- Born
- Birth nameThomas Joseph Leykis
- Nicknames
- The Professor
- Father
- Height5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
- Tom Leykis started out in radio by winning a contest in 1970 for a one-time radio appearance in Long Island. He did such a good job on the air that they asked him back several times to fill in. In the late 1970s he had his own cable public access program in Manhattan, NY.
He got his his first paying radio job as an overnight personality at New York radio station WBAI in 1979. To help make ends meet, he had odd jobs such as a stand up comic, researcher for a CBS late night show, columnist for the SoHo News, and telephone solicitor for real estate investments. He moved to Albany, NY in 1981 to do an evening show five times a week. The station wanted someone controversial, and Leykis was just that. Some listeners sent in angry letters, but his ratings soon earned him the morning drive slot and a position as program director.
Tom is known for talking about his personal life on the radio and telling his listeners how he failed four marriages and now advises men NOT to marry women when they are young and to learn from his mistakes.
The Tom Leykis Show has topped the ratings in recent years in the key demographic market of 18-49 year old white collar workers in the upper-middle class. However, Leykis states that the callers on his program are not the same as his listeners. He has actually said multiple times that the people that call in and who wait on hold for 30 minutes to talk to Tom live asking obvious questions are usually blue-collar workers who he describe as "losers".
The free-for-all subject matter and large crowds leads to a rowdy atmosphere on Friday shows. "Flash Friday" is another significant part of Friday shows. During "Flash Fridays", men are told to turn on the headlights of their cars to indicate that they are Leykis listeners, and women are encouraged to flash their breasts to male listeners.
In addition to his weekday show, Leykis began hosting a syndicated weekend show called "The Tasting Room" in February 2005, covering lifestyle topics such as fine wine, spirits, beer, and cigars.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Trisha
- SpousesSusan Leykis(1993 - April 2003) (divorced)Christina Gonzalez (divorced)
- Though women often call up to challenge his points of view, he usually breaks down their arguments to the point where they come to agree with him.
- In the late 1990s, Leykis would occasionally merge his radio show with the equally outspoken James Whale Show from the United Kingdom, which aired in the same time slot, resulting in a single simulcast show co-hosted by Leykis and Whale via a satellite link between the two studios. In these cases, Leykis and Whale would alternate equally between American and British callers.
- Does a special segment on his radio show called "Leykis 101" where he gives men advice about women.
- Is a shock jock radio talk show host.
- Frequently warns male callers to stay away from single mothers.
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