Brett Davis (comedian)

Brett Davis
Born
New Jersey, US
Occupation(s)Comedian, actor
Years active2006–present
TelevisionThe Special Without Brett Davis
Websitewww.brettdavis.rip

Brett Davis is an American comedian, actor and voice actor. He hosted a television show called The Special Without Brett Davis in the New York City metro area. He has also hosted The Podcast for Laundry and The Macaulay Culkin Show. In 2015, he won the Andy Kaufman Award. In 2019, he joined the cast of the National Lampoon Radio Hour.

Career

Davis grew up in New Jersey, and as a teenager, he was a caller and contributor to The Best Show with Tom Scharpling, and guest-hosted NYCTV's New York Noise. He also performed regularly around the New Brunswick punk scene, which was the topic of an early short film, BANANAZZZ.[1]

Davis hosted the public access show The Special Without Brett Davis, taking over the time slot previously held by The Chris Gethard Show, on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network. The show aired over 170 episodes, with Davis as a different character hosting a different show each week. The show featured performers including Jo Firestone, Cole Escola, Joe Pera, Patti Harrison, Cole Escola, Conner O'Malley, Ikechukwu Ufomadu, Julio Torres, John Early, Matt Rogers, Zach Cherry, Ana Fabrega, Ziwe Fumudoh, and Bridey Elliott. The show also featured interview guests, often drawn into the bits such as Gilbert Gottfried, Michael Shannon, Richard Kind, Janeane Garofalo, Lita, Rose McGowan, The Thermals, and Screaming Females.[2]

Davis hosted The Podcast For Laundry, "a satire of podcasting" about a host being driven crazy by doing a podcast about laundry. He also performs character-based comedy around New York City,[3] and won the Andy Kaufman Award in 2015 for his interactive live performances.[4][5]

Along with Sally Burtnick, he has hosted The Macaulay Culkin Show, a monthly comedy show held at the Shea Stadium DIY Venue in East Williamsburg from 2013 to 2017.[6] The show has an annual summer comedy festival. The show had previously been unaffiliated with the actor until Macaulay Culkin made an appearance in 2019.[7]

In 2019, he became a cast member of the rebooted National Lampoon Radio Hour alongside Cole Escola, Jo Firestone, Alex English, Maeve Higgins, Megan Stalter and others.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Refs
2006 New York Noise MC Steinberg 4 episodes Website
2011 Weird Vibes various 3 episodes Website
2014 The Chris Gethard Show Smith 3 episodes [1][8]
2015–2019 The Special Without Brett Davis Host, various characters Also creator, cable access show [8]
2016 Boy Band Shane 6 episodes; also creator [9]
2016 Jon Glaser Loves Gear Agent Website
2017 Animals. Lizard Man 2 episodes Website
2018 The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Roy Orbison Website
2018 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Various characters 2 episodes Website
2018-2020 Our Cartoon President Anderson Cooper Voice role [10]
2020 National Lampoon Radio Hour Various characters 11 episodes [11]
2022 The Best Show with Tom Scharpling Various characters [12]
2024 The John Gentle Show John Gentle [12]

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Steinjive MC Steinberg
2016 Long Nights Short Mornings Grokkq
2018 Clara's Ghost Driver

References

  1. ^ a b Goldstein, Ian (August 25, 2017). "On the Verge: Brett Davis". Vulture. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  2. ^ Malin, Sean (June 13, 2019). "10 of the Weirdest and Most Surreal Moments From The Special Without Brett Davis". Vulture. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  3. ^ Zinoman, Jason (April 10, 2018). "The Sociopathic Comedy of Brett Davis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Sean L. (October 12, 2015). "Brett Davis wins 2015 Andy Kaufman Award". The Comic's Comic. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  5. ^ "Winners Hall of Fame". Andy Kaufman Award. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "The Return of The Macaulay Culkin Show and More Performance Picks". Bedford + Bowery. August 8, 2018.
  7. ^ Pearis, Bill (July 25, 2019). "Macaulay Culkin appearing at Brett Davis' 'Macaulay Culkin Show' for 1st time ever". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Yanick, Joseph (September 1, 2015). "'The Special Without Brett Davis' Is the Best Punk Rock Comedy Show on Public Access TV". Vice.
  9. ^ Wright, Megh (March 22, 2016). "Brett Davis Assembles the Next Big Boy Band in His New IFC Web Series". Vulture.
  10. ^ "Showtime to Premiere Season Two of Our Cartoon President on May 12". Broadway World. April 9, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "Watch National Lampoon Radio Hour". Roku. April 9, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  12. ^ a b https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_f6KOONnfw