Today we’d like to introduce you to John Hill
Hi John, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I moved to LA from Texas in 1996 as a freshman at Pepperdine University in Malibu and have lived back and forth between LA and NYC ever since. I earned a BFA in Theatre from Pepperdine and started working before had even graduated (I did go back and finish the classes I had dreaded aka math and science.) I performed on Broadway for almost a decade then turned to producing and writing TV. After selling a TV show idea to World Of Wonder, I moved back to LA from Broadway and produced tv with no break whatsoever until the pandemic. I produced Watch What Happens Live on Bravo for four years, and it was during this time I realized I did miss performing so when I was asked to to be a guest correspondent on SiriusXM, i started focusing on that. Doing radio shows there grew into becoming Andy Cohen’s daily morning radio cohost (a show we’ve done every day for an entire decade now) as well as my own solo show The John Hill Show. I also tour the country with my solo standup show. And of course spend too much time taking my shirt off on the internet. I’ve experienced every side there is to LA. As a college kid in Malbu, several apartments in Weho, a boyfriend in Silverlake, I’ve raised two dogs here, I’ve experience this city as a desperate drug addict, and someone now into their 4th year of recovery. No matter what stage of my life I’ve felt at home here.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would never describe my life as being “smooth” or “easy” by any means, but there have been major peaks and valleys. And for the most part the struggles have all been worth it. I had an amazing start to my career, booking Broadway shows when I wasn’t even finished with college, moving to NYC and starting my life there was nothing short of magical. I met Andy Cohen who became my boyfriend and great love, I was in the original Broadway cast of “Hairspray” then left to join the Original Broadway cast of “The Boy From Oz” where I understudied Hugh Jackman. Things happened for me quickly and I never took any of it for granted. After a few years on Broadway I developed a battle with drugs and alcohol (I wanted to be the most cliche Broadway star I could be). It took me a really long time to find sobriety and there were many times I wasn’t sure if I’d make it. But with the help of some true honest friends, my life got back on track thanks to recovery. So the peaks have been amazing, the valleys have also been amazing in that they’ve shaped me into a compassionate, confident person. I was hesitant to talk about it openly, but I remember one particularly sad, lonely, hungover day, one of the girls from Drag Race posted a little story on their instagram that said something like “this might be cringe to post about, but I today I have two years of sobriety, if I can do it so can you…” And I reached out to a friend and that day my life changed. So any time you see a drag queen, show them some love – they might just save your life. So now I mention it in case anyone is struggling and needs encouragement to get help. But to bring it back to LA, the sober community of LA is incredibly supportive and strong and welcoming. My friends in recovery here in LA saved my life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I started out as a theatre kid in the 90’s. I went to Pepperdine on a Christian Scholarship and a Theatre Scholarship. I had performed all my life and in college I was ready to work, i didn’t much want to be in school how to learn to do something I was ready to start doing in the real world. I would skip class and drive to Burbank and stand in line for hours for the non-equity open calls for Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. I remember they told me “you are way too young but keep coming back, we will have something for you. Keep doing what youre doing.” And it wasn’t hot air. I went back every six months, sometimes killed, sometimes bombed, then one day I went to the Miss Saigon open call for the third time and made it all the way to the end. A month later they called and gave me a role in the Broadway National Tour. I left Pepperdine early and started working (alongside Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City’s Britani Bateman.) After working on Broadway for several years I started producing reality TV. I produced Watch What Happens Live on Bravo for four years in the early days of that show. Andy was my ex boyfriend but we had a great working relationship and I was good at writing jokes for him. During my time at Bravo I started doing small correspondent gigs at SiriusXM which led to me having my own show and Andy hiring me as the cohost of his daily morning radio show Andy Cohen Live. I love being live on the radio every morning, helping people process what’s going on in the world and hopefully bringing a smile to their faces. I left performing for a while but after the pandemic i made a commitment to pursue my true calling and perform. Being on the radio is very fulfilling, and I also created a solo show as an extension of what I do on the radio and have grown it into a touring show. I do love collaborating but there’s something very fulfilling to do something entirely by yourself. I also host a more adult-themed podcast called Discretion Advised and am launching my own solo podcast “Show Pony” in April.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I have lived in LA since 1996 (NY for 12 years in the middle but I consider LA my home) and I’ve lived in Malibu, Weho, Silverlake, Brentwood, Laurel Canyon, and there was a hazy summer where I lived on my friend’s couch in Venice. I love how well i sleep when I’m in LA. I feel like NYC is where I hustle and grind, LA is where I rest and recuperate. To be honest there are times when the perfect weather makes a little depressed, it feels like forced positivity or something, I’m a double scorpio and pisces moon so I need a little RAIN and fog and moody mist here and there or I start to lose my mind. LA is a city of contradictions. My best friends whom I consider family are here – but the rest of the people I meet seem hard to connect with. I have made entertaining my life’s work. I’ve dedicated my entire life to making people laugh, but the show business side of LA sometimes makes me want to drive my car into the La Brea Tar pits. I live by the Grove now which is one of my favorite places – but the parking garage makes me pray for a sinkhole to swallow me whole. My favorite time in LA is christmas. There is nothing like Christmas in LA. It’s kind of bleak, but sweet, and very very comfortable. And insanely campy. Have you ever been to the Hollywood Christmas Parade? It’s iconic. I think I dislike the growing number of influencers flooding the streets capturing angles in hopes Taco Bell gives them a brand deal for having a nice ass. It’s bonkers. But LA will always be my home, for all its quirks and hangups, it’s where I belong and I’ll always love living here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://johnhill.online
- Instagram: johnarthurhill
- Twitter: yesjohnhill
- Youtube: johnhilljohnhill
- Other: tiktok: johnhilltiktok
Image CreditsThe
The cover main photo is Phil Chester
The remaining photos are Dexter Brown
The photo with the dog is @wildwestoftheeast
