American comedian, actor, author, and “telephone call enthusiast” Chris Gethard is best known for his eponymous talk show, which ran for seven years on various networks, including TruTV. A mix of comedy, interviews, and phone-ins, the New York-based show developed a devout following, with some fans becoming so committed to it that they became part of the cast and crew. Since the show finished in 2018,
Gethard has hosted a podcast called Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, in which he talks to an anonymous caller for an hour and is not allowed to hang up first — no matter where the conversation goes. The inventiveness of both his TV show and podcast illustrates perfectly why Gethard is so highly-regarded by his fans.
Born in New Jersey in 1980, Gethard began training in improvisational comedy at the legendary Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Manhattan whilst studying at college. His first professional jobs involved small roles in sitcoms such as Hope & Faith and as an occasional writer for shows, including the iconic Saturday Night Live. In 2009, he began The Chris Gethard Show as a monthly live event. It proved popular and moved to television two years later, with a pilot soon being commissioned by Comedy Central. In 2013, he made a guest appearance in HBO’s The Office and, three years later, was performing a one-man show on the channel entitled Career Suicide, in which he talked frankly about his struggles with mental help. He also crossed the Atlantic to perform the show at the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival.