Bert Kreischer

Bert Kreischer (born November 3, 1972) is an American stand-up comedian, reality television host and actor. In 1997 he was featured in an article in Rolling Stone while attending Florida State University.[2] The magazine named Kreischer "the top partyer at the Number One Party School in the country."[2] The article also served as inspiration for the 2002 film National Lampoon's Van Wilder.[3] Kreischer has served as host of the television series Hurt Bert on FX as well as Bert the Conqueror and Trip Flip on Travel Channel.[4][5][6][7][8]

Bert Kreischer
Kreischer in Addison, Texas in 2012.
PseudonymThe Machine
Born (1972-11-03) November 3, 1972[1]
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
MediumStand-up, film, television
NationalityAmerican
Years active1997–present
GenresObservational comedy, black comedy
Subject(s)Human behavior, human sexuality, American politics, gender differences, weight loss
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

Born Albert Kreischer Jr. He grew up in Tampa, Florida.[2] His mother worked in early childhood development and his father worked as a real-estate attorney.[2] He attended a private Jesuit high school then went on to attend Florida State University (FSU).[2] Kreischer majored in English and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.[2][8]

In 1997, during Kreischer's sixth year at FSU, the university was ranked number one by The Princeton Review in their annual list of the top "party schools" in the United States.[2][3][9] Later that same year Kreischer became the focus of a six-page article in Rolling Stone who named him "the top partyer at the Number One Party School in the country."[2][4] Titled "Bert Kreischer: The Undergraduate," the article recounted Kreischer's party hijinks, which included bouts of heavy drinking and public nudity.[2][3] From the Rolling Stone article director Oliver Stone optioned the rights to Kreischer's life.[10] When the development deal with Oliver Stone fell through, all the scripts that were submitted went back to their writers. One of these writers changed Kreischer's name and sold the script to National Lampoon.[10] This became the basis for the 2002 film National Lampoon's Van Wilder, starring Ryan Reynolds.[3][4]

When asked about his involvement in the film, Kreischer told the New York Post in 2014: "I've never seen it. I had nothing to do with it."[3] On Joe Rogan's podcast, Kreischer talked about how National Lampoon executives confirmed to him that he was the basis for the film.[10] He also confirmed that he would never sue National Lampoon for having made the movie without his involvement.[10]

Personal life

Kreischer lives in Los Angeles with his wife LeeAnn and their two daughters Georgia and Ila.[7][8][11][12]

Career

Standup comedy

Kreischer's first experience with stand-up comedy was at Potbelly's, a bar and nightclub in Tallahassee, Florida.[11][13] Kreischer moved to New York City after a tape of one of his sets was sent to a talent agent who invited him to the city to watch some stand-up shows.[11] Kreischer worked the door at the now-defunct Boston Comedy Club.[3][14]

Kreischer is known for performing stand-up comedy while shirtless.[15][16][17] He is also known for his storytelling; his most popular story is about how he allegedly earned the nickname "The Machine".[15][14][11][18] The story revolves around how he inadvertently helped the Russian mafia rob a train while on a college trip to Russia.[16][18][19]

In 2004 Kreischer was featured along with four other comedians on the DVD release National Lampoon Live: New Faces - Volume 2.[20] That same year one of his stories appeared on an episode of the animated Comedy Central series Shorties Watchin' Shorties.[21]

As a stand-up comedian Kreischer has performed internationally and has appeared on late night talk shows Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Conan.[4][15][16][22][23] He also appeared regularly as a guest on Rachael Ray from 2011 to 2015.[4][15][24]

In 2009 his first comedy special Bert Kreischer: Comfortably Dumb appeared on Comedy Central.[15][19] His second special Bert Kreischer: The Machine was released in 2016 on Showtime.[25]

In 2015 he appeared on Comedy Central's comedy storytelling series This Is Not Happening. His story for the show was about his experience wrestling a bear for the television series Hurt Bert.[26]

In August 2018, Kreisher released Bert Kreischer: Secret Time on Netflix, Filming took places in Philadelphia.

In March 2020, Kreisher released Bert Kreischer: Hey Big Boy on Netflix, Filming took place in Cleveland.

Comedy specials/appearances
YearTitleFormat
2004National Lampoon Live: New Faces - Volume 2DVD
2009Comfortably DumbShowtime
2015This Is Not HappeningComedy Central
2016The MachineShowtime
2018Secret TimeNetflix
2020Hey Big BoyNetflix

Podcasting

Kreischer produces and hosts Bertcast, a weekly comedy podcast on the All Things Comedy network.[27] Launched in 2012, Bert records his podcast from his Man Cave that was built for him for an episode of Man Caves, a home renovation reality television program.[28] Kreischer co-hosts the 2 Bears 1 Cave podcast with Tom Segura, and the Bill and Bert podcast with Bill Burr. Kreischer has also been a guest on podcasts such as WTF with Marc Maron, Doug Benson's Doug Loves Movies, H3 Podcast, Your Mom's House and The Joe Rogan Experience.[19][13][29]

Published works
  • Kreischer, Bert (2014). Life of the Party: Stories of a Perpetual Man-Child. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9781250030313. - Total pages: 256 [7][19][13]

Other media

Within five months of moving to New York City to pursue a career in comedy, Will Smith's Production Company offered Kreischer a deal for a sitcom.[4][13] When he was featured on Bert the Conqueror, Kreischer traveled to amusement parks and other entertainment venues across the United States in order to experience thrilling rides and activities. Kreischer, who suffers from a fear of heights, can be seen riding roller coasters and other amusement park rides as well as engaging in activities such as jumping off the Stratosphere tower in Las Vegas and being fired from a human slingshot.[8][12][30] While in New York Kreischer attended open mics hosted by TV producer DJ Nash that were also attended by the likes of Demetri Martin, Bobby Kelly and Jim Norton.[13] In 2001 Kreischer also starred in a television pilot based on Nash's life titled Life With David J.[4]

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Life With David JHimselfHis acting debut starring in the CBS pilot, starring alongside Elliott Gould and Peter Jacobson.[4][13] Based on the life of TV producer DJ Nash.
2001―2002The X ShowHimself as hostKreischer served as host on the variety show.[4][13]
2004The ShieldAlfredMinor role on an episode, Cracking Ice, of the police TV drama.[31]
2004Hurt BertHimself as hostFX series based on a segment he had done for The X Show and featured him performing various dangerous stunts.[4][5][13]
2010―2011Bert the ConquerorHimself as hostTravel Channel reality show.[8][6][12]
2012―2015Trip FlipHimself as hostAlso on Travel Channel.[6][8][7] Trip Flip featured Kreischer surprising random people with the offer of an immediate 5-day vacation of his choosing.[6][8][7][14] Trip Flip continued for 3 more seasons, ending in 2015.
2016Bert the ConquerorHimself as hostReturned for a third season in 2016.[8]
2020The Cabin with Bert KreischerHimselfKreischer is sent to the woods to detox but he brings friends.

Bibliography

Notes

  1. "Bert Kreischer Biography". Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  2. Hedegaard, Erik (April 17, 1997). "Bert Kreischer: The Undergraduate". Rolling Stone. No. 758. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  3. Tucker, Reed (May 19, 2014). "The real-life Van Wilder". New York Post. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  4. BWW News Desk (June 9, 2017). "Bert Kreischer to Embark on Australian Tour this September". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  5. Gallagher, Danny (August 1, 2010). "How Bert Kreischer Conquered The Travel Channel's 'Bert the Conqueror'". TV Squad. AOL. Archived from the original on August 2, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  6. Dolan, Rebecca (June 28, 2012). "'Trip Flip,' New Travel Show, Is More Than Your Average Vacation". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  7. Kim, Jae-Ha (May 6, 2014). "Go Away With ... Bert Kreischer". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  8. Tatham, Chelsea (June 6, 2016). "Tampa's Bert Kreischer faces his fears on Travel Channel's 'Bert the Conqueror'". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  9. Kingkade, Tyler (August 4, 2014). "A History of the Princeton Review's Top Party School Ranking". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  10. Rogan & Kreischer 2013, p. 1:49:00
  11. Fitzgerald, Christine (September 24, 2014). "Bert Kreischer Is Still The Life Of The Party". Socialite Life. Unimpressed Media. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  12. Spychalla, Craig (July 16, 2010). "Conquering The World: Travel Channel's Bert the Conqueror takes on Wisconsin Dells with a little comedy, and a few screams". Portage Daily Register. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  13. Eakin, Marah (May 27, 2014). "Bert Kreischer on Will Smith, frat bros, and the first time he got drunk". AV Club. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  14. Heid, Derek (July 10, 2014). "Bert Kreischer Learns "Everything's Kind of Fleeting"". Broward Palm Beach New Times. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  15. Wohlfarth, Matt (March 5, 2014). "Bert Kreischer still lives and makes jokes in the moment". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  16. Interrobang Staff (January 25, 2017). "Conan's Audience Gets a Crash Course in Bert Kreischer". Interrobang. Orange Pop Media. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  17. McIntyre, Michael K. (July 27, 2017). "Bert Kreischer bares his soul, and his chest, in stand-up shows this weekend at Hilarities". cleveland.com. Advance Ohio. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  18. Interrobang Staff (December 28, 2016). "The Award for Remarkable Achievements of Exceptional Noteworthiness for Unrelated Things in Comedy". Interrobang. Orange Pop Media. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  19. Hwang, Kellie (October 10, 2017). "Stand Up Live in Phoenix to host comedy podcast festival with Doug Benson, Felipe Esparza". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  20. National Lampoon Live: New Faces - Volume 2 (2004) at IMDb. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  21. "Bert Kreischer - Kids' Urinal". Shorties Watchin' Shorties. Season 1. Episode 5. Comedy Central. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  22. "Bert Kreischer, Credits". TV Guide. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  23. "Bert Kreischer on Conan". teamcoco.com. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. January 24, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  24. Kaczmarczyk, Jeffrey (December 3, 2015). "NBC's late night host Seth Meyers coming to LaughFest 2016 in Grand Rapids". MLive.com. MLive Media Group. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  25. Butler, Bethonie (November 10, 2016). "TV highlights: 'Red Oaks' returns to Amazon". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  26. "Bert Kreischer - Fighting a Bear - Uncensored". This Is Not Happening. Season 1. Episode 2. Comedy Central. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  27. "Bertcast". All Things Comedy. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  28. "Bert the Conqueror". Man Caves. Season 9. Episode 1. DIY Network. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  29. H3 Podcast (August 24, 2018). "H3 Podcast #80 - Bert Kreischer". Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  30. "The House Is Filling Up Under the Scripps Networks Roof". The New York Times. 2010-04-20.
  31. The Shield: Cracking Ice (2004) at IMDb. Retrieved October 16, 2017.

References

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