Jeff Houghton didn’t plan to land an internship on the “Late Show with David Letterman.” He actually planned very little.
Approaching graduation from the University of Iowa with a communications degree and little concept of what he would do, Houghton thought an internship sounded like a solid idea. He checked out what was available and saw David Letterman’s show. Thirty people vied for 17 slots.
“I borrowed a friend’s suit, and I did a mock interview with someone in the career office,” says the Iowa City, Iowa, native.
The preparation worked. Houghton lived with another intern in a 400-square-foot apartment in New Jersey, experiencing big-city life on a queen-size air mattress.
“I grew up watching Letterman,” Houghton says. “It was pretty sweet. I also got to help the guests. Most of the time, my job was to open this one door to the stairwell.”
After leaving New York City, he worked with Christian-based, youth-centered Young Life. It was at a Young Life camp where Houghton met his future wife, Michelle, a Springfield native. They did the long-distance routine for a while until Jeff relocated to the Ozarks to see if the burgeoning relationship had legs.
It wasn’t an easy decision, if only because Houghton had come to realize performing was his thing. He considered moving to a bigger city to try his luck, but Michelle and a possible future were a stronger pull.
The plan was for Jeff to live in her’s parent’s basement for three weeks. He stayed eight months. After dating five years, Houghton finally popped the question in a proposal that made Brides magazine.
Meanwhile, Houghton had performed locally, having hooked up with Skinny Improv, now Springfield Improv. It was there the idea for “The Mystery Hour,” a late-night talk show, was born.
“The first show got done, and I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh. This is what I want to do,’” Houghton says.
Through growth, change and higher production values, the half-hour show is now taped in front of a live audience at the Gillioz Theatre. It airs Saturdays on Fox KRBK. Houghton’s interviewed local notables such as former Evangel University President Robert Spence and fellow 12 People You Need to Know selection Grant Wistrom.
It’s been a journey for Houghton, who took a break from the show and Springfield in 2011 to experience Los Angeles. It was an adventure that Houghton’s wife supported while staying in the Queen City. He spent most of the year in L.A. taking improv classes, doing stand-up and going on auditions.
Houghton returned to Springfield with a realization that people can work and work in L.A., but never get what they want. He’s able to do what he loves here.
And, in case you’re wondering, Tom Hanks was the coolest guest Houghton met while working on Letterman’s show.
