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Laugh Tracks
In Matt Leiva’s world, hosting isn’t just a game—it’s an obstacle course of wit, laughs, and plenty of plot twists along the way.
- Heather Anne Lee
- Fred Lopez
Picture this: a kid glued to the TV, soaking up comedies like Friends, Seinfeld, and Cheers. Tuning in on school nights for Family Feud and Match Game, and spending Saturday mornings with Nickelodeon. If it got people laughing, Matt Leiva was watching. And just like Double Dare’s host Marc Summers, Matt was the kind of kid who loved seeing people have a good time—even if it meant a little chaos along the way.
But life isn’t always a straight shot to your dream job—sometimes you’ve got to climb over a giant obstacle or dive into a pool of whipped cream to find your way. In Matt’s case, that first obstacle was law school.
A pre-law student and debate team member in high school, Matt was drawn to the intricacies of the law. But something didn’t sit right—he couldn’t see himself in a courtroom. When he got to college, things took a different turn. He started working at Universal Studios, first at the Men in Black ride, then testing his performance skills at Halloween Horror Nights. Soon, he was diving into improv at the SAK Comedy Lab and even earned a spot on their cast. Instead of arguing cases, Matt was now making people laugh, and it felt like he’d finally found his calling—lifting his spirits and those of everyone around him.”But how do you make money doing that?” Matt recalls asking himself. “I honestly had no idea.”
Like any great episode of Double Dare—and life itself—Matt’s big break came with an unexpected twist, this time at sea.
“It all started after I went on a cruise with my friend. We were so good, and having so much fun with the crowds every night that the cruise director asked if I wanted to do it for a living.At first, I thought he was joking, but when I realized it was a real job offer, I jumped at the opportunity!”
We were doing some sort of hair-themed category for ‘Movember’... I bet the crowd that if they bought 100 beers, I would shave my beard.
For the next two years, Matt honed his hosting skills in every genre possible: trivia nights, game shows, karaoke, and even a little DJing. “Every night was different, every crowd was different. I got to host game shows and trivia, just like the ones I grew up watching,” he says with a laugh.”It was definitely a full-circle moment.And the most fun I had ever had, up to that point.”
That said, much like the shows he adored, life threw Matt another curveball—fatherhood. As much as he enjoyed his career, he missed his daughter, and he realized he was missing out on her growing up. When his contract was up, he faced a difficult decision: choosing another year at sea or being more present for his daughter. Matt hung up his microphone.
But that pivot didn’t stop him from pursuing his dreams. “I decided to take my love for game shows and trivia out into the community,” he says. “From the very beginning, I wanted to make hosting events more fun, like a game show mixed with a party. Music, jokes, real moments that go beyond just reading questions off a cue card. It’s all about creating an experience where everyone leaves feeling like they had the time of their life.”
His business became the “missing link” of local entertainment, which inspired his business name—hosting events, private parties, fundraisers, weddings and more.
“One of my favorite memories from one of my MissingLink events was when I made a bad bet with the bar. We were doing some sort of hair-themed category for ‘Movember’. Like famous celebrity mustaches or something. I bet the crowd that if they bought 100 beers, I would shave my beard. The night was almost over, and I don’t think we even had broken 50 beers, so I got real cocky and gave in to their demands for the bet to include my scalp. As soon as I agreed, a regular stood up and recited the pre-war speech from Braveheart and the crowd rallied to buy over 50 more beers within minutes. The trivia night ended with them all shaving my head bald, and yes, there are pics!”
And there you have it, folks—a journey full of twists, laughs, and giant leaps of faith. Matt Leiva took the Double Dare of life, and instead of getting slimed, he found passion, purpose, and a paycheck by making people laugh.
It’s all about creating an experience where everyone leaves feeling like they had the time of their life.
