Veronica Belmont
Encyclopedia
Veronica Ann Belmont is the co-host of the Revision3 show Tekzilla
alongside Patrick Norton
, and the former host of the monthly PlayStation 3
-based video on demand
program Qore
. Formerly she was the host for the Mahalo Daily podcast and a producer and associate editor for CNET Networks, Inc.
where she produced, engineered, and co-hosted the podcast Buzz Out Loud
.
. Belmont attended Emerson College
, in Boston
, Massachusetts
, to study audio production and new media studies. She worked briefly in Boston afterwards, and eventually secured an internship at CNET. Belmont currently resides in San Francisco, California
with her boyfriend, former Engadget
editor Ryan Block
.
. Originally she was the sound engineer and producer of the show, but her role on the podcast grew substantially. She began to inject her own commentary, and was acknowledged as an official co-host in August 2006. She also was the producer and co-host of two more CNET podcasts called MP3 Insider and CRAVE Gadget Blog, which were both co-hosted by the late James Kim
.
Belmont made her video debut on CNET on April 6, 2006, on an Insider Secrets segment titled "Give your PC a Mac-over". Since then, she has hosted videos from Maker Faire, CES
, and South by Southwest. She was also the host of the Prizefight series. She appeared for the final time in CNET TV on July 25, 2007, in the iPhone vs Nokia N95 edition of Prizefight".
Belmont also appeared on Shovio.com to talk about her career. This interview is in their archives under "On Demand".
at BlizzCon 2007
. On April 2, 2008, Belmont announced that she would be leaving Mahalo Daily within two weeks.
This was reported by TV Week on April 3, 2008.
.
announced a new subscription-based "monthly lifestyle gaming program" called Qore
that would be hosted by Belmont. On October 19, 2011 she announced via her blog that she would be stepping down as host.
of CNET
and TWIT
's Tech News Today fame. As the name implies, it is strictly about science-fiction and fantasy books and debuted with Neuromancer
by William Gibson
. Prior to the creation of the podcast, it was a book club in forum form. This format lasted through the first 3 books, which were, The Golden Compass
by Philip Pullman
, Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card
and American Gods
by Neil Gaiman
, with the subsequent creation of the podcast.
announced on This Week in Tech (TWiT
) that Veronica Belmont would cohost TWiT's upcoming gaming show with Brian Brushwood
called Game On!.
at the first annual Pixelodeon Festival, alongside other web starlets like Amanda Congdon
.
On November 14, 2007, she was a contestant on a game show
at NewTeeVee Live featuring other internet celebrities such as Casey McKinnon
, Kevin Rose
, Justin Kan
, Robert Scoble
, and others.
At the Consumer Electronics Show
2008 in Las Vegas, Belmont (and Mahalo Daily) covered the event for tech site Engadget
.
In the finale of the Jonathan Coulton
DVD "Best.Concert.Ever", Belmont played guitar in the game RockBand for the song "Still Alive".
She has also made numerous guest appearances on other technology and gaming podcasts, including Diggnation
, this WEEK in TECH
, Cranky Geeks and The 404 podcast.
On August 20, 2009 Belmont hosted Rifftrax Live, an evening of live riffing on Plan 9 From Outer Space
, with Michael J. Nelson
, Kevin Murphy
, and Bill Corbett
, simulcast in movie theaters nationwide.
On November 11, 2009, Belmont co-hosted Attack of the Show with Chris Hardwick
on G4.
Belmont has also been on The Instance with Scott Johnson
and Randy Jordan, otherwise known as Randy Deluxe.
On October 23, 2009, and March 12, 2010, Belmont was a guest on Talkradar, GamesRadar
.com's weekly podcast, hosted by Chris Antista, Mikel Reparez, and Brett Elston.
In 2011, Belmont began doing promotional interviews for Chevrolet's Cruze-arati campaign.
Belmont performs voices in Fallout: New Vegas
, in the add-on Old World Blues. She voices seducing light switches, an upgraded stealth suit and the unaltered voice of Christine Royce.
in her 2007 Top 10 Sexiest Geeks list.
Tekzilla
Tekzilla is a biweekly video podcast on the Revision3 network. It is currently hosted by Patrick Norton, Veronica Belmont and Robert Heron with Garnett Lee and Roger Chang as frequent guest hosts...
alongside Patrick Norton
Patrick Norton
Patrick Norton is most commonly known as the former co-host and managing editor of The Screen Savers, an interactive television program on TechTV geared toward the technology enthusiast...
, and the former host of the monthly PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
-based video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
program Qore
Qore (PlayStation Network)
Qore is a subscription-based interactive online magazine for the PlayStation Network and replaces the Jampack series of disks offered by PlayStation Underground. Currently only available in North America, the service offers high definition videos, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage...
. Formerly she was the host for the Mahalo Daily podcast and a producer and associate editor for CNET Networks, Inc.
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
where she produced, engineered, and co-hosted the podcast Buzz Out Loud
Buzz Out Loud
Buzz Out Loud, "CNET's podcast of indeterminate length," or BOL, as it is affectionately titled by its fans, is a weekly podcast about technology produced by CNET. The show is hosted by Molly Wood, Brian Tong, and producer Stephen Beacham and various rotating guest hosts. Veronica Belmont...
.
Background
At the time of Belmont's birth, her mother was a vice president at ColecoColeco
Coleco is an American company founded in 1932 by Maurice Greenberg as "Connecticut Leather Company". It became a highly successful toy company in the 1980s, known for its mass-produced version of Cabbage Patch Kids dolls and its video game consoles, the Coleco Telstar and...
. Belmont attended Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
, in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, to study audio production and new media studies. She worked briefly in Boston afterwards, and eventually secured an internship at CNET. Belmont currently resides in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with her boyfriend, former Engadget
Engadget
Engadget is a multilingual technology blog network with daily coverage of gadgets and consumer electronics. Though on appearance Engadget functions much like a blog and may be defined as such, much of its editorial content takes the form of an online magazine...
editor Ryan Block
Ryan Block
Ryan Block is a technology journalist and critic. He was the editor-in-chief of AOL’s Engadget before he co-founded the popular community site gdgt....
.
CNET
Belmont started as an intern producing audio content for CNET Networks. She was hired full-time six months later to produce their "First Look from the Labs" series, and also began producing Buzz Out LoudBuzz Out Loud
Buzz Out Loud, "CNET's podcast of indeterminate length," or BOL, as it is affectionately titled by its fans, is a weekly podcast about technology produced by CNET. The show is hosted by Molly Wood, Brian Tong, and producer Stephen Beacham and various rotating guest hosts. Veronica Belmont...
. Originally she was the sound engineer and producer of the show, but her role on the podcast grew substantially. She began to inject her own commentary, and was acknowledged as an official co-host in August 2006. She also was the producer and co-host of two more CNET podcasts called MP3 Insider and CRAVE Gadget Blog, which were both co-hosted by the late James Kim
James Kim
James Kim was an American television personality and technology analyst for the former TechTV international cable television network, reviewing products for shows including The Screen Savers, Call for Help, and Fresh Gear...
.
Belmont made her video debut on CNET on April 6, 2006, on an Insider Secrets segment titled "Give your PC a Mac-over". Since then, she has hosted videos from Maker Faire, CES
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
, and South by Southwest. She was also the host of the Prizefight series. She appeared for the final time in CNET TV on July 25, 2007, in the iPhone vs Nokia N95 edition of Prizefight".
Belmont also appeared on Shovio.com to talk about her career. This interview is in their archives under "On Demand".
Mahalo
Belmont left CNET on July 20, 2007 to join Mahalo. She hosted and produced her own podcast called Mahalo Daily covering subjects of her choosing. Her first video was an interview with Leeroy JenkinsLeeroy Jenkins
Leeroy Jenkins, sometimes misspelled Leroy Jenkins and often elongated with numerous additional letters, is an Internet phenomenon named for a player character created by Ben Schulz in Blizzard Entertainment's MMORPG, World of Warcraft. The character became popular due to a video of the game that...
at BlizzCon 2007
BlizzCon
"BlizzCon" is an annual convention held by Blizzard Entertainment to celebrate their major franchises: Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo...
. On April 2, 2008, Belmont announced that she would be leaving Mahalo Daily within two weeks.
This was reported by TV Week on April 3, 2008.
Revision3
On April 9, 2008, Revision3 announced that Belmont would be joining the Revision3 staff as co-host of TekzillaTekzilla
Tekzilla is a biweekly video podcast on the Revision3 network. It is currently hosted by Patrick Norton, Veronica Belmont and Robert Heron with Garnett Lee and Roger Chang as frequent guest hosts...
.
Qore
In June 2008, Sony Computer EntertainmentSony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
announced a new subscription-based "monthly lifestyle gaming program" called Qore
Qore (PlayStation Network)
Qore is a subscription-based interactive online magazine for the PlayStation Network and replaces the Jampack series of disks offered by PlayStation Underground. Currently only available in North America, the service offers high definition videos, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage...
that would be hosted by Belmont. On October 19, 2011 she announced via her blog that she would be stepping down as host.
Sword and Laser
On October 16, 2007, Belmont started co-hosting a podcast with Tom MerrittTom Merritt
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Merritt is a technology journalist and broadcaster who hosts a daily show on Leo Laporte's TWiT.tv Netcast Network Tech News Today...
of CNET
CNET
CNET is a tech media website that publishes news articles, blogs, and podcasts on technology and consumer electronics. Originally founded in 1994 by Halsey Minor and Shelby Bonnie, it was the flagship brand of CNET Networks and became a brand of CBS Interactive through CNET Networks' acquisition...
and TWIT
Twit
Twit may refer to: A person of lesser intelligence, it is normally used in a humors way.*Idiot, a mentally deficient or self-defeating person*TWiT.tv, a podcast network**This Week in Tech , a podcast on the previously-listed network...
's Tech News Today fame. As the name implies, it is strictly about science-fiction and fantasy books and debuted with Neuromancer
Neuromancer
Neuromancer is a 1984 novel by William Gibson, a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre and the first winner of the science-fiction "triple crown" — the Nebula Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Hugo Award. It was Gibson's debut novel and the beginning of the Sprawl trilogy...
by William Gibson
William Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
. Prior to the creation of the podcast, it was a book club in forum form. This format lasted through the first 3 books, which were, The Golden Compass
Northern Lights (novel)
Northern Lights, known as The Golden Compass in North America, is the first novel in English novelist Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy...
by Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman
Philip Pullman CBE, FRSL is an English writer from Norwich. He is the best-selling author of several books, most notably his trilogy of fantasy novels, His Dark Materials, and his fictionalised biography of Jesus, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ...
, Ender's Game
Ender's Game
Ender's Game is a science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. The book originated as the short story "Ender's Game", published in the August 1977 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact. Elaborating on characters and plot lines depicted in the novel, Card later wrote additional...
by Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
and American Gods
American Gods
American Gods is a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman. The novel is a blend of Americana, fantasy, and various strands of ancient and modern mythology, all centering on a mysterious and taciturn protagonist, Shadow. It is Gaiman's fourth prose novel, being preceded by Good Omens ,...
by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, with the subsequent creation of the podcast.
TWiT.TV
On October 30, 2011, Leo LaporteLeo Laporte
Léo Gordon Laporte is an Emmy Award winning, American technology broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur. A former resident of Providence, Rhode Island, he now lives in Petaluma, California with his wife Jennifer and two children, Abby and Henry....
announced on This Week in Tech (TWiT
Twit
Twit may refer to: A person of lesser intelligence, it is normally used in a humors way.*Idiot, a mentally deficient or self-defeating person*TWiT.tv, a podcast network**This Week in Tech , a podcast on the previously-listed network...
) that Veronica Belmont would cohost TWiT's upcoming gaming show with Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood
Brian Brushwood is an American magician who performs nationwide. He is especially well known for his display of bizarre magic. He is known to perform fire-eating, escapes, breaking a cinder block over his head, sticking nails in his eyes and nose, sticking needles through his palm, reading minds,...
called Game On!.
Appearances
In June 2007, Belmont was a curatorCurator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
at the first annual Pixelodeon Festival, alongside other web starlets like Amanda Congdon
Amanda Congdon
Congdon sometimes went on the road. One episode showed her dancing in various locations throughout St. Petersburg, Russia. She has performed her frenetic signature dance in the streets and parks of Austin and other cities. In the 15 April 2005 episode, she stood in Washington Square Park and posed...
.
On November 14, 2007, she was a contestant on a game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
at NewTeeVee Live featuring other internet celebrities such as Casey McKinnon
Casey McKinnon
Casey McKinnon is an actress, writer, video editor and producer from Montreal, Canada. She is known for her work on web series Galacticast, A Comicbook Orange and Kitkast.-Background:...
, Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose
Kevin Rose is an American Internet entrepreneur who co-founded Revision3, Digg, Pownce, and Milk...
, Justin Kan
Justin Kan
Justin Kan is an Internet entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder of live video platforms Justin.tv and TwitchTV, as well as the mobile social video application, Socialcam. He also serves as a part-time partner at venture capital firm Y Combinator...
, Robert Scoble
Robert Scoble
Robert Scoble is an American blogger, technical evangelist, and author. Scoble is best known for his blog, Scobleizer, which came to prominence during his tenure as a technology evangelist at Microsoft. He is married to Maryam Ghaemmaghami Scoble. He has three children; one from a previous...
, and others.
At the Consumer Electronics Show
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
2008 in Las Vegas, Belmont (and Mahalo Daily) covered the event for tech site Engadget
Engadget
Engadget is a multilingual technology blog network with daily coverage of gadgets and consumer electronics. Though on appearance Engadget functions much like a blog and may be defined as such, much of its editorial content takes the form of an online magazine...
.
In the finale of the Jonathan Coulton
Jonathan Coulton
Jonathan Coulton is an American singer-songwriter, known for his songs about geek culture and his use of the Internet to draw fans...
DVD "Best.Concert.Ever", Belmont played guitar in the game RockBand for the song "Still Alive".
She has also made numerous guest appearances on other technology and gaming podcasts, including Diggnation
Diggnation
Diggnation is Revision3's flagship video podcast produced weekly. It is hosted by Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht, who had previously hosted TechTV's The Screen Savers together. Its main purpose is to discuss some of the top stories from Digg, the social news and bookmarking website developed by Rose...
, this WEEK in TECH
This Week in Tech
This Week in Tech–casually referred to as TWiT, and formerly known as Revenge of the Screen Savers–is the weekly flagship podcast of the TWiT.tv network...
, Cranky Geeks and The 404 podcast.
On August 20, 2009 Belmont hosted Rifftrax Live, an evening of live riffing on Plan 9 From Outer Space
Plan 9 from Outer Space
Plan 9 from Outer Space is a 1959 science fiction film written and directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr. The film features Gregory Walcott, Mona McKinnon, Tor Johnson and Maila "Vampira" Nurmi...
, with Michael J. Nelson
Michael J. Nelson
Michael John Nelson is a U.S. comedian and writer, most famous for his work on the cult television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Nelson was the head writer of the series for most of the show's 11-year run, and spent half of that time playing the on-air host, also named Mike Nelson...
, Kevin Murphy
Kevin Murphy (actor)
Kevin Wagner Murphy is an American actor and writer best known as the voice and puppeteer of Tom Servo on the Peabody Award-winning comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000.- Early career :...
, and Bill Corbett
Bill Corbett
Bill Corbett is an American writer and performer for television, film and theatre. He was a writer and performer on the cult television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 , for which he voiced the robot Crow T. Robot during the show's later seasons on the Sci Fi Channel and played the character...
, simulcast in movie theaters nationwide.
On November 11, 2009, Belmont co-hosted Attack of the Show with Chris Hardwick
Chris Hardwick
Christopher Ryan "Chris" Hardwick is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, musician, podcaster, television personality, and voice artist...
on G4.
Belmont has also been on The Instance with Scott Johnson
Scott Johnson (cartoonist)
Scott Blaine Johnson is a cartoonist, illustrator, designer and podcaster. He lives in Eagle Mountain, Utah with his wife Kim, daughters Taylor and Carter, and son Nick. In 2008, Johnson launched , an illustration and audio production company. Johnson is the creator of the popular...
and Randy Jordan, otherwise known as Randy Deluxe.
On October 23, 2009, and March 12, 2010, Belmont was a guest on Talkradar, GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
.com's weekly podcast, hosted by Chris Antista, Mikel Reparez, and Brett Elston.
In 2011, Belmont began doing promotional interviews for Chevrolet's Cruze-arati campaign.
Belmont performs voices in Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas is a first person action role-playing video game in the Fallout series developed by Obsidian Entertainment, and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is based in a post-apocalyptic environment in and around Las Vegas, Nevada...
, in the add-on Old World Blues. She voices seducing light switches, an upgraded stealth suit and the unaltered voice of Christine Royce.
Awards
Belmont was named Sexiest Geek by Violet BlueViolet Blue (author)
Violet Blue is an American writer and sex educator.Blue wrote a weekly sex column for the San Francisco Chronicle. In her podcast, Open Source Sex, she reads erotica and discusses topics such as fetishes and oral sex. She also has a video blog. Blue wrote a feature about porn for women which was...
in her 2007 Top 10 Sexiest Geeks list.