Jim Deberry

Jim DeBerry

Jim DeBerry speaking a press conference about Mr. Wong Fong Shu
Born (1977-07-13) July 13, 1977
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Nationality American
Occupation Entrepreneur, Television, Film, Radio
Years active 1995–present
Style Observational comedy, Improvisational comedy, Character actor, Insult comedy

Jim DeBerry (born July 13, 1977) is an American entrepreneur, actor, comedian, radio personality, and has been a C-level executive for multiple home services and entertainment companies.

Early life

Born in Detroit, Michigan, DeBerry's family relocated to Central Florida in the 80's. DeBerry participated in an Early College/Dual Enrollment program where he earned an associate degree in Arts from Seminole State College and later attended the University of Central Florida and Florida International University.[1] His father, Jim DeBerry, Sr. is a retired businessman and mother, Linda DeBerry was a homemaker. His father is French and Norwegian while his mother was of Irish and Yorkshire descent which provided a culturally diverse upbringing.[2] DeBerry is married to Amy DeBerry who is an actress that has been featured in Walmart television advertisements and as Ditzy Misty for Definitive Television.[3][4]

Swimming pool and solar industries

At the Miami Beach, Florida based Pool Service America, DeBerry was General Manager and Company Qualifier for one of the largest swimming pool companies in America in 2008.[5] DeBerry was featured in the Hanley Wood publication Pool and Spa News for his philanthropy work with programs such a USO and Make a Splash Foundation by making charitable contributions in his customers names.[6] In 2010 DeBerry obtained the professions highest possible license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.[7][8] In an article with Aqua Magazine covered DeBerry in a featured spread related to his technical expertise on Suction Side and Pressure Side Cleaners and why industry workers should not be concerned with the robotic machines taking their jobs.[5] In 2011 while as the managing partner for Orlando, Florida-based Aqua Pool Dealer, DeBerry was featured in marketing campaigns for radio, television, and internet promotions.[9] On September 26, 2011 DeBerry's appearance on WTKS 104.1 FM's The Buckethead Show, Show Host Jason Bailey spoke to DeBerry regarding career opportunities and did a comedy bit in the segment with Jim about pool owners in the nude by their swimming pools.[10] At the 2011 American Pool and Spa Professionals International Pool and Spa Expo Award Show in Las Vegas, Nevada DeBerry was awarded with Industry's Achievement Award.[11][12] 2012 was a year in which DeBerry advocated for homeowners related to the Florida Energy and Conservation Code possible burden upon home owners and energy savings, in which DeBerry gave multiple solutions to combat federal guidance regulations used by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) related to changes regarding criminal background checks.[13] DeBerry was sought after as an industry leader with experience working with investors related to REO properties' downfalls and how to turn those opportunities into revenue.[14] According to Pool and Spa News' Annual State of the Industry edition, DeBerry is one of the most followed on Twitter with reporting over 90,000 followers and followed by over 500 verified celebrities.[15] DeBerry was covered by Aqua Magazine on how to turn social media into clients which included Twitter conversations between Mr. DeBerry and English Writer of the Liverpool Daily Post, Gary Bainbridge.[16] In December 2012 the Orlando Business Journal awarded DeBerry for running the top outstanding business in the region with Aqua Pool Dealer. Employment growth and ability to increase revenue had been a deciding factor for DeBerry winning the award.[17] DeBerry while head of a solar firm in Sanford, Florida offered experience to the industry regarding concerns of employee defections and how to deal in a competitive environment related to employment agreements and non-disclosures.[18] in 2015 under DeBerry's direction Wild Waters added new attractions to the amusement park related to Eco-tourism including the educational animal exhibit, featuring snakes, turtles and alligators, Henry Flagler’s Boat of Bounce, and a Comedy lab.[19] DeBerry was noted for implementing the water parks “save, sanitize, filtrate and recirculate” and recycling programs minimizing the amount of water used per month from the City of Ocala’s supply.[20]

Entertainment career

Radio

DeBerry co-hosted The Unfunny Serious Show along with radio personality Robin Nathan Hood on 1400 AM WTRR, owned by J&V Communications from 1999-2002.[21] The program featured various musical guests, actors, and comedy,[3] most notably Bruce Willis and Michael Winslow. The radio show was cancelled in 2002 with The Supervillains being the last live in studio performance.[22] The Unfunny Serious Show released a 10-year anniversary album called "The Best and The Worst of The Unfunny Serious Show".[23] It was announced on the Caiden Cowger Show that the album would be released on CD as well on iTunes in 2013 and would include characters played by Mr. DeBerry. In particular the album would display recordings of the characters of "Tommy the Jobless Hobo" who is depicted as a black homeless man and along a transsexual named Michelle looking for a limousine.[24]

Performance characters

DeBerry has held performances in character as a comedic chef,[4] a police cop named Officer Billy Doofus,[25] an Asian named Mr. Wong Fong Shu, and a cowboy like southerner named Rowdy Roscoe.[25] These characters played by DeBerry have been used at conventions, fairs, festivals, public appearances, as well as for television commercials.[26] DeBerry as the cowboy character was mentioned by Marc Mero and callers on the Monsters in the Morning radio show regarding the time he shot confetti out of an air cannon into Larry Zbysko's coffee at a celebrity bowling event.[27][28] DeBerry's characters have been described by multiple news outlets as caricatures.[29][30] Also as the vice president of the television production company, Definitive Television, DeBerry was featured in a commercial that went viral which aired on television in the state of Alabama.[31] During the commercial, DeBerry wore an Asian garb and glasses that simulate closed, slanted eyes as Mr. Wong Shu character.[32] The commercial featured DeBerry as Mr. Wong Fong Shu telling viewers to contact a personal injury law firm known as McCutcheon and Hamner implying the law firm could assist them against insurance companies.[33] In a blog from Angry Asian Man stated that DeBerry was racist.[34] Other news outlets such as Above the Law reported a similar position, while others came to DeBerry's defense such as Radio Host Kidd Chris[23] stating DeBerry's character was not racist. DeBerry has been covered by E! network's The Soup, Time Magazine, Salon,[35] as well as writer Brian Cuban[36] and other journalist who outlined the comedic racial undertones that the commercial presented. DeBerry's character of Mr. Wong Fong Shu was also compared to the Wayne brothers movie White Chicks[37] and Mickey Rooney's portrayal of I.Y. Yunioshi in the 1961 film version of Breakfast at Tiffany's.[38] The Raw Story and ABA Journal reported a dispute between Mr. DeBerry and the Attorney firm over the Mr. Wong Fong Shu Attorney commercial, which DeBerry stated he never received a cease and desist with removal in which DeBerry offered to provide documents showing the purchase of its production.[36] A mock press conference was held by DeBerry as himself and in the Mr. Wong Fong Shu character regarding documents challenging the Attorney firm claims.[39] DeBerry disclosed the coverage from the Mr. Wong Shu lawyer commercial increased revenue and profits.[40]

Music

DeBerry is a songwriter and musician that plays the bass guitar, DeBerry stated during a radio interview with 91.5 FM WPRK disc jockey Keith Mercer that DeBerry preferred Fender American Standard Precision Bass guitar prior to switching to Washburn jazz bass guitars.[41] DeBerry prefers to use the musical composition tone that is unique and called semi-tone tuning style.[42] DeBerry's early music was described as punk rock and his later music with the band A King's Ransom[43] in particular the single "Sunny"[23] compared DeBerry's writing style to Christian musician Jeremy Camp.[43] Writer, Tyler Gray, of the Orlando Sentinel covered DeBerry for having run the 3rd largest concert venue in Orlando next to the House of Blues and the Hard Rock live. DeBerry was noted for booking entertainers such as Heart, Ratt, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and members of N'Sync.[44] In 2013 Deberry's independent music label, Debar Recordings, a division of Debar Holdings officially signed MMA Fight Music Producer, Mikey Rukus to a record contract with international distribution.,[45][46] DeBerry negotiated a licensing deal to have Mikey Rukus' music on the NBCSN for World Series of Fighting Events.[47]

References

  1. ↑ Interview with Jim DeBerry by Andrew Woodson, Radio host for The Drew Show, | Macon, Georgia | March 1, 2012
  2. ↑ "This Florida Pool Guy Made a Racist Ad for an Alabama Law Firm on Spec". Yahoo News. December 2, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  3. 1 2 By Philip Bump of the Atlantic | December 2, 2013 6:44 PM This Florida Pool Guy Made a Racist Ad for an Alabama Law Firm on Spec
  4. 1 2 By Audra Schroeder of the Daily Dot on December 03, 2013 This racist ad for an Alabama law firm was blamed on 'hackers'
  5. 1 2 Two Service Industry Vets On The Virtues Of Automatic Pool Cleaners by Barrett Kilmer of Aqua Magazine Issue August 8, 2011 9:00 AM Two Service Industry Vets On The Virtues Of Automatic Pool Cleaners
  6. ↑ "Special Report: Giving Back Take Your Pick". Pool and Spa News by Jessy Goodman. November 12, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Florida Department of Business Professional Regulation Contractor Search". Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. April 1, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Yatedo Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations listing". January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  9. ↑ "2011 Winners". Pleatco Pure. November 1, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Jim DeBerry interview on The Buckethead Show". 104.1FM The Buckethead show on Extreme XM Channel 152 taped recording. October 9, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Pleatco Announces 2011 Perfect Pool Guy". 2011 Pool Industry award winners by Barrett Kilmer of Aqua Magazine. November 3, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Pleatco crowns 2011 winners". By Debra Maurer of Outdoor Pool & Spa. 2011-11-17.
  13. ↑ "Pool Companies Adjust to New Rules on Background Checks". By Alison Rice of Pool & Spa News. 2012-07-13.
  14. ↑ "Pool Companies and REO Rental Investors Working Together". By Alison Rice of Pool & Spa News. 2012-07-27.
  15. ↑ "State of the Industry, Social Studies, A look at the industry's use of social media shows how far we've come, and the long road still ahead.". By Erin Ansley of Pool & Spa News. 2012-08-24.
  16. ↑ "15 twitter tips from industry pros". by Matt Giovanisci of Aqua Magazine. December 4, 2012.
  17. ↑ Kyle Warnke for the Orlando Business Journal on November 21, 2012 3:33 PM Orlando's Aqua Pool Dealer makes big splash in 2012
  18. ↑ "Common Employment Agreements Five questions to ask yourself when managing the risks posed by ex-employees". by Alison Rice of Pool & Spa News. Alison Rice. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ↑ Joe Callahan for the Gainesville Sun on June 21, 2015 7:33 PM Wild Waters gets a new start
  20. ↑ Melissa Mihm for WUFT on August 3, 2015 Wild Waters Phase-Out Plan Upsets Visitors
  21. ↑ "WTRR-AM 1400 station history". Central Florida Radio. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  22. ↑ Interview with Jim DeBerry by Melissa Foxx, Radio host for The News Thang on WTKS 104.1 FM archive | May 6, 2002 Radio archive
  23. 1 2 3 by Kidd Chris of WEBN on 102.7 FM December 5, 2013 interview with Jim DeBerry
  24. ↑ Interview with Jim DeBerry by Caiden Cowger, Radio host for Red State Talk Radio's The Caiden Cowger Show| May 2, 2012 Radio archive
  25. 1 2 The JDJ Journal Law Firm Demands Commercial Removed From Internet
  26. ↑ "This law firm specializes in personal injury... and really racist commercials.". Angry Asian Man. November 25, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Monsters of the Morning MONDAY 06.17.13 HR4". Monsters of the Morning. June 18, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Monsters of the Morning Celebrity Bowling Event". Marc Mero on Monsters of the Morning. June 18, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  29. ↑ "One More Worst Lawyer Commercial: Law Firm Uses Racist Caricature". FindLaw. November 25, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Law Firm Advertising — Now With More Racism!". Above the Law. November 27, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Law firm blames 'hackers' for creating racist advert using white man dressed as 'Asian' caricature called Mr Wong Fong Shu". By Leon Watson of The Daily Mail. December 3, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  32. ↑ "You know it's bad when the main actor says "Confucius say…"". Time. December 3, 2013 PM. Retrieved January 12, 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ↑ "Racist & Racist, Attorneys at Law". The Soup. Dec 4, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Alabama Law Firm Courts Asian Demographic with 'Not Racist' Commercial". By Mark Copyranter Duffy of Vice Media. December 2, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  35. ↑ "McCutcheon and Hamner denies any involvement in an ad that features a white man dressed as "Mr. Wong Fong Shu"". Prachi Gupta of Salon. December 3, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  36. 1 2 By Arturo Garcia of the Raw Story on December 11, 2013 7:00 EST Florida man called out for racist TV ads tells Raw Story he's fine with criticism
  37. ↑ "This Racist-As-Hell Law Firm Commercial Is The Apex Of A Long, Strange Tale". By Danger Guerrero for Uproxx Media. December 3, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  38. ↑ "So Who Exactly Is Behind This Outrageously...". Madeleine Davies for Jezebel. December 3, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Law firm demands Florida man remove racist 'commercial". By Scott Kaufman for The Raw Story. December 31, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Embarrassing online ad creates headaches for law firm and profits for video maker". by Debra Cassens Weiss for the ABA Journal. Dec 3, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  41. ↑ Interview with Jim DeBerry by Keith Mercer, Radio host for Rollins College Rock Radio with Keith Mercer | December 12, 1993
  42. ↑ "A King's Ransom Press Pack for Past, Present, and Future p6 by Kelly Lamaster Graphic Design" (PDF). January 8, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  43. 1 2 Interview with Jim DeBerry by Radio host Crash Worldwide aka Russel Smith of WJRR 101.1 FM from the Native Noise Program Clear Channel archive December 12, 1993
  44. ↑ "Caught In Headlightz: Bar Changes Act". The Orlando Sentine. January 17, 2003. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  45. ↑ By George Boley of Scrapp! Magazine on September 13, 2013 MMA Fight Music Producer Signs Record Deal
  46. ↑ "FIGHT MUSIC PRODUCER LANDS RECORD DEAL". by Sherdog. September 15, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Debar Holdings discussion". by Ed Tyll of the Ed Tyll Show and Star Com Media. January 7, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
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