Comic Mike Birbiglia has been percolating quietly in comedy clubs for years. His art honed on the road as he snagged the title as the youngest comic ever to be booked on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and subsequently starred in two highly rated Comedy Central specials, releasing a CD last year.
Now Shout! Factory is releasing his comedy DVD: Mike Birbiglia: What I Should Have Said Was Nothing - Tales From My Secret Public Journal, in stores April 8th.
Seems the secret is truly out on Birbiglia, as CBS has greenlit the comedy pilot “Mike Birbiglia’s Secret Public Journal.”
The project goes into production in April, and is based on comedian Mike Birbiglia’s weekly blog that chronicles his daily life, will star him as a stand-up comedian who lives with his girlfriend in Brooklyn and struggles in his efforts to be a grown up, have a relationship, and do the right things. Hollywood-Reporter
The DVD takes us into the inner musings of Birbigs as he worries, “What if I am the Kenny G of comedy?"
“Celebrity Golf” is story he tells us, taken from his secret public journal which recounts his miserable comedy set that was sandwiched before a raffle and after a Leukemia survivor's speech, then NFL Hall of Famer Phil Simms who got a standing ovation at a charity golf event in New Jersey.
We meet alter ego, “Sleepy Carl,” who convinces Mike that staying in bed and “skiing on French toast sticks” beats any appointment he may have.
Birbiglia tries to maintain his “One outfit for everything” motto, and details the bane of his “entourage” - Brother Joe, who wants to know if there are any more shrimp left at every event they attend.
Boston native Mike Birbiglia also pokes fun at his IT challenged parents and their accents as he explains to the audience he doesn’t sound at all like his family because he is “wicked smahht.”
Mike brought his “Secret Public Journal” to the stage in 2007 with his Comedy Central sponsored national tour, Mike Birbiglia’s Secret Public Tour to support the release of the CD.
The tour concluded with a concert taping of What I should Have Said Was Nothing, a “best of” the material from My Secret Public Journal and Two Drink Mike that premiered earlier on Comedy Central.
His strength is weaving past material into a wonderful new presentation that endears. His charming, quiet and bemused delivery is punctuated by his killer comedic timing. A must see DVD. Undoubtedly a TV pilot that will eagerly anticipated.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story