Based on his Netflix comedy special, “Blocks.” Neal Brennan interviews friends and colleagues about the things that make them feel lonely, isolated, and like something’s wrong – and how they are persevering despite these blocks.
In this week’s episode, Neal Brennan interviews comedian Jimmy Carr (The man we owe The Blocks Podcast to, ‘His Dark Material’ on Netflix & more) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something’s wrong – and how he is persevering despite these blocks.
Brennan continues to perform stand-up regularly in the Los Angeles area as well as nationally. His first one-hour stand-up special Women and Black Dudes premiered on Comedy Central in 2014. In 2017, Brennan released his second one-hour stand-up special 3 Mics on Netflix to widespread critical acclaim. 3 Mics features Brennan switching between three different microphones symbolizing three different styles of comedy. On January 1st, 2019 Brennan released an all new half hour of material on Netflix as part of the Comedians of the World series. Brennan has also performed stand-up on Last Call with Carson Daly, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Lopez Tonight, and Conan.
As a film director, Brennan has helmed feature films, television episodes, documentaries, stand-up specials and nationally syndicated commercials. His directing credits include the feature film The Goods starring Jeremy Piven, multiple episodes of Inside Amy Schumer, JAY-Z’s 4:44 documentary series that featured Will Smith, Chris Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, Trevor Noah, and other celebrities, comedian Michelle Wolf’s critically acclaimed one-hour HBO special Nice Lady, a series of commercials for the ESPY’s, and several nationally syndicated commercials for major brands featuring celebrities and athletes including Lebron James.
In 2011, Brennan, comedian Moshe Kasher, and DJ Douggpound, started a podcast called The Champs which ran until 2016. Guests on the show included actor/comedians Wayne Brady, Chris Rock, Mario Joyner, Shawn and Marlon Wayans, and David Alan Grier, adult film star Lexington Steele, rapper Too $hort, and professional basketball player Blake Griffin.
Brennan co-wrote the cult classic film Half Baked with Chappelle as well as episodes of SNL that featured Chappelle and Aziz Ansari as hosts. He also wrote comedy material for the 83rd Academy Awards and for Seth Meyers’ speech at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2011. In that speech, Meyers infamously poked fun at Donald Trump, who was in the audience.
Starting in 2016, Brennan became a contributor to The Daily Show with Trevor Noah as “Trevor’s friend Neal.”
This Week’s Special Guest:
Jimmy Carr: Jimmy Carr is an award-winning comedian, writer and television host, famous for his dark humour and one-line jokes. You can think of him as either a politically incorrect equal opportunities offender or a fake-toothed donkey-laugh plastic-haired comedy mannequin. Either way he was scientifically proven to be the funniest comedian in the UK.
The best way to get to know the man behind the jokes is to listen to his interviews. The selection below showcases his kinder, more thoughtful side and will also give you a recommended reading list (from a very well-read man).
In 2021’s Diary of a CEO he talked about topics like depression, flow state, happiness, the meaning of life and being a new father.
Jimmy is obsessed with music and you can get a feel for his musical tastes from his selection on Desert Island Discs
Ask yourself “what do you want” is a strong takeaway from the Modern Wisdom podcast that covers discussions about the modern obsession with the individual, young men in crisis, cancellation, kindness, quarter life crises in men and much more.
Appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience Jimmy gives his thoughts on, amongst other things, gratitude, JFK, Nuclear power, religion, his love for comedy and how he’d like to see it taught in schools, to help children find their voice.
Checkout more episodes of Blocks w/ Neal Brennan featuring Ralph Barbosa, Matt Rife, Dan Soder, Sarah Silverman, and more HERE
