Interview: Comedian Kurt Braunohler
"In LA, there's fucking fruit hanging on every street corner."
Nailed Magazine conducted a series of interviews with comedians for the 2013 Bridgetown Comedy Fest in Portland, Oregon.
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NAILED: Recently, you made the move from New York to Los Angeles. What spurned the change?
KURT BRAUNOHLER: I got really into oranges. In NYC, oranges are great, but they’re too much like only in stores and shit? But I heard out here in LA, there’s fucking fruit hanging on every street corner. And guess what — they’re right. I can eat breakfast on my walk to work (just kidding I don’t have a job). And sometimes, I’ll just go into grocery stores and spit on the oranges they have for sale. Selling oranges in LA is like trying to sell sunshine.
NAILED: You and your writing partner Kristen Schaal brought your weekly comedy variety show out to LA. How is it functioning in its new home? Will you two be making any changes?
KURT BRAUNOHLER: Well, you know the LA crowd! They wouldn’t come unless they thought it was an audition. So, you know, we set up fake cameras and a sign in sheet at the door, and now it’s packed every night! Hooray for Hollywooooood!
NAILED: Not long ago, you told a story on This American Life about your first major relationship ending after you and your girlfriend decided to take a break and sleep with other people. Now that the story has aired far and wide, how’s your dating life?
KURT BRAUNOHLER: 5 words. Knee deep in one-thousand pounds of pussy, brah. (Honestly, it’s creepy and weird to be this deep in pussy. You think it’s gonna’ be fun when someone says you’ll be knee-deep, but then you get here and you’re like, maybe knee deep is too deep for pussy? You know? And it gets a little scary. Like if I slipped, I might suffocate. I dunno how much I like it honestly).
NAILED: Whose shows are you looking forward to checking out at the Bridgetown Comedy festival in Portland this year?
KURT BRAUNOHLER: Local comic Ian Karmel opened for me for my album recording in Portland he was just so great. I’m excited to see him. And Emily Heller from NYC is fantastic. And Eliza Skinner always makes me laugh.
NAILED: After Bridgetown, what can look forward to seeing and hearing from you?
KURT BRAUNOHLER: My record on Kill Rock Stars comes out this summer!
NAILED: When was the last time you nailed it?
KURT BRAUNOHLER: This past weekend I ate Chinese food for every meal for 24 hours and never moved from my friend’s couch, just passing in and out of consciousness. NAILED IT!
Kurt Braunohler was recently named one of Variety’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch” as well as Time Out NY’s “50 Funniest New Yorkers”. He was even named another “Comic to Watch” by Comedy Central and the New York Comedy Festival. Kurt has been seen (or heard) on TV on Bunk (IFC), Chelsea Lately, Bob’s Burgers (FOX), Delocated (Adult Swim), John Oliver’s NY Stand Up Show, The Heart She Holler (Adult Swim), Comedy Central Presents, Jon Benjamin Has a Van (Comedy Central), Assy McGee (Adult Swim), and Human Giant (MTV). He can also be heard on the radio on This American Life.
As far as stages, Kurt has performed at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival, Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and Chicago, New York Comedy Festival (named a “Comic to Watch”), SXSW, Bonaroo, 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) and he once performed at Radio City Music Hall.
Kurt co-hosts the bi-coastal variety show, Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen.
This interview was conducted during Portland’s annual Bridgetown Comedy Fest, which takes place on the weekend of April 18 – 21, 2013. Click here for information on shows that feature Kurt Braunohler during the 2013 festival. [Photo Via: Tumblr]
