Lee Newton
Newton at VidCon 2012
Born
Ashley Rose Newton

(1985-04-13) April 13, 1985 (age 38)
Oregon, U.S.[1]
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian, web personality
Years active2007 (2007)–present
Notable workSourceFed, The Valleyfolk
YouTube information
Channel
GenreVlog
Subscribers134 thousand[2]
Total views2.4 million[2]
100,000 subscribers
Last updated: March 20, 2022

Ashley Rose Newton[3][4] (born April 13, 1985), known professionally as Lee Newton, is an American actress, comedian and Web personality. She is a former co-host of the YouTube news channel SourceFed, as well as a regular performer of The Gym Comedy group. Newton studied theatre in college, and is an alumna of The Groundlings Sunday Company. Newton was a founding member of the production company and web-series known as The Valleyfolk, in which she was a co-host alongside fellow former SourceFed hosts Joe Bereta, Elliott Morgan, and Steve Zaragoza.

Early life

Lee Newton was raised in Coarsegold, California.[5] She believes that she is "a blend of her Father's wit and sarcasm and her Mother's absolute absurdity."[6] She also has a brother and a sister. Her brother, Jake, is a musician, and has his own YouTube channel.[7] On March 2, 2012, a video was posted to her brother Jake Newton's YouTube channel of the two singing a song cover of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody".[8]

Newton was born with several congenital heart defects, including a ventricular septal defect, an atrial septal defect, transposition of the great vessels, and pulmonic stenosis.[9][10] She has undergone 4 open heart surgeries between the ages of 14 days and 13 years old.[6] Due to this, Newton has often said that she is an advocate of people donating organs.[11]

Newton studied theatre in college after receiving a theatre directed scholarship.[6][12]

Newton is a comedian who performed short skits and improv at the Gym Comedy Group.[13][14] Newton is also known for being an alumna of The Groundlings' Sunday Company.[15][16]

Online career

SourceFed and MyMusic (2012−2015)

From left to right: Morgan, Newton, and Bereta, the original three hosts of SourceFed

Newton first rose to prominence online as the co-host of SourceFed, a YouTube pop culture & news channel.[17] The channel was one of the first 100 YouTube premium channels.[18]

On February 6, 2012, Lee Newton's fellow co-hosts, Elliott Morgan and Joe Bereta, released a video to the SourceFed YouTube channel, concerning the list of Maxim's Hot 100, which is released every year.[19] Without Lee knowing, her co-hosts encouraged the viewers to vote for her as a 'write-in'. The decision to do this was the overwhelming response from other SourceFed videos; specifically AskMen's Top 99 Most Desirable Women of 2012.[20] The feedback contained comments that thought Newton should be included in these lists. The Maxim voting website added a CAPTCHA after a flood of votes for her.[21][22] On 3 April 2012, Maxim posted a list of the most popular 'write-in' candidates, and included Lee Newton, writing that she had 'list potential'. In result, she reached #57 in Maxim's Hot 100.[23][24] The following year, Newton received a Maxim profile.[25]

Newton has been interviewed on two occasions by New Media Rockstars, along with her SourceFed co-hosts.[26][27] In an interview with the online publication, Newton stated "I think we lucked out having a team of hosts that really got along very well and had Phil’s vision, and we’re able to piggyback on that really quickly because he has such a clear vision, and he knew exactly what he wanted and such a concise idea of what he wanted and then having four people who really like each other and who can write really well. It was just energy. It was a collaboration that really started to take off."[26] The statement was in response to the SourceFed YouTube channel reaching 500,000 subscribers.

In March 2013, Newton appeared alongside SourceFed co-host Steve Zaragoza and creator Philip DeFranco in a Taco Bell advertisement.[28] Later, in May, SourceFed launched a spin-off channel, SourceFed Nerd, on which Newton also appeared.[29]

Also in May 2013, Newton appeared in an episode of the Fine Brothers's YouTubers React, alongside SourceFed co-host, Steve Zaragoza.[30] Newton would again work with the Fine Brothers as she joined the cast of MyMusic for its second season.[31] On the series, Newton played the character of Country, Idol's cousin.[32][33] Newton also appeared in Toby Turner's HEELY COPS video.

Newton made appearances on YouTube channels outside of SourceFed and Fine Brothers-related series; Newton appeared in the ninth episode of Rhett and Link's The Mythical Show, along with Bereta and Morgan.[34] Newton also voice acted as Tanya Burkowitz and Katelynn Zales in the stop-motion animated web series The Most Popular Girls in School, in 2013.[35]

On March 28, 2015, Newton appeared in her last video before her resignation from SourceFed, alongside former SourceFed host Ross Everett.[36]

The Valleyfolk (2018−2019)

Newton appearing in a Vlogbrothers video in 2016

In 2018, Newton along with founding SourceFed hosts Joe Bereta, Elliott Morgan, and Steve Zaragoza, launched a production company and YouTube channel entitled The Valleyfolk.[37] The Valleyfolk features various series. Among them are The Valleycast, a podcast series, and Your Show, a variety series.[38][39] The Valleyfolk competed on the NBC comedy competition show Bring the Funny, winning the show's first season in 2019. On September 23, 2019, the other members of The Valleyfolk voted to terminate Newton's employment with the group.[40]

Television appearances

Aside from online works, Newton appeared in the 2014 April Fools episode of Tosh.0.[41] That July, Newton was announced to be included in the cast of Comedy Central's series, CC: Social Scene.[42][43]

Newton hosted the Lip Sync Battle Preshow with Elliott Morgan for Spike.[44]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations as part of SourceFed
Year Award Show Category Result Recipient(s)
2013 3rd Streamy Awards Best News and Culture Series Nominated SourceFed
Best Live Series Nominated SourceFed: The Nation Decides 2012
Best Live Event Nominated SourceFed: #PDSLive 2012 Election Night Coverage
Audience Choice for Series of the Year Won SourceFed
2014 4th Streamy Awards News and Current Events Series Won SourceFed
Gaming Nominated SourceFed Nerd
Show of the Year Nominated SourceFed

See also

References

  1. ^ Kid or Adult, Movie Remakes, and Murder Cover-ups! #TableTalk. SourceFedNERD. YouTube. June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "About lee newton". YouTube.
  3. ^ Grace Helbig, Mythical Creatures, and A**hole Teachers - #TableTalk. SourceFedNERD. YouTube. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  4. ^ Newton, Lee (January 15, 2013). Lee's Q&A! First edition!. Lee Newton. YouTube. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  5. ^ "Ep. 55 Lee Newton - Ear Biscuits". February 6, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c Philip DeFranco; Lee Newton (May 30, 2012). OverPhlow May 30, 2012 ft. Lee Newton. Audioboo.fm. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  7. ^ Jake Newton; Lee Newton (January 6, 2008). "Jake Newton". YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  8. ^ Newton, Jake (March 2, 2012). I wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston Cover. Jake Newton. YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  9. ^ Newton, Lee (March 24, 2012). "Twitter / leenewtonsays: @alickzandria I was born". Twitter. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  10. ^ Newton, Lee (January 15, 2013). Youtube / Lee's Q&A! First edition!. YouTube. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  11. ^ Lee Newton; Joe Bereta (May 1, 2012). Share your Organs on Facebook!?. SourceFed. YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  12. ^ Lee Newton; Elliott Morgan (March 7, 2012). Catastrophic College Debt!. YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  13. ^ "Lee Newton". Gymcomedy.com. June 3, 2011. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  14. ^ "About The Gym". Gymcomedy.com. April 9, 2011. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  15. ^ "Lee Newton Sunday Company". The Groundlings. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  16. ^ "Lee Newton About Host". Revision3. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  17. ^ "Divorce Rate: SourceFed Webseries Seeks To Explain Splits (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. March 21, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  18. ^ Cohen, Joshua (January 26, 2012). "Is 'SourceFed' 'The Daily Show' for the YouTube Generation?". Tubefilter. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  19. ^ "2012 Maxim Hot 100". Maxim. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  20. ^ Lee Newton; Joe Bereta (January 31, 2012). Top 99 Most DESIRABLE WOMEN of 2012. YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  21. ^ "Maxim Hot 100 Goes Geek". Geeks Are Sexy. 22 May 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  22. ^ Maxim Staff. "UPDATE: The Most Popular 'Hot 100' Write-Ins of 2012". Maxim. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  23. ^ "Maxim's Hot 100 : Une fenêtre sur celles qui font rêver les hommes]". Le Nouvel Observateur. May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  24. ^ Byrd, Norman (May 22, 2012). "Stephen Colbert's Perfect Position On The 'Maxim Hot 100' List". Huliq. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  25. ^ "Lee Newton". Maxim. Archived from the original on March 1, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  26. ^ a b Manarino, Matthew (August 1, 2012). "YouTube Philip DeFranco & SourceFed Cast Talk 500,000 Subscriber Milestone". NewMediaRockstars. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  27. ^ Klima, Jeff (February 28, 2013). "SOURCEFED YOUTUBE PERSONALITIES". NewMediaRockstars. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  28. ^ Manarino, Matthew (March 7, 2013). "PHILIP DEFRANCO AND TACO BELL BRING US A NEW ERA OF CELEBRITY-DRIVEN ADVERTISING". NewMediaRockstars. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  29. ^ Cohen, Joshua (May 16, 2013). "SourceFed Launches Spinoff YouTube Channel, SourceFed Nerd". Tubefilter. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  30. ^ YouTubers React to Don't Hug Me I'm Scared. The Fine Brothers. YouTube. May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  31. ^ Manarino, Matthew (May 13, 2013). "THE FINE BROTHERS GREEN-LIGHT SEASON 2 OF 'MYMUSIC' YOUTUBE SERIES, LATE SUMMER PREMIERE EXPECTED". NewMediaRockstars. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  32. ^ Dunn, Gaby (August 20, 2013). "Meet Lee Newton, the new country heartbreaker on 'MyMusic'". The Daily Dot. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  33. ^ Gutelle, Sam (August 20, 2013). "Fine Bros Debut MyMusic Season 2 With New Characters, More Transmedia". Tubefilter. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  34. ^ The Mythical Show Ep 9 (Sourcefed, Frontier Wok & Goorgen). The Mythical Show. YouTube. June 20, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  35. ^ The Making of Season 2 | The Most Popular Girls in School. TheMostPopularGirls. YouTube. July 2, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  36. ^ Newton, Lee; Everett, Ross (March 28, 2015). LEE NEWTON'S LAST SOURCEFED VIDEO. SourceFed. YouTube. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  37. ^ A new beginning... and WE'RE TERRIFIED. The Valleyfolk. YouTube. January 8, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  38. ^ Gutelle, Sam (April 9, 2018). "Joe Bereta Is Leaving Smosh To Focus On SourceFed Follow-Up The Valleyfolk". Tubefilter. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  39. ^ Gutelle, Sam (July 11, 2018). "The Valleyfolk, SourceFed's Spiritual Successor, Launches Variety Series Titled 'Your Show'". Tubefilter. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  40. ^ Newton, Lee (November 1, 2019). Lee Newton - An Announcement. YouTube. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  41. ^ "Todd Glass' Awful Prank Show - Army Wife - Uncensored". Tosh.0. Comedy Central. April 1, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  42. ^ Gutelle, Sam (July 28, 2014). "Comedy Central's New Sketch Show Takes Suggestions From Social Media". Tubefilter. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  43. ^ Spangler, Todd (July 28, 2014). "Comedy Central Launches Improv Sketch Show Based on Viewer Tweets". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  44. ^ "Introducing our new Preshow hosts". Lip Sync Battle. Facebook. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2017.

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