Neal Brennan
Encyclopedia
Neal Brennan is an American
writer
, stand-up comedian, director
, and producer
. He is best known for co-creating the Comedy Central
series Chappelle's Show
.
Brennan and Dave Chappelle
met when both were aspiring stand-ups
. Through his older brother, an established stand up comedian and comedy writer Kevin Brennan
, Brennan got a part-time job working as the doorman
at Boston Comedy Club in New York City
where Chappelle was a frequent performer. They became good friends and collaborated on jokes. They co-wrote the film Half-Baked which starred Chappelle. In an interview on Inside the Actor's Studio, Chappelle admitted that he and Brennan could not help but see each other as a painful reminder of the box-office failure of Half-Baked and lost touch with each other. Four years later, they rekindled their partnership to create the sketch comedy
show, Chappelle's Show, which premiered in January 2003. The duo wrote the sketches themselves with very little outside help.
Brennan is frequently mentioned during Chappelle's stand-up routines.
On an interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show
on February 9, 2006, Chappelle stated that Brennan made no attempt to contact him, despite the numerous media reports that Chappelle went to Africa to escape the pressures of running a high-profile show. "How many times do you think he's called his sick buddy since he went to Africa
?",
In an interview in the July 2006 issue of Maxim Magazine, when asked if he would ever work with Chappelle again, he said there was "no chance."
Brennan appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on June 14, 2011, speaking in depth about his falling out with Dave Chappelle and the end of Chappelle Show. "I loved writing with him," Neal told host Joe Rogan
, "[Comedy Central] just made it about pitting us against each other."
Neal Brennan was recently credited for writing comedy material for the 83rd Academy Awards
. In May, 2011, he wrote material for his friend Seth Meyers at the White House Correspondents dinner.
In June 2011 Brennan stated in an interview with Chicago Now that he was victimized by the way the Chappelle Show ended more so than Dave Chappelle.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, stand-up comedian, director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
, and producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. He is best known for co-creating the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
series Chappelle's Show
Chappelle's Show
Chappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedian Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show as well as starring in various skits. Chappelle, Brennan and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22,...
.
Brennan and Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle
David Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle is an American comedian, screenwriter, television/film producer, actor, and artist. Chappelle began his film career in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 and continued to star in minor roles in the films The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak. His...
met when both were aspiring stand-ups
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
. Through his older brother, an established stand up comedian and comedy writer Kevin Brennan
Kevin Brennan (comedian)
Kevin Brennan is a stand-up comedian and former writer for Saturday Night Live. He frequently performs at the Comedy Cellar and the Comic Strip Live in Manhattan...
, Brennan got a part-time job working as the doorman
Bouncer (doorman)
A bouncer is an informal term for a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs or concerts to provide security, check legal age, and refuse entry to a venue based on criteria such as intoxication, aggressive behavior, or attractiveness...
at Boston Comedy Club in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where Chappelle was a frequent performer. They became good friends and collaborated on jokes. They co-wrote the film Half-Baked which starred Chappelle. In an interview on Inside the Actor's Studio, Chappelle admitted that he and Brennan could not help but see each other as a painful reminder of the box-office failure of Half-Baked and lost touch with each other. Four years later, they rekindled their partnership to create the sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
show, Chappelle's Show, which premiered in January 2003. The duo wrote the sketches themselves with very little outside help.
Brennan is frequently mentioned during Chappelle's stand-up routines.
On an interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
on February 9, 2006, Chappelle stated that Brennan made no attempt to contact him, despite the numerous media reports that Chappelle went to Africa to escape the pressures of running a high-profile show. "How many times do you think he's called his sick buddy since he went to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
?",
In an interview in the July 2006 issue of Maxim Magazine, when asked if he would ever work with Chappelle again, he said there was "no chance."
Brennan appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on June 14, 2011, speaking in depth about his falling out with Dave Chappelle and the end of Chappelle Show. "I loved writing with him," Neal told host Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan
Joseph James "Joe" Rogan is an American comedian, video blogger, actor, writer, podcaster, and martial artist. He is best known for his work on NewsRadio, his work as color commentator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and his hosting work on Fear Factor.-Acting:In 1994, Rogan co-starred on...
, "[Comedy Central] just made it about pitting us against each other."
Neal Brennan was recently credited for writing comedy material for the 83rd Academy Awards
83rd Academy Awards
The 83rd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2010 and took place February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, Academy Awards ...
. In May, 2011, he wrote material for his friend Seth Meyers at the White House Correspondents dinner.
In June 2011 Brennan stated in an interview with Chicago Now that he was victimized by the way the Chappelle Show ended more so than Dave Chappelle.
Television Work
- Totally AwesomeTotally AwesomeErik Piskun Totally Awesome is a television movie produced by VH1. Totally Awesome directly parodies a number of 1980s movies, including Dirty Dancing, Soul Man, Footloose, Some Kind of Wonderful, Sixteen Candles, Teen Wolf, Better Off Dead, Lucas, Pretty in Pink, and The Karate Kid...
writer and director (2006) - Chappelle's ShowChappelle's ShowChappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedian Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show as well as starring in various skits. Chappelle, Brennan and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22,...
writer and director (2003–2004) - All ThatAll ThatAll That is an American live-action, sketch comedy-variety show that aired on the Nickelodeon cable television network featuring short comedic sketches and weekly musical guests. The theme song for All That was performed by TLC...
writer (1996–1997) - Kenan & KelKenan & KelKenan & Kel is an American teen sitcom produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions that originally aired on Nickelodeon from July 1996 to July 2000. The show starred friends and then-All That cast members Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. Sixty-two episodes and a made-for-TV movie were produced over four...
wrote 1 episode (1997) - Singled Out! writer (1996)
Filmography
- The Goods: Live Hard, Sell HardThe Goods: Live Hard, Sell HardThe Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard is a 2009 comedy film directed by Neal Brennan, starring Jeremy Piven and Ed Helms. The film was released on August 14, 2009.- Plot :...
, director (2009) - Half BakedHalf BakedHalf Baked is a 1998 stoner comedy film starring Dave Chappelle, Jim Breuer, Harland Williams and Guillermo Díaz. The movie was directed by Tamra Davis, and co-written by star Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan...
, writer (1998)