on the emoji keyboard.
Early life
Schmidt grew up in the Chicago region, and watched Jeopardy! each day after school.{{cite web|url=https://tinkmedia.co/interviews/alex-schmidt|title=Tink*: Interview with Alex Schmidt|date=8 June 2021 }} He attended Glenbard South High School and was active in its music program.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/02/12/student-quartet-hits-romantic-high-note/|title=Student quartet hits romantic high note|work=Chicago Tribune|date=12 February 2006 }} He is a fan of Portillo's Hot Dogs and the Kane County Cougars baseball team{{cite web|url=https://people.com/why-butter-sticks-look-different-east-and-west-coast-exclusive-8603353|title=Butter Looks Different Based on Where You Live in America — Here's Why|work=People|date=4 March 2024 |last1=Lyttle |first1=Zoey }}. Schmidt attended Syracuse University, and spent summers working as a tram tour guide at Brookfield Zoo.
Career
During college, Schmidt interned at the website CollegeHumor.com.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tumblr.com/ohmygodwaytoolong/153717882/collegehumor-stuff-to-date|title=CollegeHumor stuff to date|website=Tumblr}} He also participated in the Syracuse University improv group "Zamboni Revolution".{{cite web|url=https://dailyorange.com/2006/10/improv-comedy-group-revolts-against-conventional-material/|title=Improv comedy group revolts against conventional material|work=The Daily Orange|date=11 October 2006 }} After graduation, Schmidt continued writing for CollegeHumor, and worked for its sister website Jest.com. Schmidt's script writing won the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater LA Pilot Discovery Competition, and a performance at the independent Pack Theater.{{cite web |title=LA Pilot Discovery: Gilded Age |url=https://www.packtheater.com/event/la-pilot-discovery-gilded-age/?instance_id=46168| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516050322/https://www.packtheater.com/event/la-pilot-discovery-gilded-age/?instance_id=46168 | archive-date=16 May 2019 }} He also contributed writing to The Onion, BBC America, Funny Or Die, Cracked.com, and The American Bystander. In the 2010s Schmidt also performed stand-up comedy, hosting a show at Meltdown Comics{{cite news |title=The Cracked Stand Up Show! |url=https://dola.com/events/2017/10/19/the-cracked-stand-up-show |access-date=16 December 2024 |publisher=DoLA.com}} and appearing on shows across Los Angeles.{{cite news |title=Adam Tod Brown brings his Unpops Podcast Network to life with stand-up comedy series at the Alex Theatre |url=https://www.pasadenaweekly.com/local-events/prime-picks/adam-tod-brown-brings-his-unpops-podcast-network-to-life-with-stand-up-comedy-series/article_a619a2ca-9275-598a-a50d-62a9e143e115.html |publisher=Pasadena Weekly}}
In 2016, Schmidt and collaborator Michael Swaim created the "Kurt Vonneguys" podcast,{{Cite web|url=https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/kurt-vonneguys-233218|title=Kurt Vonneguys|website=Podchaser}} covering each book by the author Kurt Vonnegut. The show went on hiatus before returning in 2021 with new episodes about new Vonnegut media.{{Cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/kurtvonneguys|title=Kurt Vonneguys|website=SoundCloud}} Schmidt and Swaim also contributed to the landmark Vonnegut retrospective Talking Vonnegut by Chuck Augello.{{cite book |last1=Augello |first1=Chuck |title=Talking Vonnegut: Centennial Interviews and Essays |date=2023-04-27 |publisher=McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers |isbn=9781476690704 |url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/talking-vonnegut-chuck-augello/1142795093}}
In 2014, Schmidt joined the staff of Cracked.com, after freelancing for years. He hosted numerous YouTube series for Cracked.com, including "New Guy Weekly" and "Hilarious Helmet History". "Hilarious Helmet History" has been viewed more than 15 million times on YouTube. Schmidt wrote three episodes of the popular "After Hours" series and five episodes of the "Honest Ads" series for Cracked. Schmidt also wrote for and co-starred in the scripted comedy series "Galactic War Room" with Ego Nwodim of Saturday Night Live.{{cite web |title=Galactic War Room |url=https://www.amazon.com/Galactic-War-Room/dp/B075112NWW |website=Amazon Prime Video}} Schmidt also guest-starred on the Dropout (media company) comedy game show "Um Actually", becoming the only Jeopardy! contestant ever featured on both shows.{{cite web |last1=Trapp |first1=Mike |title=Um, Actually: "Star Trek, Godzilla Island, Babylon 5" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M9ou72XRe0 |website=Dropout.tv |date=25 June 2021 |publisher=YouTube}}
In July 2017, Jack O'Brien departed Cracked.com and named Schmidt the new host of "The Cracked Podcast". Schmidt remained host for almost 150 episodes, and toured the show in Los Angeles, Chicago, Saint Paul, Minnesota, and London. Schmidt was fired by new corporate owner Literally Media in June 2020, making him the second and final host of "The Cracked Podcast" on the Earwolf podcast network.
Online, Schmidt currently writes humor pieces for 1-900-HOTDOG,{{Cite web|url=https://1900hotdog.com/about/|title=About|website=1-900-HOTDOG}} a website featuring former Cracked.com writers such as Robert Brockway and Sean "Seanbaby" Reiley. He has also written for "Some More News"{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFV0VaufMOM&ab_channel=SomeMoreNews |title=We Need To Talk About Hungary |website=youtube.com |publisher=SOME MORE NEWS |language=en |format=video |date=9 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYiYCEoofp4&ab_channel=SomeMoreNews |title=Is Democracy In Wisconsin In Peril? |website=youtube.com |publisher=SOME MORE NEWS |language=en |format=video |date=29 March 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxXOBlND3kc&ab_channel=SomeMoreNews |title=The Oversaturated Hell of the Marvel Cinematic Universe |website=youtube.com |publisher=SOME MORE NEWS |language=en |format=video |date=4 January 2023}}, collaborating again with other former Cracked employees.
In 2020, Schmidt created "Secretly Incredibly Fascinating",{{Cite web|url=https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/secretly-incredibly-fascinatin-1352619|title=Secretly Incredibly Fascinating|website=Podchaser}} a nonfiction comedy podcast about seemingly ordinary things. Episodes air weekly on Mondays, with a range of guests from comedy and podcasting. Schmidt also hosted a live episode of the podcast at Caveat in New York City{{cite web|url=https://maximumfun.org/episodes/secretly-incredibly-fascinating/raccoons/|title=Secretly Incredibly Fascinating (Live): Raccoons|date=24 October 2022 }} and toured the podcast at the 2024 London Podcast Festival.{{cite web |title=Kings Place: Secretly Incredibly Fascinating at the London Podcast Festival |url=https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/secretly-incredibly-fascinating/ |access-date=20 November 2024}} The show's theme song is "Unbroken Unshaven" by The Budos Band. "Secretly Incredibly Fascinating" garnered praise from critics like Podcast Brunch Club,{{Cite web|url=https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=120cacfda8b9d048fe78a9c7a&id=fdcc7266e8|title=4 episodes about TIME...from Daylight Saving Time to time zones to time travel.|website=eepurl.com}} The A.V. Club,{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-u-s-postal-service-is-awesome-and-secretly-incred-1844691821|title=The U.S. Postal Service is awesome, and Secretly Incredibly Fascinating aims to prove it|work=The A.V. Club|date=17 August 2020 }} Upworthy,{{cite web|url=https://www.upworthy.com/upworthy-favorite-podcasts|title=Upworthy's Favorite Podcasts|work=Upworthy}} the editors of Apple Podcasts,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SIFpod/status/1608875731433684992|title=Apple Podcasts New and Noteworthy list - December 2022}} and The New York Times.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/28/arts/podcasts-feel-good.html|title=6 Podcasts to Make You Feel Good|work=The New York Times|date=28 June 2022 |last1=Dibdin |first1=Emma }} {{cite news |last1=Passell |first1=Lauren |title=10 of the Best Podcasts to Listen to This Thanksgiving |url=https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/best-thanksgiving-podcasts |access-date=16 December 2024 |publisher=Lifehacker}} In 2023, "Secretly Incredibly Fascinating" joined the Maximum Fun podcast network{{cite web|url=https://maximumfun.org/news/january-30th-newsletter-new-show-new-staff/|title=January 30th Newsletter: New show! New staff!|date=30 January 2023 }} and made Katie Goldin its weekly co-host.{{cite web|url=https://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/14975/london-podcast-festival|title=First Names Announced For London Podcast Festival 2024|work=Beyond the Joke|date=18 June 2024 |last1=Dessau |first1=Bruce }} {{cite web |last1=Nissenblatt |first1=Arielle |title=Feed The Queue: Secretly Incredibly Fascnating |url=https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/feed-the-queue-4273521/episodes/secretly-incredibly-fascinatin-232742398 |website=Feed The Queue |publisher=Podchaser |access-date=16 December 2024}}Schmidt and Goldin also created a podcast miniseries recapping the television show The Inspectors for Maximum Fun's listener fundraising drives.
Schmidt is a popular video creator on TikTok. His videos have been viewed more than 100 million times, led by a viral post about grocery store self-checkout thefts{{cite web |title=@alexschmidty on TikTok: "basically everybody on earth is stealing from self checkouts — and that includes you 💸 #money #groceryshopping #selfcheckout #accident" |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@alexschmidty/video/7309185307256032542 |website=TikTok |access-date=20 November 2024}} and a viral post about Delaware license plate numbering.{{cite web |title=@alexschmidty on TikTok: "Delaware license plate culture 🚗 #funfacts #delaware #licenseplates #us #cars #carculture #eastcoast #auctions @SecretlyIncrediblyFascinating" |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@alexschmidty/video/7392672092317175082 |website=TikTok |access-date=20 November 2024}} Schmidt also creates videos for Instagram Reels, featured by Laughing Squid and People Magazine and other major media.{{cite web |title=Why Stops Signs Are Octagon Shaped |url=https://laughingsquid.com/why-stops-signs-are-octagon-shaped/ |website=Laughing Squid |date=15 June 2024 |access-date=20 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=The Early New York City Origins of the Classic Slipping on a Banana Peel Comedy Trope |url=https://laughingsquid.com/banana-peel-comedy-trope/ |website=Laughing Squid |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=20 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=Butter Looks Different Based on Where You Live in America — Here's Why (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/why-butter-sticks-look-different-east-and-west-coast-exclusive-8603353 |access-date=20 November 2024 |publisher=People Magazine}}
= Jeopardy! Contestant =
Schmidt appeared as a contestant on Season 35 of Jeopardy!.{{cite web |title=Today's Final Jeopardy – October 12, 2018 |url=https://thejeopardyfan.com/2018/10/final-jeopardy-10-12-2018.html |website=The Jeopardy! Fan|date=12 October 2018 }} He won four games{{cite web|url=https://laughingsquid.com/banana-peel-comedy-trope/|title=The Early New York City Origins of the Classic Slipping on a Banana Peel Comedy Trope|work=Laughing Squid|date=2 June 2024 |last1=Dorn |first1=Lori }}, and a total $94,880 in prize money.{{Cite web|url=https://j-archive.com/showplayer.php?player_id=12335|title=J! Archive - Alex Schmidt|website=j-archive.com}} Schmidt is a lifelong Jeopardy! fan, and in middle school he carried a book about the show around with him in his backpack.
= Bison Emoji =
In 2019, Schmidt submitted a proposal to Unicode to add a bison emoji to its keyboard. Unicode accepted the proposal in 2020. The Buffalo News congratulated Schmidt on creating "the new bison emoji that everyone in Buffalo will be texting soon."{{cite news |last1=Dewey |first1=Caitlin |title=The story behind the new bison emoji that everyone in Buffalo will be texting soon |url=https://buffalonews.com/article_c77c2ed8-5570-52f4-98f2-590d1b79085c.html |access-date=16 December 2024}} Schmidt documented the experience in a podcast miniseries called "1 Way To Make An Emoji".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bisonemojipodcast.com/episodes|title=Episodes|website=1 Way To Make An Emoji (the bison emoji podcast)}}{{cite news |last1=Passell |first1=Lauren |title=Ten Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter |url=https://lifehacker.com/podcasts-that-will-make-you-smarter-1850777961 |access-date=16 December 2024}} {{cite web |title=44: Katie Goldin & Alex Schmidt, Space Birds, and the Bison Emoji 🦬 |url=https://www.letslearneverything.com/ |website=Let's Learn Everything podcast |access-date=16 December 2024}} {{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Jeff |title=The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show: "The Buffalo Emoji" |url=https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-jeff-rubin-jeff-rubin-show-170616/episodes/the-buffalo-emoji-75093573 |website=The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show |publisher=Podchaser}} Schmidt said the bison emoji project was partly motivated by the loss of his father and a wish to honor his memory.
Personal life
Schmidt lives in Beacon, New York with his wife and their cats.{{cite web |last1=Moe |first1=John |title=Alex Schmidt, Katie Goldin, and Their Non-Secretly Non-Fascinating Pets |url=https://maximumfun.org/episodes/sleeping-with-celebrities/alex-schmidt-katie-goldin-and-their-non-secretly-non-fascinating-pets/ |website=Maximum Fun |date=13 March 2024 |access-date=16 December 2024}} Schmidt often wears a Hudson Valley Renegades or Kane County Cougars baseball hat in his videos on Tiktok.
References
{{reflist}}