Louis Virtel

Louis Virtel is a television writer, comedian, and podcast host widely recognized for his viral appearance on “Jeopardy!” and his contributions to late-night television. After his viral appearance on ‘Jeopardy!’ in 2015, where his emphatic snap after a correct Daily Double answer became a widely shared GIF, Louis Virtel solidified his public persona as a sharp-witted television writer, comedian, and podcast host. Prior to this breakthrough, Virtel showcased his trivia prowess by winning $38,000 on the Game Show Network program ‘The Chase’ in 2014. He cultivated his early career as the West Coast entertainment editor for the pop culture website ‘AfterElton,’ later rebranded as ‘The Backlot,’ starting in 2012.

Since 2018, Virtel has co-hosted the highly popular Crooked Media podcast ‘Keep It!’ alongside Ira Madison III, delivering incisive commentary on pop culture, politics, and media to a dedicated listenership. In 2024, he continued his prolific writing career, serving as a writer for the ‘Jeopardy!’ spinoff ‘Pop Culture Jeopardy!.’ For this work, he was honored with a Writers Guild of America Award for Quiz and Audience Participation show in 2025. That same year, he contributed as a writer to the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, further cementing his impact on major television and film industry events. Louis Virtel maintains a strong presence across various media platforms, with his insightful commentary and wit regularly featured in publications such as ‘Time,’ ‘Billboard,’ and ‘Vulture.’ His consistent work as a writer for acclaimed television shows and awards ceremonies, combined with his enduring success as a podcast host, highlights his versatile talent and enduring influence in entertainment and pop culture.