Comedians Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti appeared on NBC’s Bring The Funny in 2019 and couldn’t even speak when producers asked them questions.
Chris and Paul, known as the comedy duo, The Chris and Paul Showspoke exclusively to The US Sun about their time on the competitive series as they prepared for comedy shows across the country.
The pair reached the final of Bring the funny but he didn’t take home the victory.
Bring the Funny had 40 unknown stand-up, variety and sketch comedy artists performing for the chance to win $250,000 and perform at the Just For Laughs international comedy festival in Montreal, Canada.
The show only lasted one season.
It was hosted by Amanda Seales and judged by Kenan Thompson, Jeff Foxworthy and Chrissy Teigen.
‘THIS IS CRAZY!’
Paul shared that he received an email from a friend who knew someone who worked for Bring the Funny and wanted to get their names out there.
He said they heard nothing for months until they finally got a call as the show asked them to send in their clips.
They auditioned and flew to Los Angeles.
“So we auditioned for several producers and that’s when we got our first glimpse of all the other people auditioning. And we thought, ‘Oh my God, this person is here and they are here. crazy,’” Chris shared.
“Paul and I have performed so well together for so many years, we know each other so well and we were so comfortable with each other on stage that we didn’t let our nerves get the best of us. It’s so cool that we have this opportunity. Let’s have fun.'”
‘SO BREATHLESS’
Chris shared that they got into a room with a group of artists and made some music for them.
“We were out of breath because I think the nervousness, the adrenaline. We did our parts and we can say it was going really well, which was great, and I think we were more excited,” Paul shared.
“So as we performed, we were like, ‘Oh my God, this is going really well.’ And when we finished, they started asking us questions.
“We were so out of breath and out of shape. It was the worst time to do an interview.”
Paul mimed panting as they both laughed.
“Like, it was like, ‘Now that you guys have done a lot of aerobics…’ because, on our show, Paul and I, one thing that people tell us a lot is, ‘Wow, I don’t know if you guys can do that kind of thing. of movement. And we were like, ‘Well, that’s a backhanded compliment, thank you very much,’” Chris joked.
But, they started asking us questions and we’re trying to, like, no, while we’re hyperventilating, just about our background. And I think they thought that was hilarious because we were desperate for oxygen.
Chris O’NeillThe Chris and Paul Show
“But they started asking us questions and we’re trying to, like, no, because we’re hyperventilating, just about our past. And I think they thought that was hilarious because we were desperate for oxygen.
“We left the room and one of the producers came over and made sure we had everything signed, and then she kind of gave us an idea that they wanted us for the show. started.”
Paul said it didn’t happen immediately because it all happened so quickly.
“We were slowly passing out too from lack of oxygen,” Chris laughed.
“I finally realized about a half hour later that we were on the show and it was really cool,” Paul said.
“It was a great experience and from then on, Chris and I kind of got caught up in that Bring the Funny madness and it was a great experience.”
ABOUT CHRIS AND PAULO
Chris and Paul met in high school and wanted to form an improv group.
They played a show at the end of the year and 700 people attended.
“We thought maybe 20 people would show up,” Chris said.
Although the rest of the group fizzled out, Chris and Paul stayed together and continued to write sketches.
They then moved to New York City and performed in comedy clubs there.
“We’ve always had this enthusiasm when it comes to these things, and the one thing that’s been really cool is we’ve never lost that,” Paul said.
“So when we do new things, I mean, and I think it comes across in our show as if we’re two big kids having fun on stage.”
AND NOW?
Even though they didn’t beat Bring the Funny, Chris and Paul didn’t give up.
From them online presence It was very driven, and they scheduled a tour, which had to be canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But they continue to do comedy shows.
They played a show at Asylum NYC on July 26th and an upcoming show on August 2nd at the Professional Youth Theater of Michigan in Detroit.
Chris and Paul also teach at comedy camps and run workshops.
They are also starting a children’s comedy show that will be a 30-minute interactive experience for everyone.
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