J. J. Bittenbinder
Encyclopedia
John Joseph "J. J." Bittenbinder (born September 1, 1943 in Buffalo, New York
) a retired member of the Chicago Police Department
, safety speaker, and author; best known for his work as the host of the 1990s crime series Tough Target
and as a public speaker on the subject of safety. He is known for his nasally voice and his distinctive moustache.
's Police Department, the last 18 in homicide
and violent crimes. He has been a police officer since 1971. He is considered to be an expert on violent crimes and tours the country, speaking to audiences about the topic. In 1997, his first (and last) book, Tough Target: A Street-Smart Guide to Staying Safe, was an overwhelming critical and financial success.
, which focused on crimes and their prevention. He also wrote for the show. It was cancelled in 1996. He also has two of his own television specials on PBS, Street Smarts: How to Avoid Being a Victim and Street Smarts: Straight Talk for Kids, Teens & Parents. He has made guest appearances on many television shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show
, and Primetime Live with Diane Sawyer
. He has also appeared on CNN
and been the subject of national PBS television specials
. In the episode "Now Who Wants Ice Cream?," comedian Bob Odenkirk
portrayed F.F. Woodycooks, a bizarre, nasal-voiced host of a television show about crime; who was a parody of Bittenbinder. Woodycooks even has a strange mustache like Bittenbinder's and uses unusual and funny-sounding phrases to refer to criminals. Woodycooks hosts a show called Take Back the Streets in which he show dramatizations of crimes. The sketch ends with Woodycooks promoting his "F. F. Woodycooks Ice Cream Parlour Precincts." Mr. Show writer Paul F. Tompkins
admits that he came up with the idea for the sketch after he heard Bittenbinder refer to a couple of rapists as "goofs."
Sheriff's Department in Chicago." He is also currently serving as Good Morning America
s Safety Specialist. Bittenbinder also maintains an account on the social networking site Myspace.com, where he makes an effort to connect with young people and to advise them to report any crimes in their area.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
) a retired member of the Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
, safety speaker, and author; best known for his work as the host of the 1990s crime series Tough Target
Tough Target
Tough Target was a television talk show from 1995 to 1996. The show focused on issues of crime and how to prevent oneself from being a victim. It was hosted by safety specialist J. J. Bittenbinder....
and as a public speaker on the subject of safety. He is known for his nasally voice and his distinctive moustache.
Biography
J. J. Bittenbinder spent over 23 years on ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Police Department, the last 18 in homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
and violent crimes. He has been a police officer since 1971. He is considered to be an expert on violent crimes and tours the country, speaking to audiences about the topic. In 1997, his first (and last) book, Tough Target: A Street-Smart Guide to Staying Safe, was an overwhelming critical and financial success.
Personal life
Bittenbinder is originally from Buffalo, NY. His height is 6' 5". His nickname is JJ.Television work
In 1995, J. J. Bittenbinder became the host of the television program Tough TargetTough Target
Tough Target was a television talk show from 1995 to 1996. The show focused on issues of crime and how to prevent oneself from being a victim. It was hosted by safety specialist J. J. Bittenbinder....
, which focused on crimes and their prevention. He also wrote for the show. It was cancelled in 1996. He also has two of his own television specials on PBS, Street Smarts: How to Avoid Being a Victim and Street Smarts: Straight Talk for Kids, Teens & Parents. He has made guest appearances on many television shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
, and Primetime Live with Diane Sawyer
Diane Sawyer
Lila Diane Sawyer is the current anchor of ABC News' flagship program, ABC World News. Previously, Sawyer had been co-anchor of ABC Newss morning news program, Good Morning America ....
. He has also appeared on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and been the subject of national PBS television specials
Parody
Bittenbinder was famously parodied in the cult favorite sketch comedy program Mr. ShowMr. Show
Mr. Show with Bob and David is an American sketch comedy series featuring former Saturday Night Live writer/actor Bob Odenkirk and stand up comedian/actor David Cross...
. In the episode "Now Who Wants Ice Cream?," comedian Bob Odenkirk
Bob Odenkirk
Robert "Bob" Odenkirk is an American actor, comedian, writer, director and producer. He is best known as the co-creator and co-star of the HBO sketch comedy series Mr...
portrayed F.F. Woodycooks, a bizarre, nasal-voiced host of a television show about crime; who was a parody of Bittenbinder. Woodycooks even has a strange mustache like Bittenbinder's and uses unusual and funny-sounding phrases to refer to criminals. Woodycooks hosts a show called Take Back the Streets in which he show dramatizations of crimes. The sketch ends with Woodycooks promoting his "F. F. Woodycooks Ice Cream Parlour Precincts." Mr. Show writer Paul F. Tompkins
Paul F. Tompkins
Paul Francis Tompkins , best known as Paul F. Tompkins, is an American actor and comedian.-Life and career:Tompkins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a receptionist mother and railway worker father. He started out in stand-up comedy in 1986 at The Comedy Works, Philadelphia, PA, where he...
admits that he came up with the idea for the sketch after he heard Bittenbinder refer to a couple of rapists as "goofs."
Recent work
Currently, J. J. Bittenbinder "is a Detective for the Cook CountyCook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
Sheriff's Department in Chicago." He is also currently serving as Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
s Safety Specialist. Bittenbinder also maintains an account on the social networking site Myspace.com, where he makes an effort to connect with young people and to advise them to report any crimes in their area.