[media-credit name=’BEN CLASSON/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]Amid active physical challenges, card tricks and bloopers, a popular television personality shared his road to success — and the many challenges he encountered along the way — at the Union Theater Monday night.

Nostalgically known for hosting the Nickelodeon programs "What Would You Do?" and "Double Dare," Marc Summers, the current host of Food Network's "Unwrapped" and "Dinner: Impossible," discussed his early work on TV and the motivation he used to succeed.

"No one's going to wake up and say 'I want to give Marc Summers a job,'" Summers said. "It's up to me to find out how to make that happen for myself."

Summers said he auditioned for the host of "Double Dare" with more than 2,000 people, and the show succeeded primarily through "playground talk" — young kids talking about the show at school.

Summers also discussed his personal struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder as well as how the media's reaction to his public disclosure affected his career.

"You keep it secret because you don't know what it is, and you think that if you tell someone about it, they'll put you in the loony bin," Summers said.

Summers said he was unable to get jobs after he talked publicly about his condition during an interview with a psychologist who appeared on one of his shows.

After therapy and being temporarily medicated, Summers said his OCD is now 80 percent controlled, although he added issues arrive during moments of stress.

Describing his career at Food Network as the "coolest" job he has ever had, Summers said the passion his colleagues have for food is remarkable.

"Cooking and food is first, and television is second," Summers said.

Jacey Bader, a member of the Jewish Cultural Collective, which sponsored Monday's event, said Summers was selected to speak because of his appeal to college-aged students.

"He appealed to a broad audience," Bader said. "Because we all grew up with and remember 'Double Dare' — and now there are a lot of Food Network groupies — we thought it would be a cool event."

Bader added that the program included a "good mixture between sad, dramatic and serious" topics, but also succeeded in making people laugh.

Jewish Cultural Collective member Andrew Rubin said Summers had a strong message that included issues surrounding Summers' Jewish heritage.

"His talk about how you need to step up and put yourself out there in order to get what you want — I think that's really applicable, especially to a student crowd," Rubin said.

Summers also offered advice for prospective entertainers.

"Get as much experience as you possibly can," Summers said. "Give out your resources for free and get your foot in the door."

Summers also suggested that Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel should revert back to "cool and hip" game shows.

"The biggest problem now is that there are no live humans that people can identify with," Summers said. "You can't pick up Sponge Bob and have a conversation with him."

As for his first visit to Madison, Summers said the whole city is filled with "energy."

Summers said his motives for working in the entertainment industry went beyond money.

"I never got in this business to get rich and famous," Summers said. "I did it because I have a passion for it."