Josh Horowitz
Josh Horowitz | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Horowitz at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2016 | |
| Born | c. 1975–1976 |
| Education | Hobart and William Smith Colleges |
| Occupation | Entertainment journalist |
Joshua Horowitz (born c. 1975–1976) is an American entertainment journalist and podcaster. A 1998 graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, he was a correspondent with MTV News beginning in 2006, being described as the public face of their film coverage. He hosted the 2010 digital series After Hours, produced the 2016 digital series Junketeers by Lexus and Kids at Play, and hosted the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic-based digital series Stir Crazy, all with Comedy Central, and signed an overall deal with Viacom in 2018 to develop content for their broadcast programming and digital content platforms.
Horowitz has hosted the Happy Sad Confused podcast since 2014, executive produced by Scott Porch and Kristian Harloff for Big IP Media. Initially in audio only format, it switched to video format because of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw Horowitz make use of the Zoom videoconferencing software; Horowitz prepares and researches for the show himself, and since 2023 Kast Media has marketed, distributed and monetized the series. Horowitz created the 2026 online series Who's a Good Guest, where celebrities interview with Horowitz with their pets, produced by the company Bark.
Career
[edit]
Joshua Horowitz was born c. 1975–1976,[a] and is from New York.[2] He graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 1998, majoring in English.[2][3] Horowitz's career began as a producer and a booking agent for various series.[1] Since 2006, he has been an on-air and online correspondent for MTV News,[4] and has been described as the "face of MTV's movie coverage" by The Washington Post.[5] Horowitz's first interview on MTV News was with John Travolta, due to anchor Kurt Loder being unavailable that day on account of illness.[1] He hosted the sketch comedy series After Hours on MTV.com and later on Comedy Central's digital platforms starting in 2010, which was relaunched in 2018 with the signing of an overall deal with Viacom.[4] This deal included development for broadcast programming and digital content platforms through Viacom Digital Studios, Viacom Velocity, MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount Network.[4] MTV News shut down in May 2023.[5]
Since 2014, Horowitz has been the host of the Happy Sad Confused podcast.[1] It is produced by Horowitz and executive produced by Scott Porch and Kristian Harloff for Big IP Media.[6] He named it for the "cheesy and a little sketchy, a little odd" photo shoots that are done with the interviewees. On Happy Sad Confused, he has interviewed actors IndieWire described as "notoriously private, or rather, anti-podcast", becoming "the go-to hub for all-things pop culture" according to the publication.[1] Horowitz said in 2024 that he has several short-form content and long-form content editors, and he servers in the capacities as producer, prepper, and researcher himself. Initially, it was in audio only format and not a video podcast, but during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was using Zoom videoconferencing software to communicate with the interviewees and transitioned because of this.[1] In-person hosting is done at 92nd Street Y in New York City.[6] The podcast began showing on YouTube in 2022, and in January 2023 Horowitz signed a deal with Kast Media to market, distribute and monetize the series.[6]
In 2016, Comedy Central launched the eight-episode Junketeers produced by Horowitz and Ben Lyons with Lexus's L-Studio and Kids at Play, which stars Brian Unger, Barak Hardley, Austin Lyon, Phil Augusta Jackson and Amanda Lundref in the roles of Hollywood reporters who struggle to get quotes from film stars. In five minute episode format, the series featured cameo appearances by Josh Duhamel, Kristen Bell, Gillian Jacobs, Chloë Grace Moretz, Eli Roth, Emily Ratajkowski, Tom Felton and Matt Bomer. It premiered on Comedy Central's YouTube channel and other social media platforms.[7][8] Admist the social distancing and home isolation practices of the COVID-19 pandemic, Horowitz began the digital interview series Stir Crazy with Comedy Central, which sees guests play charades and I spy. The series's guests include Will Arnett, Dan Levy, Josh Hutcherson, Ed Helms, Ricky Gervais, and Ben Schwartz.[9]
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Horowitz and Bark (a "dog lifestyle company", according to The Hollywood Reporter), created the 2026 online series Who's a Good Guest in which celebrities participate in an interview by Horowitz with their pets.[12][13] The first season of Who's a Good Guest? premiered on February 4, 2026, featuring Dylan O'Brien and his dog Tony, and aired weekly featuring Zoey Deutch, Bob Odenkirk, Johnny Knoxville, Ginnifer Goodwin and Patrick Wilson.[12] The second season premiered on July 22, and among the guests were Jake Johnson, Chase Stokes, and Alexandra Daddario.[13] Horowitz was involved in the casting of Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe starting with Ghost Rider (2028), first discussing the idea in a July 2022 interview with Gosling, later discussing talks between Gosling and Marvel Studios in a March 2026 with the actor, and eventually helping Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announce the film with Gosling in July at the San Diego Comic-Con in July.[14][10][11]
Notes
[edit]- ↑ An October 2008 listing in The New York Times described him as 32 years old.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bergeson, Samantha (October 28, 2024). "What Does the Next 10 Years of 'Happy Sad Confused' Look Like? Josh Horowitz Is Eyeing an International Expansion". IndieWire. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Jennifer Powers, Joshua Horowitz". The New York Times. October 11, 2008. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- ↑ "MTV's Horowitz '98 Revives After Hours for Comedy Central". Hobart and William Smith Colleges. October 17, 2018. Archived from the original on September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Jarvey, Natalie (September 6, 2018). "MTV News' Josh Horowitz Inks Overall Deal With Viacom, Relaunches Web Series 'After Hours' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- 1 2 Scribner, Herb (May 9, 2023). "MTV News to shut down as Paramount announces layoffs". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- 1 2 3 White, Peter (January 10, 2023). "As 'Happy Sad Confused' Podcast Nears 500 Episodes, Josh Horowitz Strikes Deal With Kast Media". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 7, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- ↑ Spangler, Tood (August 4, 2016). "Comedy Central Launches Hollywood-Junket Spoof Digital Series". Variety. Archived from the original on August 21, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- ↑ Doty, Meriah (August 12, 2026). "Scenes From Press Junkets Gone Bad: a Bathroom Protest, Tom Hardy Dust-Up and a Disappearance". TheWrap. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- ↑ Beresford, Trilby (April 3, 2020). "Josh Horowitz Launches Digital Interview Series 'Stir Crazy' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- 1 2 Harris, Raquel (March 20, 2026). "Ryan Gosling Hints at Ghost Rider Talks With Marvel, Calls Situation 'Complicated' | Video". TheWrap. Archived from the original on July 28, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- 1 2 Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (July 25, 2026). "Ryan Gosling to Star in Ghost Rider Movie for Marvel Studios, Director Shawn Levy". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 30, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- 1 2 Taylor, Drew (February 2, 2026). "Josh Horowitz and Bark Team for 'Who's a Good Guest?' With Bob Odenkirk, Johnny Knoxville and Dylan O'Brien | Exclusive". TheWrap. Archived from the original on February 10, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- 1 2 Zeitchik, Steven (June 30, 2026). "Dog Podcast 'Who's a Good Guest?' Is Becoming Celebrities' Favorite Pit Stop". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 2, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- ↑ Dinsdale, Ryan (July 25, 2022). "Ryan Gosling Reportedly Wants to Play Ghost Rider, and Kevin Feige Would Love Him in the MCU". IGN. Archived from the original on August 28, 2025. Retrieved September 9, 2026.