Five Questions for ... Jim Shearer

This Pittsburgh-bred NYCer—whom you probably recognize from VH1's weekly Top 20 Countdown—is the creator of the popular web shows "Yinz Luv 'Da Stillers" and "Yinz Luv Da Guins."

(page 1 of 2)

Jim Shearer in recent episodes of Yinz Luv 'Da Stillers.

Jim Shearer wears a lot of hats, figuratively.

And literally, he wears a lot of Pittsburgh shirts. He tells me he has more than 20 now, and if you ask him, it seems that each has a story. His Y-O-I shirt inspires "some beautiful Myron Cope dialogue;" his Mark May M-A-Y-D-A-Y shirt is one of his favorites due to its "simplicity and randomness," and his thrifted Yough Cross Country shirt earned him an interview in Yough's school paper—even though he's a Shaler graduate.

His hats include hosting VH1's weekly Top 20 Countdown, fronting the New York City-based band Deck of Jack, hosting the "no-budget" online Pittsburgh sports webshows "Yinz Luv Da Stillers" and "Yinz Luv Da 'Guins," contributing to the pittsburghmagazine.com Pulling No Punches sports blog, contributing sports writer to Pittsburgh City Paper and ISN'T THAT ENOUGH FOR YOU PEOPLE?!

Apparently it's not because now Jim can plop an "artist" hat atop his hat-balancing head, as he'll be exhibiting his Pittsburgh Pirates art during a month-long exhibit at Wildcard in Lawrenceville beginning April 1 called "Opening Day: Yinz Luv Da Buccos." In creating the pieces, Jim used the same art tools he wielded as a youngster: colored pencils, crayons, magic markers and watercolors.
 

 Photo courtesy of Jim Shearer

Jim intrigues me. A Cleveland-born (!!!!!) Pittsburgh-raised NYC resident who now really seems to have one foot firmly planted in both the Burgh and NYC. But where's his heart?

I asked Jim five questions. Well, if I'm being honest, I asked him 13 and am choosing just five to share with you.
 

1. It seems odd that a man with a national TV gig, as you have with the Top 20 Countdown on VH1, would take the time to create a no-budget web show about Pittsburgh sports. What made you decide to create the Yinz Luv shows? 
 
I was in between jobs in 2008; looking to move back to Pittsburgh to work in sports; was told that I didn't have enough sports experience; and had just been turned down to host a web-show for the NHL. Amidst this perfect storm of rejection, the Penguins had just started their playoff series with the Senators. I decided to take matters into my own hands and start my own web-show.
 

2. I have a vision of you sitting alone in a little apartment in New York City with a camera on a tripod, doing your show while Bat-Bat [Jim's black cat and sidekick] shoots you haughty looks. Is that how it's done, or do you have a team of people that helps you each week? 
 
Your vision is correct! I do the show alone in my NYC apartment. Out of kindness toward my wife, I record when she's not around. And when I look off camera to talk to my crew, that's me just wishing I had a crew. Bat-Bat usually sits on the bed and patiently watches. 

When I first started YLDG, each episode took an hour or two to do. Over the years, I've had episodes that have taken as long as 12 hours to piece together. I'm in a dangerous place now. I want the show to perpetually improve, but there are only so many hours in a day, and I can't slack on my day job either.  
 

More PitGirl ...

	'Burghy Weddings Part 3 No, that's not a Terrible Towel you see, it's an Engagement Towel.
	Must Watch: Goosebumps on a Scale of One to OH! The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's YouTube search for a new soloist is down to the final four.
	Rogue Runner PittGirl joins the Pittsburgh Marathon without breaking a sweat.

This article appears in the March 2011 issue of PittGirl

Did you like what you read here? Subscribe to PittGirl »

 Email  Print  Feed

Subscribe to PittGirl : PittGirl