Dana Gould
Mid-century showbiz polish wrapped around pure, articulate anxiety.
5 specials · 1992–2025
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Dana Gould stands on stage and sounds like a 1960s television host who is quietly losing his mind. He talks in a clipped, formal cadence, dropping tightly packed sentences while holding his arms stiffly at his sides. He has a habit of leaning into the microphone to deliver a bleak observation in a hushed, confidential whisper, treating a grim joke about his own anxiety like a terrible secret. He does not just chat with the crowd. Every adjective is placed exactly where he wants it.
Specials
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YouTube
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Pop culture, true crime, and odd obsessions at Seattle's Neptune Theatre.
Comedy Dynamics · 50 min
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Storytelling and pop culture obsessions from the alternative comedy boom.
Stand Up! Records · Album · 50 min
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A twitchy half-hour of Massachusetts fatalism and classic pop culture paranoia.
HBO · 30 min
On stage
He occupies a distinct, self-sustaining corner of comedy. He came up in the Boston standup boom, moved to Los Angeles, and spent years writing for The Simpsons. Other comics watch him to see how jokes are built. He caters to a dedicated audience of comedy nerds and monster movie obsessives, maintaining his position without having to chase arena tours.
He builds bits with deliberate patience. He will start a story about his upbringing in Massachusetts and detour into old Hollywood lore or obscure historical trivia before snapping the punchline into place. He is funniest when his genuine frustration breaks through his polished delivery. When a bit feels cold, it is usually because the writing is so intricate that it creates a wall between him and the room, making him sound more like he is reading a finished script than talking to the people in front of him.
His background in television shapes how he sounds on stage. You can hear the rhythm of a sitcom writers’ room in his act, while his podcast, The Dana Gould Hour, serves as an audio scrapbook for his fixations on classic horror and mid-century pop culture.
Turning points
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Founding the San Francisco Comedy Condo
After relocating from Massachusetts to pursue comedy, Gould and Alex Reid established the San Francisco Comedy Condo, an apartment that housed numerous rising comedians.
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2001–2007
Joining The Simpsons Writing Staff
Gould spent seven years writing and serving as co-executive producer on The Simpsons, contributing voices before departing to focus on original screenwriting projects.
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Launching The Dana Gould Hour Podcast
Gould created his self-produced podcast, pairing thematic monologues, comedy conversations, and music, which became an iTunes comedy staple.
At a glance
Fans also like
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Bobcat GoldthwaitCollaborated with Gould on the 2022 dual comedy release Joy Ride, sharing comedic sensibilities rooted in indie alternative comedy and eccentric pop-culture obsessions.
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Eddie Pepitone
Shares a recurring dynamic with Gould as a frequent regular guest on The Dana Gould Hour exploring neurotic and eccentric themes.
Podcasts
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The Dana Gould Hour · host
Dana Gould takes a look at the world through his eyes with conversations, music, monologues, and a focus on the weird and the real alongside fellow comedians and guests.
Also on screen
- The Ben Stiller Show
- Seinfeld
- Working
- Super Adventure Team
- 2002–2020
- The Simpsons
A clip to start with
Dana Gould - The Scariest Thing About Divorce