Midwest TV/Media Critic has Rich Career Despite His Heartland Location

Most entertainment news is generated on the east or west coasts and not in the heartland. Yet, John Kiesewetter spent 40 professional years at the “Cincinnati Enquirer” and three decades as its “Television Critic” writing everything from local criticism to major features. After his job was eliminated at the Enquirer, his career continues to this day. He is now the TV/Media reporter for Cincinnati Public Radio, WVXU FM and wvxu.org. There he writes an almost daily blog, and contributes on-air interviews to various locally generated radio programs. “I had a great run when newspapers were great, when papers had big features staffs and money to travel,” Kiesewetter says. Travel allowed him access to major celebrities and the latest in entertainment news. But, Kiesewetter doesn’t want just any story. Instead, he focuses on stories he thinks are important to the average listener and reader. That philosophy has served him well. He tells us how he traveled to meet stars as well as talking with celebrities who came through Cincinnati. He has talked with classic comic performers like Lucille Ball, Bob Newhart, Bob Hope, Stan Freberg, Sid Caesar, Carl Reiner, Steve Allen, Red Skelton, Don Knotts, Andy Griffith and Bill Cosby. He also focused on celebrities with local Southwest Ohio backgrounds such as: George Clooney, Woody Harrelson, Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, Johnathan Winters, David Letterman and sports commentator Dan Patrick. The list of stars he has interviewed is endless and his stories are captivating. In addition to covering the typical entertainment fare, Kiesewetter started critiquing local newscasts and anchors and he has a passion for sports commentators and play-by-play people such as Red Barber, Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Chris Collinsworth, Pete Rose, Joe Nuxhall and Marty Brennamen. He is currently writing a book about the life of former Cincinnati Reds pitcher and long-time broadcaster Joe Nuxhall. “I think part of my success as a TV/Media writer is my solid news training, so I could cover a breaking story, see a trend story, and write a news personality profile, either on a local or a national level,” Kiesewetter adds. “I wasn’t a real flashy writer, but I was informative as hell.”