Anthony Jeselnik facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anthony Jeselnik
Jeselnik in 2012
Born	(1978-12-22) December 22, 1978 (age 46)
Medium	Stand-up, television
Alma mater	Tulane University (BA)
Genres	Observational comedy deadpan black comedy cringe comedy insult comedy shock humor satire
Subject(s)	Everyday life death religion philosophy family pop culture

Anthony Jeselnik (born December 22, 1978) is an American comedian, writer, actor, and producer. He is known for his unique style of comedy, often called dark comedy. This means his jokes can be surprising and sometimes deal with serious topics in a funny way. He often uses unexpected twists, sharp comments, and an over-the-top confident stage personality.

Jeselnik started his career as a writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He also hosted a special called Comedy Central Presents in 2009. After his first comedy album, Shakespeare, came out in 2010, he began writing for the famous Comedy Central Roasts. He later became a performer on these roasts, making people laugh at events for Donald Trump, Charlie Sheen, and Roseanne Barr.

In 2013, Anthony Jeselnik hosted his own TV show on Comedy Central called The Jeselnik Offensive, which ran for two seasons. He also released his second comedy album, Caligula, which was also an hour-long stand-up special. Later, in 2015, he hosted Last Comic Standing on NBC. He has released several stand-up specials on Netflix, including Thoughts and Prayers (2015), Fire in the Maternity Ward (2019), and Bones and All (2024). He also co-hosts a popular podcast called The Jeselnik & Rosenthal Vanity Project (JRVP).

Early Life and Comedy Start

Anthony Jeselnik grew up in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania. From a young age, he enjoyed making people laugh. In elementary school, he would often tell jokes in class. Once, he made a sarcastic comment about a classmate moving, and when his teacher laughed, he realized he could use his smart humor to entertain.

He loved watching comedy shows like Saturday Night Live as he grew up. He graduated from Upper St. Clair High School in 1997. In 2001, he earned a degree in English literature from Tulane University. His first dream was to write a great novel, but an internship in Los Angeles showed him other paths for a writer.

After college, Jeselnik moved to Los Angeles and tried stand-up comedy for the first time. He learned from a comedy workshop. His first joke attempt, an impression of his father, didn't get any laughs. This made him decide to stick to verbal comedy instead of physical humor. He worked odd jobs while performing at open-mic nights, practicing his jokes.

About two years into his comedy journey, Jeselnik had a "lightbulb moment." He wrote a joke with a surprising and dark twist, and the audience loved it. This encouraged him to focus on this unique style. He found a comedy club called the Comedy Cellar in New York City, where he felt at home. The experienced comedians there helped him sharpen his jokes and quick wit.

Comedy Career Highlights

Anthony Jeselnik's stand-up special Comedy Central Presents aired in 2009. He was recognized as one of Comedy Central's rising stars that year. In 2009, he was hired as a writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He enjoyed the idea of writing jokes with other talented people.

However, many of his joke ideas were considered "too dark" for the show. For example, he often suggested jokes about sensitive topics, but the show's host, Jimmy Fallon, felt they might not be popular with everyone. Jeselnik realized he wanted to perform his own style of comedy, not just write for others. In 2010, he decided to leave the show to focus on his unique stand-up.

Roasts and TV Shows

After leaving Late Night, Jeselnik recorded his first comedy album, Shakespeare. He also started writing for the famous Comedy Central Roasts. These are special events where comedians make fun of a celebrity in a playful way. Jeselnik loved roasts and always wanted to be part of them.

While writing for the David Hasselhoff roast, Comedy Central noticed his talent. They offered him a chance to perform on the next roast. This was the Roast of Donald Trump in 2011. Jeselnik says this was one of the best moments of his life because he was not well-known, and his performance surprised everyone. The next day, his career changed completely. He then performed on the roasts of Charlie Sheen in 2011 and Roseanne Barr in 2012.

In 2013, Jeselnik got his own show on Comedy Central called The Jeselnik Offensive. He wanted a show where he could tell the kinds of jokes he couldn't on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The show allowed him to explore his unique, often surprising, comedic style. The Jeselnik Offensive ran for two seasons.

Netflix Specials and Podcasts

Anthony Jeselnik's first stand-up special, Caligula, premiered in 2013. In October 2015, he started a podcast called The Rosenthal & Jeselnik Vanity Project (RJVP) with his friend Gregg Rosenthal, who works for the NFL Network.

In 2015, Jeselnik released his highly praised third stand-up special, Thoughts and Prayers, on Netflix. This hour-long special featured his signature dark humor for the first part, followed by more personal stories. He talked about his grandmother's funeral and other life experiences.

In 2018, Jeselnik returned to Comedy Central with new episodes of his podcast, now called The Jeselnik & Rosenthal Vanity Project (JRVP). He is joined by Gregg Rosenthal and producer Erica Tamposi. They have released over 240 episodes.

His fourth stand-up special, Fire in the Maternity Ward, was released by Netflix in April 2019. His fifth Netflix special, Bones and All, came out in November 2024.

Personal Life

Anthony Jeselnik is of Slovenian descent. He is also an atheist.

Discography

• Shakespeare (2010)
• Caligula (2013)
• Thoughts and Prayers (2015)
• Fire in the Maternity Ward (2019)
• Bones and All (2024)

Filmography

Television

See also

In Spanish: Anthony Jeselnik para niños