Chad Zumock
Quick Facts
Biography
Chad Anthony Zumock is an American comedian, former radio personality, writer, and actor.
Early years
Chad Zumock grew up in Brady Lake, Ohio and later Kent, Ohio where he graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School. While enrolled at Kent State University, Zumock was actively involved with Last Call – a popular late-night sketch comedy show airing on the student-run campus TV network, TV2. He also wrote a column for the Daily Kent Stater, the university's student newspaper, though he admits to being "kicked off" the writing staff.
After graduating with a general studies degree in 2001, Zumock continued his involvement with Last Call as the show itself transitioned into the sketch comedy troupe Last Call Cleveland. Although no longer directly involved, Zumock does continue to work with its current members, including comedian Mike Polk.
Career
In 2005, Zumock moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy. He went on to open for several major acts, including Dave Attell, Daniel Tosh, Nick Swardson, Jeff Ross, and Sarah Silverman. While in L.A., Zumock also served as a writer for the Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner, and worked for XM Satellite Radio's National Lampoon Comedy Radio.
Zumock continues to perform in larger cities but currently lives in his native Northeast Ohio: "I'm a Midwest guy. I always will be." After returning, Zumock contributed to the humor book Look at My Striped Shirt!: Confessions of the People You Love to Hate published by Random House in 2006. In 2009, he released a self-produced comedy album, Accomplishing Nothing. Among the album's 25 tracks is a song devoted to the comic's "trademark outerwear," as Zumock is known for wearing a sweatervest virtually anywhere and at all times.
An avid Cleveland Cavaliers fan, Zumock helped produce Light It Up Like Vegas! alongside comedian Mike Polk, its star; the hour-long TV special devoted to Cleveland sports miseries aired on Fox Sports Ohio just prior to the start of the 2009–10 NBA season. After LeBron James' departure the following July, Zumock appeared in a Vimeo video mocking the superstar athlete.
On January 5, 2010, Zumock was hired on as co-host for the The Alan Cox Show, an afternoon drive time talk show hosted by radio personality Alan Cox and airing on Cleveland rock station WMMS (100.7 FM, "The Buzzard"). Zumock himself "dreamt up" the show's popular song (and YouTube video) "Parma State of Mind" – both a parody of the Jay-Z/Alicia Keys hit "Empire State of Mind" and a way of continuing the Northeast Ohio tradition of ribbing the Cleveland suburb (the choice of Parma was partly inspired by past local horror hosts Ghoulardi and Big Chuck and Lil' John).
Cleveland Magazine selected Zumock as one of its "Most Eligible Singles" for 2011. Also in 2011, Zumock served as Grand Marshal for the Kent State Homecoming Parade, and released his second self-produced comedy album: Adventures in Argyle.
In November 2012, Zumock was charged with driving while intoxicated; shortly thereafter it was announced that Zumock was no longer working at WMMS. However, on May 3, 2013, Cleveland Scene reported that Zumock had been acquitted of the charge.
March 5, 2013, Zumock began a new weekly podcast, The Sit Down Zumock Podcast! with Chad Zumock. On October 20, 2013, Zumock began hosting a new, weekly radio show at WLFM-LP/Cleveland – Sunday Nights with Chad Zumock.
On May 11, 2015, Zumock became a recurring guest host on The Bob & Tom Show a syndicated US radio program established by Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold at radio station WFBQ in Indianapolis, Indiana
On May 12, 2016, Chad appeared on Gotham Comedy Live on AXS TV hosted by Norm Macdonald According to Gotham Comedy Club owner Chris Mazzilli, Zumock had the "Best set of the evening" and received industry attention from it