Mike Birbiglia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mike Birbiglia | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Michael Birbiglia |
| Born | June 20, 1978 Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, United States |
| Medium | Stand up comedy |
| Nationality | Italian-American |
| Genres | Deadpan, Sarcasm |
| Website | birbigs.com |
Mike Birbiglia is an Italian-American stand-up comic from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts who now resides in New York.
Contents |
[edit] College
In his sophomore year at Georgetown University, Mike won “The Funniest Man on Campus” contest earning him the chance to perform at the D.C. Improv. It was there that he would hone his act for 3 years, conveying his awkward experiences in a comic manner.
Mike's involvement with Georgetown's "Improv" group led to many lasting friendships and encounters that provided fodder for his signature routines. Many troupe members have moved on to pop culture comedy programs on E! and VH1.
[edit] Early career
Upon graduation, Mike took his act to New York City. In just one year, Mike broke into the city’s clubs, appeared on Comedy Central's “Premium Blend” and was chosen to perform in the “New Faces” category of Montreal’s prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, where he was a standout and attracted the attention of the booker for “Late Show with David Letterman.”
[edit] Personal
Mike has a sleepwalking disorder, and to protect himself, sleeps in a sleeping bag zipped all of the way up with special mittens so that he can not escape when he sleeps. He has related a story on “The Bob and Tom Show,” where he was in a second-floor hotel room when he had a life threatening incident while sleepwalking, where he jumped through his window in his room. His sleepwalking has been used as material in his stand up act.
[edit] Work
In December of 2002, Mike made his debut on The Late Show as one of the youngest comedians to perform on the show. Mike is now a regular on the late night talk shows and headlines clubs, theaters and Festivals across the country including the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle, the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Bonnaroo in Tennessee and Bulmer’s International Comedy Festival in Dublin, Ireland. He performs regularly in NYC at The Comedy Cellar, the UCB Theatre and the premiere downtown comedy show, “Invite Them Up.”
On February 5, 2004, Mike released his self-produced comedy CD, Dog Years, which was recorded live at the D.C. Improv.
In 2005, Mike became a regular, bi-weekly contributor to the syndicated radio show, “The Bob and Tom Show,” delivering live, on-air readings from his “Secret Public Journal,” a bi-weekly travelogue of his awkward adventures from his life on the road. In December of 2005, Mike released the CD, “My Secret Public Album, Volume 1a,” featuring the best-of his recordings of his “Secret Public Journal.”
On March 5, 2004, Mike premiered his first “Comedy Central Presents” half-hour stand-up special which was such a hit that Comedy Central asked Mike to do another special within two years. On March 3, 2006, Mike debuted his second “Comedy Central Presents” half-hour special which was recorded in December at The Hudson Theater in NYC.
On February 7, 2006, Mike released a CD/DVD compilation, Two Drink Mike, on the Comedy Central Records label, placing Mike on the Comedy Billboard chart and winning him new fans across the country. From February through May of 2006, Mike toured colleges across the country in his “Medium Man on Campus” tour. Conceived and produced by Mike and sponsored by Comedy Central, the tour featured Mike and some of his comedic friends from Comedy Central live in performance, direct from TV onto college campuses across the country.
Recently, Mike has been featured in commercials for Suddenlink Communications, a Top Ten MSO.
His comedic work is much admired in Germany and the Ukraine.
On July 21st, 2007, Mike recorded his newest comedy album, Secret Public Journal Live at the Funny Bone in Columbus, Ohio.
On November 14th 2007 Mike taped his 3rd Comedy Central Special, a one hour special called "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing" that brings to the small screen Mike's most popular Secret Public Journal Live bits to Television and is set to premiere February 9th 2008. The DVD of the same name drops in stores April 8th nationwide and includes the 80 minute uncut special along with a 30 minute behind the scenes documentary from Mike's 2006 Medium Man On Campus Tour.
In March 2008, CBS ordered a pilot for a potential TV series based on his work.[1]
[edit] Recent performances
From the tour, Mike created six “Secret Public Journal” video vignettes which are available on Comedy Central’s Motherload website. In fall 2006, he headlined the “Bob & Tom Comedy Tour” in theaters nationwide.
Has headlined the "Shredd and Ragan Comedy Series" in Buffalo, NY. That prompted the hosts to note he is a huge guitar mooch, because he's always borrowing a guitar before his show.
Mike made his film debut starring in Per Anderson’s Stanley Cuba and is developing a one-person show called “Sleepwalk with Me,” which he’s shaping into his next television special and CD.
[edit] Discography
- Dog Years February 5, 2004
- my secret public album / volume 1a - December 13, 2005
- Two Drink Mike February 9, 2006
- My Secret Public Journal Live September 25, 2007
[edit] References
[edit] External links
