Career
He is widely known as host of În gura presei (The Talk of The Press) a show based on the daily news, that airs on Antena 3. Badea started as a radio host, but later branched into television as a co-host of the Tele 7 abc Bună dimineața, România (Good Morning, Romania) morning show. Together with Bună dimineața, România co-host Teo Trandafir, he went on to work for the Intact Media Group and host a show on Antena 1, called Dimineaţa devreme (Early morning), and then hosted another show on Antena 1 called Teo şi Mircea Şou (Teo & Mircea Show).
He has also had several film roles as an actor.
Badea became the host of În gura presei on Antena 3 in late 2004. Together with longtime friend Călin Stanciu, he is a co-executive-producer of the show.
After Badea started În gura presei, he steadily gained popularity and critical acclaim, which also led to enduring controversy and resentment amongst various Romanian media personalities. Badea has gained significant acclaim as an acerbic, satirical critic of Romanian politics and Romanian media outlets, in particular the coverage of Realitatea television, Evenimentul Zilei or România Liberă.
In spite of its self-professed satire mandate, În Gura Presei and Badea himself have been nominated for a number of entertainment, news and journalism awards.
Badea was born in 1974 in Bucharest and attended the Tudor Vianu National High School of Computer Science in the early 90s. After graduating, he enrolled as a computer science student at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. Jana Gheorghiu, a very well known Romanian journalist and a family friend, got him his first job as a radio host in the early 90s.
He is a frequent critic of president Traian Băsescu, who in turn made a video clip ridiculing Badea.
The video clip begins with president Basescu saying "it"s raining outside", followed by a long diatribe of an actor looking like Badea complaining that the rain is supported by taxpayers" money. Badea aired a response the same day, which turned the satire on its head by asking a long series of politically inconvenient questions for the president, to which the "it"s raining outside" presidential non-answer is played back.
The exchange has received widespread media coverage. He pretended to fight against the Romanian pugilist Leonard Doroftei on an Antena1 television charity show
Follows martial artists and practices some as hobby as well as holding a rubber bullet gun licence
Doesn"t like the month of December due to its demands on his professional life and the over the top celebrations
He satires the traditions associated with marriage as well as distances himself from strong religious beliefs.