Entertainment Reporter

July 12, 2023

     There have been countless ‘well wishes’ since my cancer diagnosis announcement in late June and I thought I’d give thanks to someone special, and a good friend, that reached out to me…

…Meet Kristyn Burtt   

     If you’ve been reading any my Blogs, you’re heard me mention Kristyn Burtt a time or two. I’m not sure who’s the others sidekick, but we do, how some would say, ‘click.’ She has a ‘host’ of accolades, including that very one. She’s done ‘Red Carpet’ interviews and shined brighter than the stars she’s talked to.

      Although I’ve included Kristyn in several blogs, I hadn’t actually told you about her.

     Kristyn and I began following one another back in 2014 on Twitter but hadn’t really chatted until the 2015 Geekie Awards which was live streamed. She was the shows ‘Red Carpet Host,’ which recognizes talented, independent creators in entertainment, gaming, products and art.

      Here she is with 2015 Geekie Award Winner Kevin Smith and presenter Jason Mewes. And to tell how personable Kristyn is in real life, we had been tweeting back and forth throughout the broadcast. 

     As a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of Arts, she’s also trained at the Boston Ballet School and danced at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in The Nutcracker. 

     After graduating from NYU, Kristyn said she felt a bit burned out. Afterall, she had also danced professionally as a child. Yet she didn’t want to go into choreography, teaching nor open her own studio. She decided to combine her two greatest skills, dance & writing, and move forward.

     Her celebrity status continues to rise as she’s covered the Oscars. Emmys, SAG and Tonys just to name a few. Her work has appeared on MSM, AOL, InsideDance, Insider and She Knows. Last year I was the bearer of good news when I sent her a message and a screenshot showing that an article of hers on Matthew McConaughey had made ‘Yahoo’s Homepage.’ 

     For most, that would be a lifetime worth of work. But hold on, the best is yet to come as her talent and on screen presence has continued to soar!

     She also covers Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

     Her ‘BIGGEST’ interviews came with a pair of ‘slam dunks’ happening at the heights of former ‘Los Angeles Laker’ and ‘NBA Hall of Famer,’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. whom she referred to as ‘a gentle giant.’ 

     A little sidenote here for Kareem, if you happen to come across this article. Kristyn’s ‘The Best,’ isn’t she? But her and I got game, one a ‘Celtics’ fan the other a ‘Bad Boy’ from Detroit. We’ve got you double covered in the paint. Just a little fun big guy, you were the man in the day.

     She’s had other monumental interviews as well including Ann Romney and Katie Couric.

  ‘The Best’ 

     Kristyn’s newest gig, while continuing her other work, is a morning segment on the Tom Barnard Show at 11:30 AM EST. 

A few weeks back, while the show was live, host Tom Barnard mentioned Kristyn’s name before a commercial break as being ‘one of the best entertainment reporters in the business.’ I immediately emailed the show. Unlike most emails, mine wasn’t taken for granted. I had taken offense (in jest of course) of Tom’s ‘one of’ comment. I wrote that she is ‘The Best.’ entertainment reporter in the business.

Kristyn was coming on to join the rest of the cast when Brittany Arneson (co-host) tells Tom something to the nature of ‘you’ve got a hater.’ She proceeds to mention my email and me by name. Think from that day on, she’s been referred to as ‘The Best.’ 

You truly are KB, wish I had remembered the date, so I could’ve pulled the shows video off of YouTube and inserted here.

     Over the years KB and I have talked about anything and everything. One of my most memorable, yet truly absurd flashbacks, come at the hands of former 45 White House Communications Director, Sean Spicer. It occurred during his stint on Dancing with the Stars. Our messages back and forth to one another must’ve reached 10-15 each night the show aired while Spicer was still a contestant. I won’t disclose any of the chats, but they were intent to say the least.

     We’ve had a lot of fun and other interesting conversations throughout our friendship too. But I had to know, what her most unusual interview was. And to prove a ‘reporter’s life’ can be awkward, she offered me this clip with Thomas Jane.

     “In 10 years,” she tells me before we’re finished, “I will be a published author and public speaker talking about my years in Hollywood.” Then adds, she’s looking forward reading this piece. 

     Kristyn, (almost forgot the ‘n’ again Kristy) our friendship seems like a lot of years. However, in the grand scheme of things, it’s rather short. I’m looking forward to that first copy of your book being autographed and handed to me in person. Perhaps under the ‘Hollywood Sign’ or better yet a ballet performance in Boston! Until then, we’ve got another ten years of adventures ahead.

     In closing, I continue from the beginning

     …you’ve been such a good friend through the years that I wanted you to know how special your words of encouragement have been to me. You’ve been there in spirt for each procedure and operation I’ve had throughout our friendship. For that alone, I am extremely grateful. And I hope this ‘Meet Me’ reminds you of how much the little things in life can mean to someone.

     Thank you, my friend. – Rick

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