Bert Kreischer
Encyclopedia
Bert "The Machine" Kreischer is an American
stand-up comedian
, actor
and reality television
host
. In 1997, he was featured in Rolling Stone
as the "top partier" at Florida State University
, the "top party school in the US", while he was in his sixth year of college. The Rolling Stone article was the inspiration for the 2002 movie Van Wilder
. From 2000 to 2001, he was the co-host of the FX Network variety show, The X Show
. A segment that aired on the show, "Ass Wax", where Kreischer had his hair removed with hot wax, led Kreischer to gain his own show on the FX Network, titled Hurt Bert, in 2004. In the same year, he had a role in an episode of the police drama The Shield
.
When Kreischer was 22 years old he ran with the Russian mob and even robbed a train. He talked about these exploits on April 5, 2011, on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast #95 and Opie and Anthony on June 28, 2011.
Parts of Kreischer's stand-up routine were used in Comedy Central
's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties
, which aired in 2004 and is now on DVD. In 2008, he participated in the Comedy Central
reality
show
Reality Bites Back
, where comedians competed in a variety of contests that were parodies
of different reality shows. In 2009, he was given a one hour comedy
special on Comedy Central
titled Bert Kreischer: Comfortably Dumb. Kreischer was formerly known as the fifth member of the Cowhead Radio Show in Tampa, Florida.
In 2010, he became the host of the Travel Channel
reality show, Bert the Conqueror
. In the show, he is an "every day guy" who travels across the United States
to amusement parks and other entertainment venues to experience and promote various roller coaster
s, water rides, and unusual sport
s.
On January 19, 2011, Kreischer appeared as a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience
and revealed that the story of National Lampoon's Van Wilder
was loosely based on his own life. After the Rolling Stone
article was written about Kreischer's "party" lifestyle, he had gotten the attention of Oliver Stone
, who had wished to develop a film based on his life. Upon receiving numerous script submissions, the deal had apparently fallen apart and all the writers had retained the intellectual rights to their work. One of these writers had supposedly changed Kreischer's name on their script and sold it to National Lampoon which eventually became the basis for Van Wilder. He also revealed this two years earlier on the Jay Thomas Show on Sirius Satellite Radio.
On April 1, 2011, Kreischer hinted about a potential spin-off show from his Bert the Conqueror show on the Travel Channel in an interview with Man of the House.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stand-up comedian
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...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
host
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
. In 1997, he was featured in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
as the "top partier" at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, the "top party school in the US", while he was in his sixth year of college. The Rolling Stone article was the inspiration for the 2002 movie Van Wilder
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
National Lampoon's Van Wilder is a 2002 comedy film directed by Walt Becker that stars Ryan Reynolds as the main character. The film also stars Kal Penn, Tara Reid, and Daniel Cosgrove. It features Sophia Bush's acting debut...
. From 2000 to 2001, he was the co-host of the FX Network variety show, The X Show
The X Show
The X Show was a magazine, variety, and interview/talk program that aired on FX Network in the US from May 1999 to April 2001. Running time was originally one hour, but this was later reduced to a half-hour. The show was 'guy-themed' much like a TV equivalent of Maxim magazine , though seldom as...
. A segment that aired on the show, "Ass Wax", where Kreischer had his hair removed with hot wax, led Kreischer to gain his own show on the FX Network, titled Hurt Bert, in 2004. In the same year, he had a role in an episode of the police drama The Shield
The Shield
The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
.
When Kreischer was 22 years old he ran with the Russian mob and even robbed a train. He talked about these exploits on April 5, 2011, on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast #95 and Opie and Anthony on June 28, 2011.
Parts of Kreischer's stand-up routine were used in Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties
Shorties Watchin' Shorties
Shorties Watchin' Shorties was a television show broadcast on Comedy Central that is now on DVD. The show is made up of various short animated clips with audio from comedians' stand up routines. It also features two "shorties," a pair of babies voiced by Nick DiPaolo and Patrice O'Neal who watch...
, which aired in 2004 and is now on DVD. In 2008, he participated in the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
reality
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Reality Bites Back
Reality Bites Back
Reality Bites Back is a reality show hosted by Michael Ian Black that parodies various reality show formats. It premiered July 17, 2008 on Comedy Central. The name is derived from the 1994 film Reality Bites.- Premise :...
, where comedians competed in a variety of contests that were parodies
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of different reality shows. In 2009, he was given a one hour comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
special on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
titled Bert Kreischer: Comfortably Dumb. Kreischer was formerly known as the fifth member of the Cowhead Radio Show in Tampa, Florida.
In 2010, he became the host of the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
reality show, Bert the Conqueror
Bert the Conqueror
Bert the Conqueror is an American reality television series which premiered on the Travel Channel on June 16, 2010.The show is hosted by the American stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer. He travels across the United States to amusement parks and other entertainment venues to experience and promote...
. In the show, he is an "every day guy" who travels across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to amusement parks and other entertainment venues to experience and promote various roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
s, water rides, and unusual sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s.
On January 19, 2011, Kreischer appeared as a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience
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...
and revealed that the story of National Lampoon's Van Wilder
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
National Lampoon's Van Wilder is a 2002 comedy film directed by Walt Becker that stars Ryan Reynolds as the main character. The film also stars Kal Penn, Tara Reid, and Daniel Cosgrove. It features Sophia Bush's acting debut...
was loosely based on his own life. After the Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
article was written about Kreischer's "party" lifestyle, he had gotten the attention of Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
, who had wished to develop a film based on his life. Upon receiving numerous script submissions, the deal had apparently fallen apart and all the writers had retained the intellectual rights to their work. One of these writers had supposedly changed Kreischer's name on their script and sold it to National Lampoon which eventually became the basis for Van Wilder. He also revealed this two years earlier on the Jay Thomas Show on Sirius Satellite Radio.
On April 1, 2011, Kreischer hinted about a potential spin-off show from his Bert the Conqueror show on the Travel Channel in an interview with Man of the House.