Flula Borg

Flula Borg
Borg in 2016
Borg in 2016
Background information
Also known as
  • Flula
  • DJ Flula
Born (1982-03-28) 28 March 1982 (age 42)
Erlangen, West Germany
Genres
Occupations
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • comedian
  • YouTuber
  • DJ
  • rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
Years active2007–present
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2007–present
Genres
Subscribers906 thousand[1]
Total views112.6 million[1]
100,000 subscribers2013
Last updated: 26 August 2024

Flula Borg (German: [flʊla bɔɐ̯k]; born 28 March 1982) is a German actor, comedian, and musician. Borg's acting career includes roles in feature films, including Pitch Perfect 2 and The Suicide Squad, as well as in a number of television shows, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Good Place, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, and The Rookie. He has made multiple appearances on Conan and has participated in a number of other collaborations with Conan O'Brien.

Across a wide variety of projects, he has worked with YouTube personalities such as Rhett and Link, Miranda Sings, and Smosh, as well as mainstream celebrities including Sir Mix-A-Lot, Ed Helms, and Dirk Nowitzki.[2][3][4] In 2015, he was named one of The Hollywood Reporter's Top 25 Digital Stars[5] as well as one of Variety's 10 Comics to Watch.[6] He lives in Los Angeles.[7]

Film and television

In 2015, Borg co-starred in Pitch Perfect 2[8] as a leader of the German a cappella group Das Sound Machine (also known as DSM).[9] This led to appearances on talk shows such as Last Call with Carson Daly, as well as the first of many appearances on the Comedy Central game show @midnight.[10] Buddymoon, a feature film written and produced by Borg, David Giuntoli, and filmmaker Alex Simmons, and starring Borg and Giuntoli, was shown at several major film festivals in early 2016. It won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Slamdance Film Festival and was acquired by Gravitas Ventures and Orion Pictures for theatrical release.[11][12] Later in 2016, Lionsgate Films announced a development deal with Borg under which he will serve as star, executive producer, and writer of two upcoming feature films.[13] Beginning in 2017, he has done a great deal of voice acting, appearing in roles such as Hans the Horse in Blue Sky Studios' Ferdinand and the personal assistant Maybe in Disney's Oscar-nominated feature Ralph Breaks the Internet.[14][15] He also voices a part in Trolls World Tour, produced by DreamWorks Animation and released in 2020.[16]

In addition to his film work, Borg has acted in a number of TV series, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Workaholics, Silicon Valley, Counterpart, and The Good Place. In 2015, he co-hosted E!'s Live from the Red Carpet pre-show at the Billboard Music Awards.[17] He has been a guest on the TBS talk show Conan several times,[18] including an episode in which he served as Conan O'Brien's informal guide to Germany when the show traveled to Berlin for a week.[19] In 2017, Borg's own social action special Flulanthropy premiered on the streaming channel Seeso.[3] He has also done voice acting in several series, including Archer, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, and Tangled: The Series. Borg voices a leading role as Mega Fat CEO Baby in the DreamWorks Animation/Netflix series The Boss Baby: Back in Business. In 2022 Borg guest starred on the TV series The Rookie as Skip-Tracer Randy.

Digital media

Borg has posted over 350 videos on his YouTube channel since its launch in 2007.[20] Some of his most popular videos are his vlogs, most notably "Jennifer is a Party Pooper",[21] "Flula in Germany", and his AutoTunes series, in which he records cover songs live in a car. His AutoTunes video with YouTube celebrity Chester See, a cover of "No Diggity" by Blackstreet, has over four million views and was nominated for a Streamy Award in 2014.[22] He is also known for his celebrity interviews, and for creating EDM tracks from sound clips gathered during many of those interviews. Celebrities interviewed on Borg's YouTube channel include Will Ferrell and the cast of Anchorman 2, Vince Vaughn, Tina Fey, Anna Kendrick and the cast of Pitch Perfect 2, Larry King, and Michael Phelps.

In addition to his own channel, Borg has appeared on many other popular YouTube channels, including Miranda Sings, Grace Helbig, Smosh, vlogbrothers, jacksfilms, and Madilyn Bailey. His comedic video with Flynt Flossy of Turquoise Jeep, "Taste You Like Yogurt" has over 2 million views. In 2014, Borg's YouTube channel was listed on New Media Rockstars' Top 100 Channels[23] and he won the 2015 Streamy Award for Comedy in recognition of his humorous contributions on YouTube.[24]

In 2018, Borg launched his podcast, BoomTime, which is produced by Cadence 13. It is directed by his frequent collaborator Alex Simmons. Notable guests have included Ed Helms, Kristen Schaal, Reggie Watts, Hanson, and "Weird Al" Yankovic.[25] The podcast came to an end in 2021. In September 2023, Borg launched his second podcast, Flula Makes Five, an audio comedy series.

Music

From his beginnings as a Schuhplattler dancer in Bavaria, Germany[26] and through many years of live performance and YouTube content, Borg has always been deeply involved in music. After winning the Scion Hypeman Contest in late 2008 as its only non-American participant,[27] he began releasing more of his own music. His 2011 single "Sweet Potato Casserole" was listed at No. 3 on Billboard's Next Big Sound chart.[28] In the same year, his single "Dirk Nowitzki, German Moses" coincided with the Dallas Mavericks' NBA championship run and was picked up by ESPN and other mainstream outlets.[29][30] In 2014, he composed the theme song for Grace Helbig's podcast, Not Too Deep,[31] and the following year he was chosen to create the theme song for The Grace Helbig Show on E! Entertainment Television.[32]

Also in 2015, Borg released a five-track EP titled I Want to Touch You.[33] Videos for all of the tracks were posted to his YouTube channel. In early 2016, he released a full-length album called Animalbum, so named because all of the songs on the album are related to animals, both real and mythological. It was produced by comedian and producer of The Bachelor, Elan Gale.[34] In 2019, Borg released a single titled 'Self Care Sunday', featuring the American comedic music group Ninja Sex Party, to Spotify.

Live performances

Borg regularly performs live music and comedy. From 2009 to 2012 he was the host and MC for College Battle of the Bands and he hosted the Chegg Textbooks & Tickets Tour in 2011.[35][36] From 2013 through 2015, he hosted Bedrocktoberfest, a music festival held in Los Angeles to coincide with Oktoberfest.[37][38] As a result of his success on YouTube, he has been featured four times—in 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018—on the main stage at VidCon.[39][40] He is active on the comedy festival circuit, appearing at Just for Laughs festivals in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver;[41][42] at SF Sketchfest in San Francisco;[43] and at the Blue Whale Comedy Festival in Oklahoma.[44] He has also done solo shows in a number of cities, including Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles.[13] In late 2018 Borg served as Conan O'Brien's DJ, opening act, and sidekick on O'Brien's 18-city comedy tour, "Team Coco Presents Conan & Friends: An Evening of Stand-Up and Investment Tips."[45]

Selected filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2013–14 Auction Hunters Himself/Handyman 4 episodes
2013–19 Last Call with Carson Daly Himself/Guest 4 episodes
2015 The Grace Helbig Show Himself/Guest Episode 1.1
2015 Pitch Perfect 2 Pieter Kramer
2015 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip Man behind the mask
2015–17 @midnight Himself/Guest 12 episodes
2016 Younger Dorff 2 episodes
2016 Buddymoon Flula Also co-writer and co-producer
2016 Dirty 30 DJ DJ
2016–17 Chelsea Himself/Guest 3 episodes
2016–20 Conan Himself/Guest 9 episodes
2017 Workaholics Jimmy Sparx Episode: "Termidate"
2017 The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show Joe Troplong Voice, episode: "Peabody's Delivery"
2017 Silicon Valley Joel Episode: "Hooli-Con"
2017 Killing Hasselhoff Alcee
2017 Ferdinand Hans Voice
2017 Flulanthropy Himself Also writer and producer
2017 Curb Your Enthusiasm Ernst Episode: "Fatwa!"
2018 The Mick German teacher Episode: "The Trip"
2018 Counterpart Stas 4 episodes
2018–20 The Boss Baby: Back in Business Mega Fat CEO Baby Voice, 10 episodes
2018 Archer Ziegler Voice, episode: "Danger Island: A Warrior in Costume"
2018 The Good Place Helmut Deutschermann Episode: "The Ballad of Donkey Doug"
2018 Ralph Breaks the Internet Maybe Voice
2018 Adam Ruins Everything The Rewards Dude Episode: "Adam Ruins Flying"
2018–19 Tangled: The Series Alfons Voice, 3 episodes
2019 Lucky Reggie Voice, television film[46]
2019 Teen Titans Go! Robotman Voice, 4 episodes
2020 Trolls World Tour Dickory Voice
2020 Brews Brothers Truffle 4 episodes
2020 Bad Therapy Serge
2020 Amphibia Professor Harringbone Voice, episode: "Sprig Gets Schooled"
2020 DuckTales Christoph the Spice Baron Voice, episode: "The Split Sword of Swanstantine!"
2021 Jellystone! The Great Gazoo Voice, episode: "Gotta Kiss Them All"
2021 Tacoma FD Antonin Aroma Episode: "The Quiet Party"
2021 Aquaman: King of Atlantis Mantis Voice, 2 episodes
2021 Centaurworld Comfortable Doug Voice, 10 episodes
2021 The Suicide Squad Gunter Braun / Javelin[47]
2021 Mr. Mayor Sforg Episode: "Brentwood Trash"
2021 Wolfboy and the Everything Factory Monsieur Snjor Voice, episode: "Wolfboy Makes a Snowflake"
2022 Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers DJ Herzogenaurach Voice
2022 Luck Jeff Voice
2022 Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin Pieter Kramer Main role
2022–24 The Rookie Skip Tracer Randy Episodes: "Long Shot", "S.T.R.", "The Hammer"
2022 The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Bartender Cameo; TV special
2023 Ghosts Soren Episode: "Isaac's Book"
2023 Is It Cake? Himself / Judge Episode: "Cake Me Out to the Ballgame"
2023 Good Burger 2 Food Dude
2024 My Spy: The Eternal City Bishop Crane
2024 Dinner Time Live with David Chang Himself Episode: "Oktoberfest"

References

  1. ^ a b "About Flula". YouTube.
  2. ^ Goodman, William (26 September 2013). "Sir Mix-A-Lot's 'Baby Got Back' Gets Auto-Tune Remix... In A Car". HuffPost. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  3. ^ a b Petski, Denise (30 March 2017). "'There's…Johnny!', 'Harmonquest' Season 2, More Get Summer Premiere Dates On Seeso". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  4. ^ Helin, Kurt (18 July 2013). "Dirk Nowitzki sings 'Satisfaction' with German DJ Flula, Mavs cheerleaders". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  5. ^ Jarvey, Natalie; Svetkey, Benjamin (10 July 2015). "THR's Top 25 Digital Stars". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  6. ^ Blair, Iain (14 July 2015). "10 Comics to Watch: YouTube Star Flula Borg Breaks Stereotypes About German Humor". Variety. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  7. ^ Hageland, Kevin (19 March 2013). "The Accidental Tourist: Flula, a German DJ, gives tour for Allen City TV". StarLocalMedia.com. Star Local Media (Allen [TX] American online newspaper). Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  8. ^ Yamato, Jen (29 May 2014). "'Pitch Perfect 2' Adds German YouTuber Flula Borg". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  9. ^ Stack, Tim (21 November 2014). "Game On, Pitches!". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  10. ^ "@Midnight: A Guest Stars & Air Dates Guide". Epguides.com. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  11. ^ Lincoln, Ross (31 March 2016). "Gravitas Ventures Travels With Slamdance Audience Winner 'Buddymoon'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Top of the Charts with the 2016 Slamdance Film Festival Features!". Slamdance.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  13. ^ a b Spangler, Todd (17 October 2016). "YouTube Comedian-DJ Flula Borg Inks Lionsgate Deal for Two Movies (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  14. ^ Hanstock, Bill (28 March 2017). "John Cena Achieves His Final Form As A Talking Bull in the Trailer For 'Ferdinand'". Uproxx.com. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  15. ^ Hogarty, Joe (6 October 2018). ""Ralph Breaks The Internet" Reveals Digital Influencer Cast at NYCC". WDWNT.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  16. ^ Zahed, Ramin (12 June 2018). "New Details Revealed About DreamWorks' 'Trolls' Sequel". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  17. ^ Griffiths, Kadeen (17 May 2015). "Where Is Ryan Seacrest During The Billboard Music Awards?". Bustle.com. Bustle. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  18. ^ Fuchs, Stephen (14 December 2017). "Watch Flula Educate Conan on the Wild and Delicious German Christmas Traditions". GermanPulse.com. German Pulse. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  19. ^ Gutelle, Sam (8 December 2016). "YouTube Star Flula Borg Joins Conan O'Brien for a Trip To Berlin". Tubefilter.com. Tubefilter, Inc. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  20. ^ "YouTube "About" page". Retrieved 31 December 2015 – via YouTube.
  21. ^ "'Jennifer Is A Party Pooper': Flula Borg Has Some Questions About Your Bowels". HuffPost. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  22. ^ "4th Annual Streamy Awards Nominees". Streamys.org. Streamys. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  23. ^ "The NMR Top 100 YouTube Channels: 100-76!". NewMediaRockstars.com. New Media Rockstars. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  24. ^ "Streamy Awards 5th Annual Nominees". Streamys.org. Streamys. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  25. ^ Wright, Megh (18 October 2018). "This Week in Comedy Podcasts: Bitch Sesh With Andrew Rannells". Vulture.com. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  26. ^ Teng, Elaine (14 May 2015). "The Time Anna Kendrick Said I Smelled Like an Old Cinnamon Cupcake". New Republic. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  27. ^ "Hypeman: Chicago [2008] (3 of 3) (Scion AV)". Scion Audio/Visual. 17 October 2011 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ "Next Big Sound". Billboard. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  29. ^ Wilkie, Jim (18 May 2011). "DJ Flula's Nowitzki song can't be beat". ESPN. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  30. ^ Freeman, Eric (12 May 2011). "Listen to "His Name Is Dirk," your new Mavericks anthem". Yahoo! Sport. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  31. ^ Grace Helbig (13 October 2014). "Not Too Deep with Grace, Ep. 7 – Flula". SoundCloud.com (Podcast). SoundCloud Ltd. Retrieved 5 August 2017. Flula is on the podcast! Well, he is every week in a way... (Because he did all our theme music.)
  32. ^ "DJ Flula Creates Clutch Theme Song for Helbig". E!. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  33. ^ Gutelle, Sam (28 September 2015). "With His New EP, YouTube Star Flula Borg Says "I Want To Touch You"". Tubefilter.com. Tubefilter, Inc. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  34. ^ Nahas, Aili (17 May 2016). "YouTube Star Flula Is Teaming Up with a Bachelor Producer – Find Out Why!". People. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  35. ^ "Chegg and College Battle of the Bands Back to School Tour featuring DJ Rhythm and Flula Borg". Chegg.com. Chegg. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  36. ^ "AUSTIN – BACK TO CLASS MUSIC BASH". Grammy365.com. The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  37. ^ Gutelle, Sam (5 August 2014). "DJ Flula Borg Hypes Upcoming Festival With Google Hangout". Tubefilter.com. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  38. ^ W, Kate (17 September 2015). "Bedrocktoberfest brings music and magic to Echo Park this weekend". Time Out. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  39. ^ Wilson, Andy (6 August 2013). "Tyler Ward, DJ Flula, Pentatonix And Madilyn Bailey Cover 'Thrift Shop' At VidCon 2013". HuffPost. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  40. ^ Votta, Rae (26 June 2016). "VidCon 2016 was all about bridging the gap between creators and fans". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  41. ^ De Vries, Lauren (14 September 2017). "JFL42 IS COMING: WHO WILL YOU SEE? #TORONTO". ComedyUncovered.com. Comedy Uncovered. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  42. ^ "Join Howie Mandel as he hosts an evening full of laughs with some of the funniest comics around; Featuring Roy Wood Jr, Flula Borg, DeAnne Smith and Matteo Lane!". JFLNorthwest.com. JFL Northwest. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  43. ^ Reisman, Will (22 January 2017). "Flula Borg has fun with language". SFExaminer.com. The San Francisco Examiner. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  44. ^ "TulsaKids' Labor Day Weekend Roundup". TulsaKids.com. Tulsa Kids. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  45. ^ Husband, Andrew (26 September 2018). "Conan O'Brien Is Taking His 'Stand-Up And Investment Tips' Show on the Road". Forbes. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  46. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (11 March 2019). "TRAILER: Nickelodeon's CG-Animated 'Lucky' Premieres March 8". Animation World Network. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  47. ^ Furdyk, Brent (11 October 2019). "Photos From Set Of 'The Suicide Squad' Offer First Look at the Colourfully Costumed New Team". ET Canada. Corus Entertainment Inc. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
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