Our Q&A with Matt Braunger: A Foothold In Comedy Freedom
Matt Braunger
Brazenly imaginative. Versatile. Honestly inspired. Welcome to the comedy of Matt Braunger.
Raised in Portland, Oregon, this 6’4, 225 lbs. quintuple threat (acter, writer, improv, sketch, and stand up), is living the self-realized dream of every aspiring comic: getting paid to be original.
He’s toured with the infamous Twitter legend @DadBoner during their Live tour. He was a series regular of MADtv. He co-founded the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland. His podcast, Ding-Donger, is 15-mins of no-holds-barred entertainment. When Matt talks- people want to listen. How great is that?!
But we’re not the only ones who think he’s worth watching. In 2009, he was named to Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watchand Comedy Central’s Hot 9 in ‘09 list. His debut album Soak Up The Night was named the iTunes REWIND Top 20 Albums of 2009. He’s had a half-hour Comedy Central Presents special in 2010, and just released his debut hour-long special, Shovel Fighter, earlier this year. He’s performed at Just For Laughs, SXSW, is a regular at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles.
On TV, Matt’s credits include a recurring role on NBC’s UP ALL NIGHT, and as well as appearances on CONAN, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and slew of acting parts on other shows. He even plays himself as a regular guest on the Chelsea Lately round-table.
Luckily, while he’s in town to perform 2 shows, Saturday, November 16, at Comedy Bar, we got the chance to talk to theDel Close alumni about superpowers, MADtv, and his time headlining…uhm, @DadBoners.
You were a cast member of MADtv in its final season where you showcased a ton of impersonations (like Charlie Sheen, Andy Griffin, and Jimmy Kimmel). What was it like performing on such an iconic sketch show?
Well, thing is I HAD to do those impressions because I was one of only two white males in the whole cast. Eric Price and me. It was great, but bittersweet. The show had only gotten picked up for half a season when I got hired, so most of us knew we had an axe hanging over our heads. That aside, a really amazing work environment and experience.
Did a sketch ever go wrong? What happened?
Things went wrong all the time, but that’s how it goes with live performances. The difference between live television (with the exception of SNL, of course) and plays is that you can go “Okay, let’s start again” or make a joke to the audience. People like seeing how the process happens, generally speaking.
Was there someone on cast who always made everyone else laugh? Who cracked you up?
Everybody was funny, but Keegan Michael-Key was just ridiculous. He has a really infectious energy that makes everyone want to come to work, and he loves to laugh. I always like working with people who like to be entertained too. So many performers forget to have fun.
Ok- stay with us on this one: you’ve done Conan, Letterman, Ferguson, John Oliver’s Stand Up New York, among others- each having its own vibe and intensity. If the shows were superheroes, what would their powers be?
Okay, wow. Umm, I guess Letterman is Superman, the strongest of all. Conan is Spiderman, of course..obvi. Ferguson is Batman, because he’s on super late. John Oliver’s Stand-Up Show is the X-Men because there’s a bunch of people on there with different “powers.” So is Live at Gotham…I’ll just lump them in there too.
How do you feel you’ve changed since releasing your first album, Soak Up The Night, back in 2009 and your recent 1-hour Comedy Central Presents special? What are you currently focusing on developing on-stage?
I’ve tried to make my stuff more personal and real. I like absurdist, Steve Martin-type stuff, but I’m trying to put more of myself into the act. I have a new hour I’m fleshing out and developing, currently. Should make a new special and record in the next couple of months. We’ll see.
What compelled you to co-found the Bridgetown Comedy Festival?
I co-founded the Bridgetown Comedy Festival to have a comedy festival in my hometown that showcases huge acts and unknowns in, hopefully, somewhat equal measure. It’s a great city that loves the arts that I grew up in, and it’s something that Andy Wood made possible and I helped with. I’m really proud of it.
You just finished touring as a Featured Guest on the @DadBoner Live Tour. What was that like?
Oh, man, the Dadboner Tour has been so great. We went all over the Midwest, two dates in the South, three dates on the East coast, and we’re finishing with three dates in the Northwest. Karl (aka Dadboner) is a character Mike Burns created on Twitter about a guy who’s sick of his family and just wants to party. Basically, a horrible person. Mike hosts the show, reading “Karl’s” writing, then two local comics perform, then I headline. Everybody reads from the Dadboner book at the end of their set. It’s awesome watching someone who is nothing like Karl read his stuff.
Which comedians make you laugh?
WAY too many to mention, but let’s go with up and comers. Ron Funches, Ian Karmel, Emily Heller, Randy Liedke, MIchael Che, Tom Brady (that’s his name, he’s in Indiana), Brooks Whellan, Mike Lawrence, Aparna Nancherla.
Why did you start your Ding-Donger podcast? What’s your favorite aspect of it?
Oh man, it’s just super fun. I call it that because it’s just a stupid, self-indulgent thing, a 15-minute podcast with no guests. Actually, mainly because I told people the idea for the name and they all laughed. Basically, I try to make it an entertaining 15 minutes for whoever’s listening. I jump into your car or ipod or whatever, talk a while, then jump out.
Check him out Online: http://mattbraunger.com/
On Twitter: @Braunger
Live Shows: December 18-21 @ Comedy Bar.
