Jeffrey L. Gurian

Jeffrey L. Gurian
Born (1956-12-29) December 29, 1956
New York City
Alma mater Hunter College and Temple University
Occupation Dentist and Comedian
Years active 1975 to present
Website http://comedymatterstv.com/

Jeffrey L. Gurian (born December 29, 1956) is an American stand-up comedian, comedy writer, and dentist. He is a former writer for Rodney Dangerfield, Joan Rivers, Phil Hartman, Richard Belzer, Jerry Lewis, 'Andrew "Dice" Clay,', Robin Williams, George Wallace, and Milton Berle, and many more as well as many Friars Roasts. Gurian is also the author of two books, Filthy, Funny, and Totally Offensive and Make 'Em Laugh. He got his start writing comedy from people on Saturday Night Live, and was Patrice O'Neal's co-host on The Black Phillip Show. He is a regular on Sirius XM's Bennington Show ( formerly Ron and Fez) where he appears on air and also brings on special celebrity guests like Trevor Noah, Russell Peters, Lisa Lampanelli, Colin Quinn, Artie Lange, Susie Essman, Danny Aiello, Tony Danza and many more! He writes a weekly column in The Interrobang, a huge comedy website called "Jumping Around With Jeffrey Gurian" in which he covers what goes on in the NY comedy scene. He's the host of Comedy Matters TV, a YouTube channel with over 400 video interviews he's done with A-list comedians like Jimmy Fallon, Chelsea Handler, Jon Stewart, Amy Schumer, Amy Poehler, Lisa Lampanelli, Judd Apatow, and so many more with well over one million views and rising steadily. He moderated an AOL Build talk lat the request of Lisa Lampanelli, and has been seen on several episodes of Comedy Central's Kroll Show in scenes with Nick Kroll, and John Mulaney (Too Much Tuna), and in the Blisteritos sketch with Seth Rogen, Jenny Slate, Amy Poehler, Laura Dern, and Katy Perry.

Early life

Jeffrey Gurian was born in the Bronx borough of New York City to parents Raymond Gurian, a liquor salesman, and Marjorie Gurian in 1956. Gurian attended William Taft High School and Hunter College for post-secondary school. After college, Gurian graduated from the Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University in 1975. There, he is reported to have been "in constant trouble over his coiffure, his clothes and his laid-back lifestyle" according to the New York Times.[1]

Dental career

After graduation, Gurian became a practicing dentist in the field of Cosmetic dentistry, specializing in correcting teeth that have been misshapen by birth defects, drugs such as tetracycline or conditions like obsessive teeth grinding."[1] Gurian maintained a dental practice in New York City until 1996, in the neighborhood of Gazetteer.[2] He then became an Assoc. Clinical Prof. at N.Y.U. College of Dentistry in the Oral Medicine/Oro-Facial Pain Department, until 2011.

Comedy career

Jeff Gurian with Woody Allen at the Make Em Laugh book release

Gurian has stated that, "From the age of 12, I wanted to be both a dentist and a comedy writer ... No one knows why, not even me, but it might have something to do with my parents who were the only Jewish couple in the Bronx who didn't want a doctor in the family." As a dentist he has toured the United States lecturing on the subject since the 1980s. When asked about the balance of his two careers in 1992, he wrote, "I am indeed a serious dentist and a serious comedy writer."[1] Early in his career, Gurian wrote jokes performed by comedians including, Dick Capri, Freddie Roman, Dick Shawn, Jerry Lewis, Richard Belzer, Robin Williams, David N. Dinkins and Milton Berle, who stated of Gurian that, "I think he has a great comic sense ... He knows what's funny and what's not, most of the time. I took him under my wing, and gave him the dos and don'ts of what to write and what not to write." Berle also sponsored Gurian's membership in the New York Friars Club. Gurian was introduced to Berle by Rodney Dangerfield, whom Gurian worked for as Dangerfield first began to gain a national profile in the United States.[1][3][4][5][6] He met Dangerfield through his connection to Alan Zweibel of Saturday Night Live, after which Dangerfield used jokes from Gurian on several of Dangerfield's appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and one of Dangerfield's comedy albums.[7] Gurian has also provided jokes to be read by individuals such as the Mayor of New York City,[1] and wrote jokes for stage scripts for Jackie Mason.[8] He also claims to have worked with Phil Hartman and Joan Rivers.[9] HIs website is http://www.comedymatterstv.com

Publishing

Jeff Gurian with his book Make Em Laugh

Gurian is a former contributor to New York Comedy World,[10] Laugh Spin and Punchline Magazine.[11] He is also the co-author of the book Filthy, Funny and Totally Offensive.[12] In 2013, Gurian released a book entitled Make 'Em Laugh: 35 Years of the Comic Strip, the Greatest Comedy Club of All Time. The book traces the history of the Comic Strip Live comedy club in New York City, from its opening in 1976 forwards. Gurian spent four years researching the history of the club in order to complete the manuscript, research that included interviewing about fifty of the significant comedians to work at the club, including Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Ray Romano and Jerry Seinfeld, who first started their stand-up careers at the club. Comedian Chris Rock, wrote the forward for the book.

Film career

In 2003, Gurian wrote the short comedy film I Am Wo y about a mob boss who survives an attempt on his life, then wakes with amnesia and the believes he is Woody Allen. The film won the Best Short Film award at the 2003 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival and best actor, going to John Glenn Hoyt.[13] In 2012, Gurian co-produced a documentary called The Business of Comedy,[3] which was shown at festivals including the Gold Coast International Film Festival.[14][15] He has also been a writer for the New York Friars Club roasts of Jerry Stiller, Hugh Hefner and Rob Reiner broadcast on Comedy Central. Gurian is the host of ComedyMatters.TV, a web-series featuring interviews with comedians and film stars at red carpet events.[3] Many of the episodes use the Comedy Strip as the backdrop for the interviews.[16]

Other work

Jeffrey Gurian has served as the head of live comedy programming for the Gold Coast International Film Festival.[9][17][18] Gurian has also been interviewed regarding current events in the comedy world by news outlets including ABC News.[19]

He appeared on CNN, WPIX News and other TV stations discussing the passing of both Robin Williams and Joan Rivers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Richard D. Lyons (January 19, 1992). "There's This Dentist. And He Writes Routines for Comedians. Seriously.". New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  2. ↑ Michael Leahy (2007). If You're Thinking of Living In... : All About 115 Great Neighborhoods In & Around New. Random House. p. 34. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Jeff Monaski (July 10, 2013). "Comedian Jeffrey Gurian Talks About His Book 'Make 'Em Laugh'". WIBX AM News Radio. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  4. ↑ Bill Kaufman (January 31, 1987). "There's Something Funny in This Directory". Newsday. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  5. ↑ Ben Kubasik and Anthony Scaduto (January 10, 1986). "Inside New York". Newsday. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  6. ↑ "'Hustler returns'". Victoria Advocate. April 25, 1984. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  7. ↑ Mike Fleming (May 25, 1987). "Making Smiles, and Making Them Pretty". Newsday. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  8. ↑ Jackie Mason. Spy Magazine. May 1987. p. 50. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Meet Jeffrey Gurian, GCIFF's Head of Live Comedy Programming". September 23, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Jeffrey Gurian Contributions". New York Comedy World. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  11. ↑ Jeffrey Gurian (November 3, 2008). "Column: Comedy Matters w/ Jim Gaffigan, John Mulaney, more". Laugh Spin. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  12. ↑ Emily Brady (May 20, 2007). "For Strippers, an Indecent Proposal". New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  13. ↑ Michael Starr (June 1, 2003). "Starr Report". New York Post. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Mangano Announces Star-Studded Lineup For Gold Coast International Film Festival". LongIsland.com. October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  15. ↑ Adina Genn (October 9, 2013). "Gold Coast International Film Fest Highlights Include Movies, Panels and Comedy". Glen Cove Patch. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  16. ↑ Wayne Manigo (January 10, 2013). "Addicted to Comedy: Jeffrey Gurian and the History of 'The Comic Strip'". Stage Time Magazine. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  17. ↑ Dan Glaun (October 10, 2013). "Film fest to feature celebrities, comedy". The Island Now. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Paul Sorvino, Susie Essman Set for Gold Coast Int'l Film Festival, 10/21-27". Broadway World. October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
  19. ↑ Luchina Fisher (January 8, 2010). "Artie Lange's Near Suicide Reveals Dark Side of Funny". ABC News. Retrieved October 15, 2013.

External links

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