Al Madrigal
A patient storyteller who brings an HR manager's detachment to chaos.
3 specials · 2002–2017
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Al Madrigal tells stories like a guy who just pulled you aside at a loud barbecue. He builds long routines populated by specific people he ran into on the street or at work. He drops into the voice of an aggressive neighbor or a bored receptionist, but he keeps his physical movements small. He rarely paces the stage. He simply shifts his weight, changes his pitch, and lets the dialogue carry the bit.
Specials
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Dry storytelling about mixed heritage, Yelp reviews, and seafood revenge.
Showtime · 58 min
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Stories about restaurant math, discount oral sex, and enduring The Wiggles.
Comedy Central
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Premium Blend: Wanda Sykes (S6E6) with Henry Phillips, Melanie Reno & 2 more
A rapid-fire 2002 cable showcase featuring four emerging stand-ups.
Comedy Central · 25 min
On stage
Off stage, he is a quiet force in the business of standup. Along with Bill Burr, he built the All Things Comedy network, running an operation that gives comics ownership of their audio and video projects.
His material plays with how strangers read him. He is half-Mexican and half-Sicilian, and his premises often stem from the friction of not matching what people expect when they hear his name. He also draws from his old career in human resources. When he recounts firing employees or managing workplace disputes, he adopts a flat, professional tone that contrasts entirely with the frantic behavior of the people he had to terminate.
He developed his pacing in the San Francisco comedy scene. He never rushes to the end of a bit, trusting that the minor details of an interaction will hold the room until he decides the story is over.
Turning points
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Wins Jury Award at US Comedy Arts Festival
Madrigal won the Jury Award for Best Stand-Up Comedian at Aspen's U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, resulting in a talent holding deal with CBS and late-night appearances.
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Named Senior Latino Correspondent on The Daily Show
Hired on the spot by Jon Stewart after an audition piece on immigration legislation, Madrigal spent five seasons as regular correspondent on the landmark satirical news program.
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Co-Founding the All Things Comedy Cooperative Network
Madrigal partnered with Bill Burr to launch All Things Comedy, establishing an artist-owned podcast network aimed at providing comedians full ownership of their intellectual property.
At a glance
Fans also like
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Bill BurrMadrigal and Burr co-founded the artist-owned All Things Comedy podcast network and cooperative together in 2012, frequently collaborating across comedy productions.
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Neal Brennan
Brennan directed Madrigal's stand-up special Shrimpin' Ain't Easy, while Madrigal has served as executive producer on Brennan's stand-up specials.
Also on screen
- 2008–2010
- Gary Unmarried
- Welcome to The Captain
- 2014–2015
- About A Boy
- 2017–2018
- I'm Dying Up Here
- Night School
A clip to start with
Al Madrigal - Day Laborer (EXTENDED)