Kurt Braunohler

Kurt Braunohler performing in 2013.

Kurt Braunohler (born February 22) is an American comedian and host of The K Ohle with Kurt Braunohler podcast on the Nerdist network. He was previously the host of IFC's comedy game show Bunk and has appeared on Comedy Central, This American Life, and Radiolab. Braunohler is a frequent collaborator with Kristen Schaal, with whom he created the web series Penelope Princess of Pets.

Biography

Kurt Braunohler was born in Neptune, New Jersey. He attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He got engaged in April 2014 and later got married on September 28, 2014.[1]

Live comedy

Kurt named one of Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch” in 2012, as well as Time Out NY’s “50 Funniest New Yorkers”.[2][3] Among other venues Kurt has performed at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival, Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and Chicago, New York Comedy Festival (named a “Comic to Watch”), SXSW, Bonaroo, All Tomorrow’s Parties, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (IF.Comedy Award nominee), Melbourne Comedy Festival (Barry Award Winner), the HBO Vegas Comedy Festival, the Chicago Improv Festival (“Improv Ensemble of the Year” Award Winner). His debut comedy album How Do I Land? was released on 20 August 2013.[4]

Radio and podcasts

In February 2012 Braunohler was featured episode 457 of This American Life, "What I Did For Love," where he discussed his experience bringing the concept of rumspringa to his monogamous relationship of 13 years.[5] He and his comedy partner Kristen Schaal also appeared on the "Loops" episode of Radiolab in October 2011, and in 2009 the two hosted "High Five! with Kurt and Kristen" on the Sirius XM Satellite Radio Raw Dog Channel.[6] Braunohler currently hosts The K Ohle with Kurt Braunohler podcast on the Nerdist network.[7]

In 2014, Braunohler guest starred in the episode "Namer vs. Namer" of John Hodgman's podcast Judge John Hodgman.[8]

TV and digital media

In 2012 Braunohler hosted the improv game show Bunk on the Independent Film Channel. Since 2012 Braunohler has been an occasional voice contributor to Fox's animated series Bob's Burgers, and he is a frequent roundtable guest on the E! network show Chelsea Lately. Kurt is active on Vine, and was named one of the best comedians using the video phone app by Funny or Die.[9]

Background

Braunohler's first major project was the performance project Kurtbot. This was a series of street comedy sketches along with an accompanying website. He had more success with the street theatre project Chengwin. His work with the group earned a number of awards, including being voted by the Village Voice as "Best Hilarious Insane Guerilla Theatre" in 2003.

In 2004, Braunohler began the Neutrino Video Projects. His work with the group garnered widespread praise, and in 2005 the group traveled to the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, as well as to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. The Neutrino Video Projects were awarded "Improv Ensemble of the Year" by the Chicago Improv Festival in 2004.

In 2005, Braunohler began co-hosting Hot Tub, which was voted “Best Variety Show of 2005” by Time-Out New York’s readers poll. Since then, Braunohler has performed on Comedy Central's John Oliver Presents, The Comedy Festival, Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and Chicago, New York Comedy Festival (where he was named a "Comic to Watch"), SXSW, Bonaroo, All Tomorrow’s Parties, the Chicago Improv Festival and the Radio City Music Hall.[10]

In 2013, the record label Kill Rock Stars announced that they will be releasing Braunohler's debut comedy album which was recorded live on February 13, 2013 in Seattle, Washington and February 14, 2013 in Portland, Oregon.[10] In March 2013, Braunohler completed a successful $4,000 Kickstarter campaign by hiring a professional pilot to skywrite “How Do I Land?” in Southern California, in promotion of his upcoming album with Kill Rock Stars.[11]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nerdist.com/pepisode/the-k-ohle-59-get-lost-with-rob-huebel/
  2. ↑ "Braunohler: Cut-up puts absurdist spin on gameshow format". Variety. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Feldman, Adam; Mathew Love; Tim Lowery; Amy Plitt (26 April 2012). "50 funniest New Yorkers". Time Out New York. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "KURT BRAUNOHLER'S DEBUT ALBUM "HOW DO I LAND?" OUT AUGUST 20TH". Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  5. ↑ http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/457/what-i-did-for-love
  6. ↑ "Loops". Radiolab. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "The K-Ohle with Kurt Braunohler". Nerdist Industries. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  8. ↑ MaxFun Intern (15 January 2014). "Judge John Hodgman Episode 143: Namer vs. Namer". Maximum Fun. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  9. ↑ http://www.funnyordie.com/lists/f2d17bd8eb/the-best-if-not-only-comedians-using-vine?playlist=featured_pictures_and_words
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Kurt Braunohler To Record Comedy Album For Kill Rock Stars". Kill Rock Stars. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  11. ↑ Vankin, Deborah. "Comedian Kurt Braunohler aims for the sky with his latest joke". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 March 2013.

External links