He was the title star of a short-lived UPN sitcom called DiResta from 1998-1999. He has appeared in several films, including Miss Congeniality and its sequel, Armed and Fabulous. In 2004 he got a show on FX called Trash for Cash where he and his brother Jimmy DiResta went around buying or finding cheap garbage. Jimmy would build whatever was needed and John would be a wiseguy cracking jokes. It lasted one season.
Currently, he co-hosts a show with his brother on HGTV. Hammered with John and Jimmy DiResta premiered September 16, 2006. Jimmy DiResta, an inventor and carpenter, builds intricate projects while John makes jokes. Hammered is currently airing its second season.
John grew up in the Five Towns area of Long Island, with two brothers and one sister and graduated from Hewlett High School in 1982. Several years ago, he was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame.