Mark Pitta started his career on a bet. It was at the San Francisco comedy club "The Punchline" that some of Mark's buddies bet him fifty bucks that he wouldn't have enough nerve to jump up on stage during the club's "open mike" night the following week. He won the bet, but it cost him over a hundred dollars in cover charges going to every comedy club in town studying other comics. It has all paid dividends, because Mark's talent has landed him a job as the co-host on the station's "Mornings On 2" program.

"Mornings On 2" is the Bay Area's top rated local morning news and entertainment program. It is seen Monday through Friday from 7 - 9 a.m.

Honing his skills during the height of San Francisco's comedy club days of the 1980's, Mark's new buddies then included Robin Williams, Kevin Pollack, and Dana Carvey to name a few. For the last 13 years Mark has been in Los Angeles where he had regular appearances on The Tonight Show, 3rd Rock From the Sun, Mad About You, Fox's Totally Hidden Video, Comedy Central, and many others. He also toured with Paul Anka, Howie Mandel, and occasionally sat in with the Hollywood improvisational group The Groundlings.

Among his buddies of today is none other than baseball great Mark McGwire. During last year's record setting season, Pitta wrote an article for USA TODAY on how he would instruct McGwire to answer the ridiculous questions that the press was asking him. He was also quoted on this subject in Time magazine and Sports Illustrated.

Born in Oakland and raised in San Lorenzo, Mark went to Arroyo High School and Chabot College.

"I took a tour of KTVU back when I was a Cub Scout," said Pitta. "I knew right then and there that I wanted to do their morning show when I turned 40."

Send e-mail to Mark.