Dana Gould
Encyclopedia
Dana John Gould is an American comedian and comedy writer born and raised in Hopedale, Massachusetts
. His upbringing and his extended family lent themselves to his stand-up routine, which has been seen on HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central
, among other places.
. He eventually moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in comedy. It was there he, along with fellow comedian Alex Reid, founded the San Francisco Comedy Condo
in 1986.
Gould wrote and performed on The Ben Stiller Show
; one such sketch features Gould as Otto, Cupid's twisted brother, whose arrows convince a young man to fall madly in love with an elderly woman. Another series of sketches features a heavily disguised Gould as Wilford Brimley
advertising "Grady's Oats" (a parody of Brimley's Quaker Oats advertisements). In one, he speaks of his Uncle Ray's hobby of dressing in a pink taffeta gown and filling his panties with oatmeal; in another, he brandishes a revolver through the window at children. He also appeared in an episode of MADtv
as Newt Gingrich
and on one episode of Seinfeld
as "Fragile" Franky Mirman, Jerry's childhood friend (aka "The Summer George"). He co-created and was executive producer on the MTV
series Super Adventure Team
. In addition Gould's stand up material was featured in Comedy Central's
animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties
.
For seven years he wrote for The Simpsons
, one episode of which he provided the voice of Don Knotts
as Barney Fife
(an impression that originated in his standup routine). He left the show in late 2006 in order to focus on his own screenwriting.
Gould had a featured cameo in the 2003 film Girls Will Be Girls, in which he played a hit-and-run victim who admits to his alcohol problem after having a desperate one-night stand
with aging C-list actress Evie Harris, the other driver in the car accident. He was also featured in the film The Aristocrats
, where, among other commentary, he presents an Amish version of the eponymous joke
. His short films, Last Man On Earth, Break On Through With J.F.K., A Night On Java Island, and Soul Mates are also available for download on his site. Except for the latter, all feature Gould in acting roles. 2009 saw the release of his new stand up special, "Let Me Put My Thoughts In You" on Shout Factory.
Gould provided the voice for the title character in the U.S. versions of the Gex video game series and the UK version of the first game. Gould, with his frequent writing partner Rob Cohen, wrote the majority of the jokes for the games.
He was a regular contributor to the Adam Carolla
radio show where he did impressions of Huell Howser
. He appears occasionally on The Adam Carolla Show podcast
.
In 2010 he appeared in actual form on Family Guy
episode, "Brian Writes a Bestseller".
Hopedale, Massachusetts
Hopedale is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Hopedale, please see the article Hopedale , Massachusetts....
. His upbringing and his extended family lent themselves to his stand-up routine, which has been seen on HBO, Showtime, and Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, among other places.
Career
After high school, he studied communications and theatre at the University of Massachusetts AmherstUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
. He eventually moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in comedy. It was there he, along with fellow comedian Alex Reid, founded the San Francisco Comedy Condo
San Francisco Comedy Condo
The "Comedy Condo", also known as "The 336", has housed San Francisco comedians since 1986. Located at 336 21st Avenue, the space was first rented by Dana Gould, writer on The Simpsons and Alex Reid the head writer of Malcolm in the Middle...
in 1986.
Gould wrote and performed on The Ben Stiller Show
The Ben Stiller Show
The Ben Stiller Show was the name of two sketch comedy television shows that aired on MTV from 1990 to 1991, and then on Fox from September 1992 to January 1993. The Fox show starred Ben Stiller, Andy Dick, Janeane Garofalo and Bob Odenkirk. Character actor John F. O'Donohue also appeared in every...
; one such sketch features Gould as Otto, Cupid's twisted brother, whose arrows convince a young man to fall madly in love with an elderly woman. Another series of sketches features a heavily disguised Gould as Wilford Brimley
Wilford Brimley
Allen Wilford Brimley is an American actor. He has appeared in such films as The China Syndrome, Cocoon, The Thing and The Firm. He had a recurring role on the 1970s television series The Waltons...
advertising "Grady's Oats" (a parody of Brimley's Quaker Oats advertisements). In one, he speaks of his Uncle Ray's hobby of dressing in a pink taffeta gown and filling his panties with oatmeal; in another, he brandishes a revolver through the window at children. He also appeared in an episode of MADtv
MADtv
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
as Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
and on one episode of Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
as "Fragile" Franky Mirman, Jerry's childhood friend (aka "The Summer George"). He co-created and was executive producer on the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
series Super Adventure Team
Super Adventure Team
Super Adventure Team was an American comedy series shown on the cable television network MTV in 1998.It was produced in the style of Thunderbirds from 1964, with live action marionettes, but had more adult themes and suggestive situations...
. In addition Gould's stand up material was featured in Comedy Central's
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
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...
.
For seven years he wrote for The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, one episode of which he provided the voice of Don Knotts
Don Knotts
Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...
as Barney Fife
Barney Fife
Bernard "Barney" Fife is a fictional character in the American television program The Andy Griffith Show, portrayed by comic actor Don Knotts. Barney Fife is a deputy sheriff in the slow paced, sleepy southern community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
(an impression that originated in his standup routine). He left the show in late 2006 in order to focus on his own screenwriting.
Gould had a featured cameo in the 2003 film Girls Will Be Girls, in which he played a hit-and-run victim who admits to his alcohol problem after having a desperate one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
with aging C-list actress Evie Harris, the other driver in the car accident. He was also featured in the film The Aristocrats
The Aristocrats (film)
The Aristocrats is a 2005 documentary film about the famous dirty joke of the same name. It was conceived and produced by comedians Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza, edited by Emery Emery, and released to theaters by TH!NKFilm...
, where, among other commentary, he presents an Amish version of the eponymous joke
The Aristocrats (joke)
"The Aristocrats" is an exceptionally transgressive dirty joke that has been told by numerous stand-up comedians since the vaudeville era...
. His short films, Last Man On Earth, Break On Through With J.F.K., A Night On Java Island, and Soul Mates are also available for download on his site. Except for the latter, all feature Gould in acting roles. 2009 saw the release of his new stand up special, "Let Me Put My Thoughts In You" on Shout Factory.
Gould provided the voice for the title character in the U.S. versions of the Gex video game series and the UK version of the first game. Gould, with his frequent writing partner Rob Cohen, wrote the majority of the jokes for the games.
He was a regular contributor to the Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla
Adam Carolla is an American radio personality, television host, comedian, and actor. He currently hosts The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast on the ACE Broadcasting Network...
radio show where he did impressions of Huell Howser
Huell Howser
Huell Burnley Howser is an American television personality best known for California's Gold, his travel show for the Los Angeles based KCET.-Early career:...
. He appears occasionally on The Adam Carolla Show podcast
The Adam Carolla Show (podcast)
The Adam Carolla Show is a free podcast hosted by comedian and radio-television personality Adam Carolla...
.
In 2010 he appeared in actual form on Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
episode, "Brian Writes a Bestseller".
Personal life
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Sue Naegle, President of HBO Entertainment, and their three children. Each of his daughters was adopted from China.Discography
- "Funhouse (Stand Up! Records)"
- "Let Me Put My Thoughts In You (Shout! Factory)Let Me Put My Thoughts In You (Shout! Factory)Let Me Put My Thoughts In You is comedian Dana Gould's DVD debut. The one-hour comedy special was filmed at Chicago's Second City Theatre and aired repeatedly on U.S. cable network Showtime...
"
The Simpsons episodes
- "Homer the MoeHomer the Moe“Homer the Moe” is the third episode of The Simpsons’ thirteenth season. The episode first aired on the Fox network on November 18, 2001. In the episode, Moe, following advice of his former bartending professor, decides to modernize his bar...
" - "Poppa's Got a Brand New Badge"
- "C.E. D'ohC.E. D'oh"C.E. D'oh" is the fifteenth episode of The Simpsons’ fourteenth season.-Plot:A sleepy Marge is too tired on Valentine's Day to have sex with an eager and well-prepared Homer, who dejectedly leaves the house. He sees a billboard for a school offering extension courses. He goes to the school and...
" - "The President Wore PearlsThe President Wore Pearls"The President Wore Pearls" is the third episode of the The Simpsons fifteenth season, first broadcast on November 16, 2003. The episode was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Music And Lyrics .-Plot:...
" - "Goo Goo Gai PanGoo Goo Gai Pan"Goo Goo Gai Pan" is the twelfth episode from the sixteenth season of The Simpsons, which originally aired on March 13, 2005. The episode is banned in the People's Republic of China due to its unfavorable reference to Mao Zedong...
" (under the name Lawrence Talbot) - "Bart Has Two MommiesBart Has Two Mommies"Bart Has Two Mommies" is the fourteenth episode of the seventeenth season of The Simpsons.-Plot:One day, the Simpsons attend a church fundraiser for a new steeple. In spite of Homer's best efforts to cheat, Ned Flanders wins a rubber duck racing contest and wins a female-oriented computer called...
" - "I Don't Wanna Know Why the Caged Bird SingsI Don't Wanna Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"I Don't Wanna Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" is the fourth episode of The Simpsons nineteenth season, and first aired on October 14, 2007. For the second time in the series, Marge helps a prison assailant. Marge meets Dwight , a man who attempts to rob the bank the two are in...
"