Matt Kirshen

Matt Kirshen
File:Matt Kirshen.jpg Matt Kirshen performs at the 300th episode party for Skeptoid: Critical Analysis of Pop Phenomena podcast
Born	1980 (age 43–44) London, England
Medium	Stand up comedy, film, television
Nationality	British
Genres	Stand-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. 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. He is an alumnus of Clare College, Cambridge.

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. 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. Ethnically an Ashkenazi Jew, he is a professed atheist. 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", which ranked in Punchline magazine's Top 10 comedy albums of 2009.

Podcast Appearances

Kirshen co-hosts a science-based comedy podcast called "Probably Science"

Kirshen appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor podcast on 14 October 2015, The Carl Donnelly and Chris Martin Comedy Podcast 3 July 2015 and The Comedian's Comedian 4 February 2016.

Filmography

• Comedy Knockout, truTV (2016)
• John Wants Answers (2015)
• Legit (2014)
• Gotham Comedy Live (2014)
• The Nerdist (2013)
• Home and Family (2013)
• Set List - Stand-Up Without A Net (2013)
• The Brit List (2012)
• Observational Comedy Disorder (2012)
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2012)
• The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos (2012)
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2011)
• The Green Room with Paul Provenza (2011)
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2011)
• Global Comedians (2010)
• The Most Annoying People of 2009 (2009)
• Rude Tube (2008)
• The World Stands Up (2008)
• Last Comic Standing (2007)
• Comedy Cuts (2007)
• 28 Acts in 28 Minutes (2005)

Comedy recordings

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

External links

• Matt Kirshen at the Internet Movie Database
• Matt Kirshen on Twitter
• Matt Kirshen on Facebook
• Podcast interview about moving to America after Last Comic Standing
• Interview from November 2007