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| Michael Biggins | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Michael Bigansky June 21 1973 |
| Other names | Blackout |
| Known for | Prank caller |
| Occupation | Actor and Comedian |
| Website | http://www.blackout.com |
Michael Biggins (June 21st, 1973) born Michael Bigansky, is an American actor and radio and TV show host best known for performing under the name of Blackout. He has stated that Blackout is an alter ego trickster persona and that he uses that name when performing various comedy or philosophical works, and his real name - Michael Biggins, when acting in dramatic or commercial roles.
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Biography
Early life and education
Biggins got his nickname and made his debut as a performer on radio station WKPX] in Sunrise, Florida in 1988 when he was just 13.[1] While in radio class and when he first went on the air, lightning struck the transmitter antenna. The lightning strike blew the antenna in half, causing an electrical blackout in the school for several hours, and bringing the radio station down for over 6 months. The students held fundraisers to fix the antenna and other repairs. Since he was the only person on the air when this happened, his teachers and fellow students started calling him by the nickname 'Blackout' and it stuck. Having nothing to do as a DJ during the several month period that the station was off the air, Blackout started recording original prank calls in studio B which was the practice and secondary production studio at WKPX. The actual on air studio was studio A. Many students and teachers would refer to studio B as 'studio Blackout', because of the amount of time that Biggins (then still known as Bigansky) spent recording in it. He would record his various sketches and prank calls on huge 1/4 inch reel to reel tape machines which were standard recording equipment for radio stations at the time and then dub them to more portable cassette tapes and distribute them around school and encourage people to copy and give them away. It is during this 6 month time period of 88.5 being off the air that he also procurred a 1-800 number called the Kookline which was a voice mail box, that could handle 8 multiple callers at the same time. Biggins would change the prank call or sketch anywhere from once a day to once a week, and some of the messages would be in excess of 45 minutes. Callers would enter a secret code (269 which is the word BOX on a telephone keypad) you would be greeted by Biggins saying, "welcome to my box", which eventually turned into "welcome to Blackout's Box".[2].
Early career
Biggins is best known on the internet for being the first to stream prank calls in real time with realaudio 1.0, and then later releasing streaming videos. His website Blackout.com was registered on July 25, 1995.[3][4] Some have compared his manic energy and style to that of radio host Phil Hendrie and actor/comedian Robin Williams.[attribution needed]
Critical success
Biggins was the main focus of an 8 page South Florida's New Times.[5] and has also been commented on and interviewed in many local, national, and international magazines, newspapers, and wesbites, including being in the number 2 humor spot since 2002 in the largest selling actual printed internet book of all time: Harley Hahn's Internet Yellow Pages.[6] He has been involved in numerous pranks that have received national news attention such as pranking actor Christian Slater for almost an hour which received notice from Howard Stern.[7]
Film Contest and after
In 2007, Biggins appeared in Film Contest? in which several filmmakers are competing to win a 5 million dollar budget to make the movie of their dreams. Biggins plays the character Milton Butterfly, one of the competing film makers.[8][9] He is credited as Michael Biggins in the film, but thanked as Blackout. Biggins' latest role was that of skyBOY in Grandma Sylvia's Funeral[10], an audience participation comedy that ran at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.[11]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| ???? | Power play | Host |
| 20 Something | Host | |
| 2007 | Film Contest? | Milton Butterfly |
See also
External links
- (Blackout's Box) - Official Website of Blackout
- Michael Biggins at the Internet Movie Database
References
- ^ 88.5 WKPX
- ^ Broward New-Times story on Blackout.com
- ^ Internic WHOIS listing for Blackout.com
- ^ Wayback Machine Internet Archive listing for Blackout.com
- ^ 2003 cover story for South Florida's NEW TIMES magazine.
- ^ "Harley Hahn's Internet Yellow Pages"
- ^ Howard Stern talking about Blackout's prank to Christian Slater (about 1:55 into the clip)
- ^ "FILM CONTEST ?" world premiere article (Blackout/Biggins pictured sitting on left)
- ^ Palm Beach International Film Festival
- ^ Samuel French Play Publications: Grandma Sylvia's Funeral
- ^ Miami Herald Review of "Grandma Sylvia's Funeral"
