Internet star David Dobrik goes from Chicago suburbs to TV's 'Dodgeball Thunderdome'
CHICAGO — He’s only 24 years old, but Vernon Hills High School graduate David Dobrik is quickly becoming a pro at hosting TV shows.
“The first thing that I really hosted was the (2019) Teen Choice Awards, and I remember I was just panicked going into it. I had no idea what I was doing. I was like, I can’t believe they called me to do this,” Dobrik told the Tribune by phone.
“I thought the whole thing was prerecorded for some reason, and I remember going on stage, and I opened up the show. And then I came off the stage, and I got a text from my friend saying, ‘You’re doing great up there.’ And I turned to the producers, and I was like, ‘What the hell? How does my friend know I’m doing well?’ And he goes, ‘Oh, it’s live.’ Going into it, I was super, super nervous, but I think just like anything, you gotta jump into the deep end, and that’s the best way to learn how to swim.”
His new gig as co-host of Discovery’s “Dodgeball Thunderdome” reminds him of playing dodgeball in gym class at Vernon Hills High — though Dobrik describes this show as “Wipeout” meets dodgeball. Competitors battle through a series of greasy, muddy, ridiculous obstacles with dodgeballs flying at them in a specially constructed arena. The winners of each of the first eight episodes meet on the finale for a chance to score $25,000. The series — which was prerecorded, pleasing Dobrik — was set to premiere Wednesday.
