Kurt Braunohler (born February 22, 1976)[1] is an American comedian and co-host of the podcast Bananas on Exactly Right Podcast Network. He was previously the host of IFC's comedy game show Bunk and has appeared on Comedy Central, This American Life, and Radiolab.[2] Braunohler is a frequent collaborator with Kristen Schaal, with whom he created the web series Penelope Princess of Pets.[3]

Kurt Braunohler
Braunohler performing in 2013
Born (1976-02-22) February 22, 1976 (age 48)
Neptune, New Jersey, United States
Occupation(s)Comedian, host
Notable workThe K Ohle with Kurt Braunohler, Bunk
Spouse
Lauren Cook
(m. 2014)
Websitewww.kurtbraunohler.com

Career edit

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 2008.

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 with Kristen Schaal, which was voted "Best Variety Show of 2005" by Time Out NY's reader poll.[4]

In 2017, Braunohler had a supporting role in the widely acclaimed movie The Big Sick.[5]

Standup edit

 
Braunohler and Kristen Schaal on stage at SXSW Comedy Fest, 2010

Braunohler was named one of Variety's "Top 10 Comics to Watch" in 2012, as well as Time Out NY's "50 Funniest New Yorkers".[6][7] Among other venues Braunohler has performed at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival, The Comedy Festival, Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and Chicago, New York Comedy Festival (named a "Comic to Watch"), SXSW, Bonnaroo, 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).[8]

Braunohler's debut comedy album, How Do I Land? was released by Kill Rock Stars on August 20, 2013.[9][10] The album was recorded live on February 13, 2013, in Seattle, Washington, and February 14, 2013, in Portland, Oregon.[8] 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 the album.[11]

Radio and podcasts edit

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.[12] 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.[13] Braunohler also hosted The K Ohle with Kurt Braunohler podcast on the Nerdist network,[14] as well as its spin-off, Emotional Hangs, with co-host Joe DeRosa. He has since become the co-host of Bananas, a podcast on Exactly Right Podcast Network.[15]

In 2014, Braunohler guest starred in the episode "Namer vs. Namer" of John Hodgman's podcast Judge John Hodgman.[16]

TV and digital media edit

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. He has also performed on Comedy Central's John Oliver Presents.[8] Braunohler was active on Vine, and was named one of the best comedians using the video phone app by Funny or Die.[17]

Braunohler's first television special premiered on Comedy Central on March 3, 2017.[18][19][20]

Personal life edit

Braunholer lived in Asbury Park, New Jersey, before moving to Neptune City, New Jersey, and graduating from Christian Brothers Academy in 1994.[21] He majored in both English and philosophy at Johns Hopkins University.[22] He became engaged to Lauren Cook in April 2014, and the two were married on September 28, 2014.[20][23]

Discography edit

  • How Do I Land? (2013)[10]
  • Trust Me (2017)[24]
  • Fire Crotch, Icy Bottom (2020)
  • Banana hammock summer (2020)

References edit

  1. ^ "Best Of: Arts & Entertainment". The Village Voice. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  2. ^ Petski, Denise (2021-01-28). "Pushing' Birth Center Workplace Comedy From Kurt Braunohler & Lauren Cook In Works At NBC". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  3. ^ Spitznagel, Eric (14 May 2010). "Kristen Schaal Hopes Her Toy Story Fans Don't Buy Her New Sex Book". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  4. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe (2022-05-11). "The Den Theatre to Present Comedian Kurt Braunohler". Broadway World. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  5. ^ "Here Are Some Highlights from the Big Sick's Promotional Stand-up Tour". August 2017.
  6. ^ Schenker, Andrew (24 July 2012). "Braunohler: Cut-up puts absurdist spin on gameshow format". Variety. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  7. ^ Feldman, Adam; Mathew Love; Tim Lowery; Amy Plitt (26 April 2012). "50 funniest New Yorkers". Time Out New York. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b c "Kurt Braunohler To Record Comedy Album For Kill Rock Stars". Kill Rock Stars. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Kurt Braunohler's Debut Album 'How Do I Land?' Out August 20th". Kill Rock Stars. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Kurt Braunohler – How Do I Land?". Discogs. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  11. ^ Vankin, Deborah (22 March 2013). "Comedian Kurt Braunohler aims for the sky with his latest joke". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  12. ^ "457: What I Did For Love". This American Life. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Loops". Radiolab. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  14. ^ "The K-Ohle with Kurt Braunohler". Nerdist. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  15. ^ "Comedian Kurt Braunohler is Finding All The 'Bananas' News in His New Podcast". Cheddar. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Judge John Hodgman Episode 143: Namer vs. Namer". Judge John Hodgman. Maximum Fun. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
  17. ^ Heisler, Steve (5 February 2013). "The Best, If Not Only, Comedians Using Vine". Funny Or Die. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  18. ^ Techler, Graham (3 March 2017). "Kurt Braunohler's Trust Me is a Confident Mainstream Debut". Paste. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  19. ^ Kozell, Isaac (3 March 2017). "Kurt Braunohler Doesn't Want You to Trust Him". Splitsider. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  20. ^ a b Ham, Robert (3 March 2017). "Kurt Braunohler Gets Serious-ish on Trust Me". Paste. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  21. ^ Keller, Ilana. "Comedian Kurt Braunohler wants to recreate this Asbury Park dance studio photo. Can you help?", Asbury Park Press,November 18, 2019. Accessed December 30, 2023. "Braunohler estimates the photo was taken around 1981 or 1982. He lived in Asbury Park until moving to Neptune, and was a member of Christian Brothers Academy's Class of 1994."
  22. ^ Kelly, Quinn. "Comedian Kurt Braunohler turns to Baltimore for creative inspiration", The Baltimore Sun, April 20, 2016. Accessed December 30, 2023. "Kurt Braunohler didn't spend much time living in Baltimore, but the city left an indelible mark. As an English and philosophy double major at the Johns Hopkins University, Braunohler lived on Maryland Avenue, and, with his friends, started a punk organization and played basement shows with a bunch of local bands."
  23. ^ "The K Ohle #59: Get Lost With Rob Huebel". Nerdist. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  24. ^ "Trust Me - Kurt Braunohler". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 March 2017.

External links edit