The 1990 graduate of Altoona Area High School is a fixture on the Rich Eisen Show, a sports program that is broadcast for three hours each weekday from Los Angeles on the Peacock Network, NBC Sports and YouTube.

Through his relationships and personality, Jefferson has networked his way onto a national stage.

He counts Hollywood icons Ashton Kutcher and Wilmer Valderrama among his best friends.

He lived with and was employed by both during his 20 years in Los Angeles, where he began working in a talent agency and then morphed into movie and TV production before getting connected as a “bridge” between his famous friends and their agents and managers.

Courtesy photo T.J. Jefferson was a guest at Michael Jordan’s golf tournament in 2012 and wound up driving him around.

“I’m very indebted to those two,” Jefferson, 48, said. “I don’t know that I’d be out here still if it wasn’t for them. At various points, both of the guys have been my landlords and employed me. They helped sustain me.”

As Kutcher’s “assistant” for nearly five years (2001-05), Jefferson would do “jobs around the house (in Beverly Hills), but it never felt like work because we were friends, and I lived there.”

He’d help with whatever, provide transportation and serve as a liaison for various projects, such as when lights were installed on the property’s basketball and tennis courts.

“I’ve traveled around the world with him,” Jefferson said.

Michael Jordan hosted an annual golf tournament and invited Kutcher, who doesn’t play. But he went anyway and brought along Jefferson, whose outfit and Air Jordan shoes caught the ex-NBA superstar’s eye.

One of Jefferson’s favorite photos is driving a golf cart with Jordan as his passenger. He also found himself at a bar one night with two famous hockey players on each side of him — Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.

“I regret that I didn’t get that picture,” Jefferson said.

Jefferson is the godfather to Kutcher’s daughter.

In fact, in winter 2010, Kutcher and then-wife Demi Moore were driving cross country when Jefferson got a call from Kutcher.

“He said, ‘Bro, is your mom at home? I’m going to drive to Altoona to meet her,”’ Jefferson said.

Linda Jefferson and her local friends were thrilled.

“I’m very proud of him,” she said the other day. “He was bound and determined to get out of Altoona and make something out of himself.”

Jefferson studied journalism at Point Park University and was a manager on the school’s basketball team before working in marketing at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

At every turn, he’d brag about Altoona.

Former Point Park roommate and close friend Paul Zeise, a P-G columnist and Pittsburgh sports talk-show host, said, “T.J. was and is a sports argument waiting to happen and one of the three funniest people I’ve ever met. He never forgot where he came from, as according to him, the five greatest basketball players ever are Johnny Moore, Doug West, Mike Iuzzolino, Dan Fortson and Steve Taneyhill.

“I’m not shocked at all at his success because he is more talented than just about anyone I’ve been around in 25 years in this business.”

Doug Pfeffer was on the Altoona Area High School newspaper, The Mountain Echo, with Jefferson.

“I met him in ninth grade at Keith, and we remained friends throughout high school,” Pfeffer said. “He had a passion, and I could tell he was a great writer and a good storyteller. He was a quiet kid in high school, and I think he’s come out of his shell.”

When his mother took him as a youngster to the grocery store, she would often find her son hanging out at the magazine rack.

“He likes to talk and likes to read,” Linda Jefferson said. “He’s a good kid. He never got in trouble in school or gave me any trouble.”

Jefferson’s grandfather, James Pearson, introduced him to pro wrestling, taking him to the Jaffa Shrine Center. The WWE, along with boxing, football, sports in general and pop culture are his areas of expertise.

Jefferson began with Eisen in a behind-the-scenes role as a social media producer in 2018. He’d promote the program through Twitter and Instagram — @toojiggy is his handle — and he’d meet and prepare guests prior to their appearances.

This past August, he was offered an expanded role — this one in front of the camera — and he’s made a smooth transition.

“T.J. just stood out — not only his ideas but his initiative and his want-to, and his personality is just infectious to be around,” Eisen, a former ESPN anchor who was the NFL Network’s first hire, said. “There was no doubt our producer in our midst was the right choice. He has such a perspective that I don’t have.”

Though he’s not a golfer, Jefferson opens the show by attempting a 15-foot putt in the studio.

“I’m not really into sports, but I watch every day … to see if he makes his putt,” Linda Jefferson said. “My brother, his uncle (Lee Pearson), just says, ‘I can’t believe he’s on TV.”’

Jefferson is often the first representative of Eisen’s crew, which also includes Chris Brockman and Mike Del Tufo, to greet interview subjects.

“He’s met everybody, and he knows everybody,” Eisen said. “He’s like the Forrest Gump of our show. He adds great flavor to everything. He’s truly a special person, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with him.”

Because of the coronavirus, this is the first year that Eisen and his mates haven’t done their show live from the Super Bowl.

Still, Jefferson pinches himself at his good fortune.

“I came here with no expectations, and it’s been 20 years,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know so many celebrities, and it’s been so much fun. I’ve been really blessed.”