Jake Hamilton

Career

Hamilton began his career as a film critic in print at the age of 14, writing for the Houston Chronicle in 2002 while still attending Seabrook Intermediate School. While writing for the Chronicle, Hamilton was criticized for his inclusion of R-rated films in his "Top 10 Films of the Year" lists. He continued with the Houston Chronicle until he graduated from Clear Lake High School (Houston, Texas) in 2006.

Later in 2006, Hamilton, 18, was brought on as the film critic for the late night talk show, The After Party, hosted by Ernie Manouse. The show received positive reviews from both critics and audiences alike, and was nominated for a "Best Entertainment/Variety program" Emmy in its first season. The program ended its run after over 50 episodes on November 15, 2006.

After The After Party ended, Ernie Manouse brought on Hamilton to help produce the HoustonPBS documentary, The Last 24. Covering the last 24 hours before the opening of a contemporary dance company's latest production, the documentary was met with critical praise when in aired in August 2007. The Last 24 would eventually garner Hamilton, 20, an Emmy nomination in September 2008.

In 2008, Hamilton began hosting the film review segment Jake's Takes on KHOU-TV (CBS Houston). Reviewing films, covering international film festivals and interviewing celebrities like Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, and Will Smith. Jake's Takes, was nominated for "Outstanding Achievement In Cinema" by the Houston Film Critic Society in 2008 for "bringing celebrities back to Houston."

In 2009, Hamilton was nominated for a Lone Star Emmy Award for "Best On-Air Talent" for hosting Jake's Takes. In addition to hosting Jake's Takes, Hamilton returned to writing for the Houston Chronicle as one of Houston's "City Brights." In October 2009, Hamilton moved "Jake's Takes" from the local CBS affiliate (KHOU-TV) to the local FOX affiliate (KRIV).

In 2011, Hamilton received a Lone Star Emmy Award for "Best On-Camera Talent" for hosting Jake's Takes.

In 2012, Hamilton won the Los Angeles Press Club's National Entertainment Journalism Award by for hosting "Jake's Takes."

In 2013, Hamilton joined WFLD-TV (FOX Chicago) Good Day Chicago as a field reporter for the morning show.

2012 "N-Word" Controversy

In a 2012 press junket interview with Samuel L. Jackson promoting the Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained, Hamilton attempted to ask Jackson a question about the film's use of offensive language and the pejorative word "nigger", but was cut off by Jackson mid-sentence before he could ask it. Jackson then confronted Hamilton's use of the phrase "the n-word" when discussing the issue. Jackson pressed Hamilton to use the actual word before he would answer the question, but Hamilton refused, citing that he wasn't comfortable saying it aloud and if he did, the segment wouldn't make it to air. Jackson refused to back down, goading Hamilton further until he retracted the question.

Hamilton attempted to end the conversation by stating, "It's too bad, I thought it was a great question." Jackson replied, "No, it wasn't a great question if you can't say the word."

The video has since gone viral online, prompting discussions on several prominent websites, most notably YouTube and the front page of Reddit.