From unpaid intern for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to renowned TV personality, Ross Mathews reflected on his entertainment industry journey Tuesday on Boston Public Radio.
“I always wanted to be a talk show host, magically got an internship at Leno working for free, and then I wanted to know how it all worked,” Mathews said on Boston Public Radio. He grew up in Washington state and decided to attend university in Los Angeles to pursue a career in show business. His success story began when a comic dropped out of covering the "Ocean’s 11" red carpet premiere and he was sent to fill in. He was chosen for his sense of humor and passion for pop culture.
“It was totally authentic and it’s always been authentic," Mathews said. "I think I carried that with me through the E! Red carpets, 'Chelsea Lately,' 'RuPaul’s Drag Race,' even still on 'The Drew Barrymore Show' over two decades later, I’m just grateful.”
He currently co-hosts the beloved 'Drew Barrymore Show' and spoke about how he connected with her over the pandemic.
“I went through a tough time losing my mom in the pandemic you know. Drew was all alone in the studio and it was a weird time to launch the show," Mathews said. "I popped into the show for a day and it’s like we needed each other. It was instant family and I just never left. I wasn’t supposed to stick around. But I never left and now I get to co-host that show with her every single day and she’s become like a sister, she was the flower girl at my wedding.”
Besides partnering with Drew Barrymore on her show, Mathews partnered with Days Inn to launch a "complimentary’ mirror" that plays a compliment in Mathews’ voice out loud when hotel guests press a button. He said there are currently 16 locations across the country where you can ask for a room with a complimentary mirror.
The mirror is just another way Mathews spreads positivity to people.
“My purpose here is just to sort of give people a little smile," he said. "If you’re on the road and you’re driving across the country and stay at a Days Inn, it’ll give you a little giggle when you press a little button and get a compliment.”
Mathews described the mirror as a “little milestone of success” because what was once used against him, is now a tool to inspire others. “People told me I could never be on TV because of my voice and now I’m partnering with big brands to use my voice ... that’s a full circle kind of thing.”
Now, to mark another milestone, he has a stand-up comedy show at The Wilbur on June 9th titled “I Gotchu, Gurl!”
His interactive show will be a space where everyone is welcome and meant to have fun. After one of his first shows on tour, a person came up to him and said, “I didn’t know that I needed to laugh like that again. It’s been too long.”
“I’m doing my stand-up you know, it’s me on stage. After the past few years, it’s been a little rough for everybody. And I know more than ever we got to have each other’s back and that’s what this celebrates," Mathews said.
