Showing results by author "Eugene Mirman" in All Categories

[Contains explicit content] David Cross (Mr. Show, Arrested Development) is a pillar of the comedy world, but even a man who is known for acerbic, often political standup and metatextual, intricate sketch writing can still have a soft spot for a good old-fashioned prank. Eugene Mirman brought David onstage at the NYC Podfest to revisit the impromptu execution of that practical joke and ask him questions about how it all played out. Live from New York it's Hold On with Eugene Mirman!

[Contains explicit content] Jonah Ray (Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail) is the exact sort of guy you would expect to find working in a record store. You might also expect that 9/11/2001 was not a great day to have to go to work, but what you might not expect is that Jonah's workday had its own unpleasant surprises. Tragedy plus time equals comedy and host Eugene Mirman brought Jonah into the studio to go over his experiences on that infamous day.

[Contains explicit content] In 2016, intrepid comedian Eugene Mirman had the audacity to put Montreal's Just For Laughs Festival on hold so he could bring comedians onstage to tell funny stories and answer funny questions. One such comedian was the prolific stand-up comic, writer, and ironic re-tweeter, Joe Mande (Parks and Recreation, The Good Place, Kroll Show), whose story of gaming Twitter gets scrutinized on this live episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman.

[Contains explicit content] Host Eugene Mirman sits down with comedian and writer Sara Benincasa (Agorafabulous!: Dispatches From My Bedroom) to discuss all of the details behind the story she told at a RISK! show in New York. Her featured story deals with one of the funniest conversations anyone could have at a funeral. Learn more about the unusual Benincasa family trade and discover which glam rocker's family actually owns a funeral home.

[Contains explicit content] Josh Gondelman, standup comedian and writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, sits down with Eugene Mirman to go behind the scenes of a story about a post-show dalliance gone awry. In this tale from Bad Date Great Story, Josh’s unplanned hookup leads to a quest to prevent an unplanned pregnancy and things get a little weird along the way.

[Contains explicit content] If you tell a performer like Mary Lynn Rajskub to "hold that thought" while they're telling a funny story, you might get kicked out of the show you're attending. Not so if you're Eugene Mirman holding up Mary Lynn's hilarious live story. He didn't get kicked out of the Just for Laughs Montreal recording of Hold On with Eugene Mirman — in fact, he was allowed to ask as many questions as he wanted about Mary Lynn's unintentional brush with the oldest profession.

[Contains explicit content] Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer, Ratatouille) joined Eugene Mirman onstage in San Francisco for a live edition of Hold On, and now you get to hear her story and the questions it raised! Janeane recounts how rambling became a hobby and how her impromptu excursions have helped her reflect on what she wants in life.

[Contains explicit content] Sasheer Zamata (Saturday Night Live, Sasheer Zamata Party Time) went to a Christian elementary school where discipline-by-paddle was a looming threat for ill-behaved students. Reflecting upon the inconsistencies of parochial punishment from an adult's perspective, Sasheer found a lot to question about how and why paddlings were meted out, as you can hear in the story she told for RISK!

[Contains explicit content] You might think it's in the job description for political comedians like John Fugelsang to take powerful politicians down a peg or two, but during the 2012 election, John learned it's not always the best idea to ask the tough questions. Host Eugene Mirman finds out how the struggling new father made his mark on the Romney-Obama presidential race and what it did to his career, as the two dig into John's story on this politically-charged episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman.

Dave Hill (author of Tasteful Nudes and Dave Hill Doesn't Live Here Anymore, host of The Goddamn Dave Hill Show on WFMU) could probably shred a little death metal if you asked him, but that doesn't make him an expert on death.

[Contains explicit content] Julie Klausner (Difficult People, author of I Don't Care About Your Band) is a sharp-tongued comedian whose ability to dress down celebrities is well documented. When caught off guard by a rude stranger when she was visiting Italy, Julie responded in a less articulate but no less effective manner. Eugene Mirman brought her into the studio to share the ordeal and have a few laughs about it.

[Contains explicit content] Reggie Watts (The Late Late Show) is a comedic genius and musical mastermind, but he’s not a rude dude. Stopping a person telling a story is a rude dude thing to do...unless they're a guest on an episode of Hold On and you happen to be a master story-disrupter, like Eugene Mirman. In this excellent episode of his storytelling series, Eugene cuts into Reggie's thrilling tale of mushrooms and bathrooms to politely prod for more detail.

[Contains explicit content] San Francisco in the late '80s was a real swinging place - sometimes literally, as was the case during the Loma Prieta earthquake. Seasoned improviser, actor, and comedian Greg Proops (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) remembers being in the city as it was thrown into chaos in this harrowing episode of Hold On with Eugene Mirman.

[Contains explicit content] Storytelling can bring together people from many different cultures and, at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, it brought together Eugene Mirman and Gad Elmaleh for a special live recording of Hold On. Montreal was a fitting place to hear the tale of Gad's transition from the French tradition of live comedy to a more casual North American stand-up style. It's also fitting that Eugene was on hand to casually interject with thoughtful and funny questions.

[Contains explicit content] Comedian Kurt Braunohler (IFC's Bunk, Audible's Wedlock) once found enlightenment in the oddest of places: an Apple store bathroom. There, the seeds of inspiration were planted in his mind and he decided to take an unconventional break from his (then) long-term relationship. Eugene Mirman sat Kurt down to hear how that unusual plant went and to ask a few burning questions.

[Contains explicit content] Moving back in with your parents is rarely a sign that your life is going in the right direction. On this episode of Hold On, host Eugene Mirman sits down with comedian Matt Braunger to hear a funny, but cautionary tale about a pivotal time in Matt's life. Hear why he was forced to live with his folks and what it meant for his relationship with them and his stand-up comedy career.

[Contains explicit content] Josie Long is an award-winning comedian, but that doesn't mean she has accomplished everything in life that she'd like to. For example, she hasn't settled down with anyone or had any kids, and sometimes air travel proves a little difficult. She joined Eugene Mirman in the studio to discuss a story about life, love, and growing up. She originally told it at the Soho Theatre for her Cara Josephine stand-up special. Adorkable!

[Contains explicit content] Mike Lawrence is an excellent comedic competitor on shows like @Midnight and Roast Battle, but his adversaries on those shows might set their sights on his pre-comedy pursuits for japes and jabs if only they knew...in high school he was big into slam poetry. Thankfully, Eugene Mirman is a friendly fellow who's curiosity trumps any temptation to mock. Mike shared his story of coming up through the slam poetry open mic scene in Florida in a story for RISK!

Eugene Mirman ventures once more into the Great White North to hold court over another night of storytelling at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival.

[Contains explicit content] Will Arnett presents Hold On, a comedy storytelling show where host Eugene Mirman interrupts his special guest comedians to get them to divulge new details. This episode was recorded at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and features special guests Cameron Esposito, Joe Mande and Mary Lynn Rajskub.