Pat Kiernan, a Canadian-American television host, was born and raised in Calgary but rose to fame in New York City. Known for his roles as a host, actor, and game show presenter, Kiernan’s career has been as diverse as it is impressive, as highlighted by calgaryski.net.
Career Development
Pat Kiernan began his journalism career in 1988 at Edmonton’s CKRA-FM radio station while simultaneously studying business at the University of Alberta. He later transitioned to television, working at CFRN-DT in Edmonton.
In 1993, Kiernan joined CITV, where he produced daily prime-time newscasts. Three years later, he moved to New York to work for Time Warner. Eventually, he became the morning anchor for NY1, where he gained recognition, particularly for his coverage during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
From 2000 to 2004, Kiernan co-hosted The Money Gang on CNN alongside Christine Romans, Amanda Lang, and Ali Velshi. In 2008, he launched the website Pat’s Papers, where he curated his favorite stories from American newspapers.
In 2012, Kiernan appeared on Live! with Kelly, co-hosting alongside Kelly Ripa after expressing interest in the position in an article published by New York Magazine.
In January 2014, Kiernan joined WABC radio, where he anchored news and talk shows summarizing daily events in New York City and its surroundings. He left WABC in early 2015 to host Bloomberg North on Bloomberg Television, specializing in financial news. This program offered a half-hour weekly roundup of global business events impacting Canada.
Acting and Game Shows
Kiernan has played himself or a reporter in numerous films, including The Interpreter (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), True North (2006), The Son of No One (2011), Iron Man 3 (2013), and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).
He has also hosted several game shows. In Studio 7 (2004), seven predominantly college-aged participants were given materials to study four days before taping. The show combined elements of trivia and reality television but only lasted one season due to low viewership.
In World Series of Pop Culture (2006–2007), 16 teams of three competed in pop culture trivia for a grand prize of $250,000. The show aired for two seasons.
Kiernan served as the unseen questioner in Grand Slam (2007), a game show featuring past champions of other game shows. While Irish TV host Amanda Byram and American host Dennis Miller provided commentary, Kiernan’s role was strictly behind the scenes, asking contestants the questions.
In May 2013, Kiernan joined the American competition reality series Crowd Rules as a co-host. Each episode featured three small businesses competing for studio audience support. The winning company received a $50,000 grant.
Recognition and Media Presence
Kiernan’s work has been profiled in prominent publications such as New York Magazine, New York Post, and The New Yorker. His unique combination of journalistic integrity and charisma has made him a household name both in Canada and the United States.