Don Friesen
Encyclopedia
Don Friesen is an American stand-up comedian. Friesen is a relatively "clean" performer who uses self-deprecating humor to lampoon his life as a suburban husband and father. His act consists of satirical scenes that spoof his daily interactions with his wife, kids, tech support, creditors, and airline pilots, mixed in with impressions, improvisation and audience interaction.
Friesen was born and raised in Fresno
, California
. He graduated with a business degree from the University of Southern California
. In his senior year at USC, Friesen founded a campus-based improv troupe called Commedus Interruptus that still performs weekly shows on campus. In 1992, Friesen married Jill Scariano. They live in South Pasadena, California
, with their two children.
In 1999, Friesen won the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition
. In 2005, he returned to the competition with different material and took first place again, becoming the only person to win the competition twice. His first win led to a performance on the Martin Short Show, where, immediately after his set, he was asked to change his shirt and tape a second performance in front of the same audience. The second set aired a month later. Friesen has also appeared on Byron Allen
’s Comics Unleashed
. His episode was tapped for the syndicated program’s compilation “Best of Comics Unleashed” DVD.
Friesen’s stand-up performance DVD/CD “Inexplicable,” was taped at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, CA, and released independently in July 2005.
Friesen performed on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham
" (2009) episode #4.2, which originally aired in Oct 2009. He currently tours the country performing live in a variety of venues ranging from comedy clubs, theaters, and casinos, to corporate events, colleges and cruise ships. He can be heard regularly in Los Angeles on the 95.5 KLOS
Five O-Clock Funnies, and nationally on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio
.
Friesen was born and raised in Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He graduated with a business degree from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. In his senior year at USC, Friesen founded a campus-based improv troupe called Commedus Interruptus that still performs weekly shows on campus. In 1992, Friesen married Jill Scariano. They live in South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 25,619, up from 24,292 at the 2000 census. It is located in in the West San Gabriel Valley...
, with their two children.
In 1999, Friesen won the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition
San Francisco International Comedy Competition
The San Francisco International Comedy Competition is a stand-up comedy contest held each September in San Francisco, California, and neighboring areas of Northern California....
. In 2005, he returned to the competition with different material and took first place again, becoming the only person to win the competition twice. His first win led to a performance on the Martin Short Show, where, immediately after his set, he was asked to change his shirt and tape a second performance in front of the same audience. The second set aired a month later. Friesen has also appeared on Byron Allen
Byron Allen
Byron Allen is an American comedian. He is the head of Entertainment Studios, a broadcast syndication company responsible for producing and distributing several television shows pertaining to stand-up comedy and the entertainment industry. Allen also hosts some of the shows himself.-Early...
’s Comics Unleashed
Comics Unleashed
Comics Unleashed is a half-hour comedic talk show produced by the Entertainment Studios production company and hosted by Byron Allen, with John Cramer as announcer and ' providing music support. The show features a panel of four guest comedians performing their standup bits thinly disguised as a...
. His episode was tapped for the syndicated program’s compilation “Best of Comics Unleashed” DVD.
Friesen’s stand-up performance DVD/CD “Inexplicable,” was taped at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, CA, and released independently in July 2005.
Friesen performed on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham
Live At Gotham
Live at Gotham is a standup comedy television show airing on Comedy Central in the United States. The show features up and coming stand up comedians performing live at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. It premiered on July 21, 2006....
" (2009) episode #4.2, which originally aired in Oct 2009. He currently tours the country performing live in a variety of venues ranging from comedy clubs, theaters, and casinos, to corporate events, colleges and cruise ships. He can be heard regularly in Los Angeles on the 95.5 KLOS
KLOS
KLOS is an FM rock music radio station based in Los Angeles, California, that debuted in 1969. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. It is home to the nationally broadcast Mark & Brian radio show, and Off The Record host Uncle Joe Benson.-History:...
Five O-Clock Funnies, and nationally on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
.
External links
- Don Friesen's official website
- Don Friesen's corporate booking website
- Don Friesen's channel on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Don Friesen on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Don Friesen on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....