Teresa Lynn Strasser (born June 8, 1970)
She is the author of two memoirs, most recently, " Making It Home: Life Lessons From a Season of Little League," which was named one of the best books of 2023 by USA Today.
Early life and education
Strasser grew up in San Francisco, with her mother. She was raised Jewish.
She attended The Brandeis School of San Francisco as well as Lick-Wilmerding High School on a low-income scholarships.
[The Adam Carolla Show, 15 – Apr 2008] She went on to study journalism at New York University.
[Adam Carolla Show, November 7, 2008]
Career
Early years
Strasser began writing for
Win Ben Stein's Money in 1997, winning a Daytime Emmy Award, and had several small film roles and writing jobs, including a writing credit for
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. She can also be seen playing a reporter in the cheerleading film,
(2006).
While You Were Out
In 2002, Strasser hosted fifty episodes of
While You Were Out when former host Anna Bocci left the show. Strasser had previously served as a writer for the show. She did not consider herself handy, but she compensated with her dark sense of humor and empathy, as she cried after several renovations. Strasser left the show after one season.
The Adam Carolla Show and The Adam Carolla Podcast
Strasser replaced
Rachel Perry on
The Adam Carolla Show on May 8, 2006, as the
news anchor for the radio program.
[ 8 May 2006 « The Official Adam Carolla Show Blog ] She had previously served as a fill-in before Perry officially left the show. In 2010, she left the show when taping was moved to nighttime, which caused a scheduling conflict.
She was replaced by "radio co-host and News Girl," Alison Rosen.
[ The Adam Carolla Show: About Teresa Strasser ]
Teresa's Ex-Files
A segment on the show in September 2006 focused on Strasser's past relationships. Her past boyfriends, such as
Jimmy Kimmel Live! writer and
The Sarah Silverman Program actor
Steve Agee and a marketing executive named Brandon, discussed why their relationship failed. Normally, the skit is embarrassing for Strasser and her ex, such as when she claimed Agee cried after sex.
[ Adam with Mike Birbiglia, Steve Agee, Brian Posehn, and Danny's Junk – February 21, 2007 « The Official Adam Carolla Show Blog ][ ADAM WITH RICH EISEN, DAVE'S MOM AND ADAM'S DAD « The Official Adam Carolla Show Blog ] The segment debuted September 6, 2006 with writer Greg Lee, whom Strasser dated for eight months.
[ ADAM WITH PEREZ HILTON, WOLFGANG PUCK AND WILLIE NELSON « The Official Adam Carolla Show Blog ] Strasser is also known to have dated former
American Idol host
Brian Dunkleman.
The Parent Experiment Podcast
From February to August 2010, Strasser and Lynette Carolla (wife of
Adam Carolla) co-hosted a weekly hour long podcast on their parenting experiences. Strasser left the Parent Experiment due to other commitments, and was replaced by
Susanna Brisk.
[ Adam Carolla Show, September 1 2010 ]
Peter Tilden Show
On August 19, 2010, KABC announced that Strasser would be joining the
Peter Tilden Show as Tilden's female co-anchor. Strasser began her work there on August 23, 2010.
On August 26, 2011 Teresa did her last show on KABC in order to focus on her TV, commercial voiceover and camera work.
Easy Listening Podcast
In April 2019 Teresa started a podcast with
Gina Grad to discuss other podcasts.
Other television work
After leaving
While You Were Out, Strasser hosted
Lover's Lounge, a dating game show block on the Game Show Network in 2000 and 2001 with
Helen Keaney. She was a
feature story reporter for several episodes of
Good Day New York in 2004, while also being the New York
correspondent for both Good Day Live and On-Air With Ryan Seacrest. Strasser worked as a "love coach" along with
Shop 'Til You Drop host
JD Roberto on the 2006 ABC series
How to Get the Guy until its cancellation.
In October 2006, she replaced
Debra Wilson as the co-host of the TV Guide Channel show
TV Watercooler. She frequently appears on VH1 and E!'s various "list" shows. She guest starred on Alicia Silverstone led
dramedy,
Miss Match. Strasser served a brief stint as a correspondent on the entertainment and gossip news show
TMZ on TV which premiered in September 2007. She quit TMZ due to a time conflict with the Adam Carolla Show. In addition, she has covered the
red carpet for the
Emmy Awards and the
Tony Awards, for E! and TV Guide Network, respectively. Teresa currently works as a host and reporter for the new Scripps Networks show The List. The program features pop culture topics, news and current issues, as well as celebrity news and events and what's going on around town. Currently co-host on The List, a TV pop culture information show.
Writing career
Strasser has worked regularly as a freelance columnist for the
Los Angeles Times and
The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, and won an award on June 24, 2006, for columnist of the year from the Los Angeles Press Club. Strasser is currently a regular contributor for the calendar section of the
Los Angeles Times. She also wrote a book titled, EXPLOITING MY BABY: Because It's Exploiting Me, which was published in January 2011.
In October 2011, ABC ordered a pilot, "Mother Teresa" to be written by Strasser based on her book, "Exploiting My Baby"
In 2023, Strasser released her most recent memoir, "Making It Home: Life Lessons From a Season of Little League" which was published by Penguin Books. It covers a single season of Little League baseball she spent with her dad watching her oldest son play after her brother died of cancer at age 47. The book earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly,
Selected publications
Awards and recognition
-
Emmy Award - Best Host "The List" (2015)
-
Los Angeles Times Bestseller, #8 Paperback Nonfiction for Exploiting My Baby
-
Three Los Angeles Press Club Awards (2004 and 2005 for Columnist of the Year)
-
Emmy Nomination – writer (commentary) – Suncoast Chapter
-
Emmy Nomination – program host/moderator – Suncoast Chapter
-
Simon Rockower Awards for both Excellence in Feature Writing and Writing about Singles ("When Booty Calls")
-
Emmy Award, Outstanding Special Class Writing, "Win Ben Stein's Money"
-
Daytime Emmy Nomination – Outstanding Special Class Series Host "While You Were Out" TLC (2003)
Personal life
Strasser married Daniel Wachinski, an IBM accountant, at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2007.
[ Wedding photos from the photographer's blog ] The couple have two children.
[ Teresa Strasser and Nils Lofgren. The Adam Carolla Podcast, August 2, 2010][ Teresa Strasser & Patton Oswald The Adam Carolla Podcast, September 19, 2009.] She currently lives in Phoenix where she hosts syndicated entertainment show, "The List," for which she won a 2015 Emmy Award for Best Host.
External links
