Jimmy DiResta

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Jimmy DiResta
DiResta with dog, Woody
Born
Jimmy DiResta

(1967-04-03) April 3, 1967 (age 57)
Other namesJames Diresta
Occupation(s)Designer, artist, fabricator, TV personality
Years active1990–present
RelativesJohn DiResta

James "Jimmy" DiResta (born April 3, 1967) is a New York-based Maker,[1] artist, and video producer. He enrolled in the School of Visual Arts in 1986 and graduated in 1990 with a BFA degree. In 1993, he formed a now-defunct toy design company/store called "DiResta" in the East Village which created Gurglin’ Gutz, a rubber toy replicating a miniature human organ.[2] He went on to teach at the School of Visual Arts.[3]

Career[edit]

In 2003, DiResta served as set decorator and co-host on "Trash to Cash" with his brother, John DiResta,[4] on Fox Television (FX Network). In 2006, he co-hosted Hammered with John & Jimmy DiResta, on HGTV. The show focused on the marriage of Jimmy's craftsmanship and John's humor. The show's tagline was "Jimmy can make anything and John can make anything funny."[5] In 2009, Jimmy hosted "Against the Grain" on the DIY Network.[6]

In 2011, he co-hosted Dirty Money with his brother, John, on Discovery Channel. The DiResta brothers set out scouring every corner of New York City, from dumpsters to flea markets.[7][8]

Since his TV career, he has entered the YouTube media business, publishing on the Make: and Core77 channel as well as his own.[9][10] He co-hosts the weekly "Making It" podcast since October, 2014[11] together with David Picciuto and Bob Clagett.[12]

In 2016, Make: published a book co-written by Jimmy DiResta and John Baichtal entitled "Workshop Mastery with Jimmy DiResta."[13]

In 2017, DiResta traveled to California to be a part of NBC's Making It, hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, as an on-camera helper. Rejecting the name, "The Master Helper", DiResta wanted just to be referred to by name.[14]

DiResta now has the nickname "Jimmy Two Shows" as both his podcast and the show share a name.[14]

In 2022, DiResta returned to television in a new show called "Making Fun" on Netflix where he, and his buddies (Paul Jackman, Derek Forestier, John Graziano and Patrick Laperrière), make things concocted by the minds of children. From a taco spitting T-Rex, to a punching sneaker, Jimmy and his buddies create unthinkable toys dreamed up by children who get to see their idea built.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Jimmy DiResta, Author at Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers".
  2. ^ NEW YORKERS & CO.; Toys and Items That Began As Found Objects published 1999-09-05, retrieved 2017-07-07 The New York Times
  3. ^ "School of Visual Arts - SVA - New York City > Faculty".
  4. ^ JOHN DIRESTA'S STRANGE JOURNEY FROM THE NYPD TO SITCOM STAR TO THE MELROSE TRADING POST, DECEMBER 18, 2014, retrieved 2017-07-07 LA Weekly
  5. ^ TELEVISION IN REVIEW; Hammered With John and Jimmy DiResta retrieved 2017-07-07, The New York Times
  6. ^ "Jimmy DiResta". IMDb.
  7. ^ DIANE WERTS (15 August 2011). "Dumpster divers net lots of 'Dirty Money'". Newsday.
  8. ^ Programs > Dirty Money retrieved 2017-07-07 Discovery Channel
  9. ^ DiResta's Cut retrieved 2017-07-07 Core77
  10. ^ "About Me | Jimmy DiResta".
  11. ^ "Making It #001 : Where Does Creativity Come From? - Making It".
  12. ^ "Podcasts from I Like to Make Stuff".
  13. ^ Workshop Mastery with Jimmy DiResta retrieved 2017-07-07
  14. ^ a b Episode 141: Jimmy Two-Shows, retrieved 2017-11-07, 17:00

External links[edit]