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Matt Kirshen

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Matt Kirshen
Matt Kirshen performs at the 300th episode party for Skeptoid: Critical Analysis of Pop Phenomena podcast
Born1980 (age 43–44)
London, England, United Kingdom
MediumStand-up comedy, film, television
NationalityBritish
Years active2001–present
GenresStand-up comedy

Matt Kirshen (born 1980) is a British comedian. Kirshen has performed around the world, including Singapore, Dubai, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. In 2007, he enjoyed a successful run in NBC's Last Comic Standing.[1] Initially known for jokes poking fun at his young appearance, he has since turned his attention to more general, real world, and topical subjects, with a tightly-written style involving multiple "taglines" for every joke.[2] He is an alumnus of Clare College, Cambridge.[3][4]

Biography

Kirshen originates from North London, where he attended Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood. He subsequently studied Mathematics at Clare College, Cambridge University. University marked the beginning of his comedy career. At university, Kirshen briefly edited Clareification, a magazine in which students mocked Cambridge traditions, satirised the events of the week, reported on silly student antics, and spread college gossip. He also started a comedy club in Clare College cellars and became well known within the Cambridge University comedy scene. He compèred these "Clare Comedy" nights during the latter years of his degree, and has continued to return as guest compère, in addition to performing at the Clare May Ball. Prior to attempting stand-up, Kirshen earned some local notoriety as "The Wilf", in the double-act Crazy and The Wilf.[citation needed]

Since 2001, Kirshen has become a frequent performer at London clubs including the Comedy Store, and has completed several university tours. Kirshen was a finalist in So You Think You're Funny? at the 2003 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was named Hackney Empire New Act of the Year. In 2007, he was one of the final seven comics in NBC's reality TV show Last Comic Standing. In 2008, he recorded a 30-minute special for Paramount Comedy. In 2009, he co-wrote and starred in the BBC Radio 4 sketch comedy series Bigipedia. He also released an album entitled I Guess We'll Never Know,[5] which ranked in Punchline magazine's Top 10 comedy albums of 2009.[6] In an appearance on the podcast International Waters, he vowed that "the world has seen the last of The Wilf", although when pressed, he joked, "Well, I guess we'll never know", in reference to his album of the same name.[7] In 2016, Kirshen voiced Hugh on The Loud House episode "Study Muffin".

Ethnically an Ashkenazi Jew, he is a professed atheist.

Podcasts

Kirshen co-hosts a science-based comedy podcast called Probably Science.[8]

Kirshen appeared on StarTalk multiple times,[9] on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor podcast on 14 October 2015, The Carl Donnelly and Chris Martin Comedy Podcast on 3 July 2015,[10] and The Comedian's Comedian on 4 February 2016.[11]

Filmography

Comedy recordings

  • I Guess We'll Never Know (CD) - 5 May 2009

References

  1. ^ NBC
  2. ^ Chortle
  3. ^ Londonist
  4. ^ Guardian
  5. ^ Amazon
  6. ^ Punchline Magazine
  7. ^ International Waters: Episode 68 Suck It Brits! | Maximum Fun
  8. ^ Probably Science
  9. ^ https://www.startalkradio.net/tag/matt-kirshen/
  10. ^ Episode 128 With Matt Kirshen - All Things Comedy
  11. ^ 156 Matt Kirshen | The Comedian's Comedian
  12. ^ http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/startalk/videos/the-martian/
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