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| Jimmy Pardo | |
|---|---|
 Pardo performing atMaxFunCon 2009 inLake Arrowhead, California | |
| Birth name | James Ronald Pardo, Jr. |
| Born | Chicago,Illinois,U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy,television,film,podcast |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Genres | Observational comedy,crowd work,insult comedy |
| Subject(s) | Popular culture,American culture |
| Spouse | Danielle Koenig |
| Children | 1 |
| Relative(s) |
|
| Notable works and roles | Never Not Funny The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Conan |
| Website | JimmyPardo.com |
James Ronald Pardo, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and host of the comedypodcastNever Not Funny. From the show's inception until mid-2015, he performed as theConan O'Brien programConan'swarm-up comedian and cast member, after which he received a general development deal with O'Brien's production company. He last hosted the game showRace to Escape on the Science Channel.
Pardo was born inChicago,Illinois, and spent his first 8 years living on the south side, eventually moving to the south suburbs of Chicago. He spent his grade school years living inHometown, Illinois. In 1980, his family moved toOak Forest, Illinois, where he attendedOak Forest High School. In 1986, he moved toPasadena, California, to attend theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts (‘87). He attended for one year, then returned to Chicago to pursue a career in stand-up comedy.
In late 1988, Pardo started performing at open mics at various venues around Chicago, including The Roxy, The Last Laugh and The Comedy Cottage. The plethora of successfulcomedy clubs in the area at that time meant Pardo started earning money almost immediately, allowing him to quit his day job as a sales rep forMCA Records.[1] In addition to his comedy albumsUno,Pompous Clown andSprezzatura."
He has hosted such TV shows as Science Channel’s critically acclaimed “Race To Escape“, National Lampoon’s “Funny Money” for Game Show Network, five seasons of AMC’s “Movies at Our House,” with co-host Rachel Quaintance and episodes of NBC’s Late Friday, VH1’s “The Surreal Life” and “The Playboy Morning Show.”
Pardo was the warm-up comedian forThe Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien after being suggested by Andy Richter.[2] He has returned as the opening act forConan,[3] and appeared in a recurring on-air sketch throughout the week of April 11, 2011.[4] In May 2011, he began conducting backstage interviews with celebrity guests for aweb series called "The Pardo Patrol."[5]
After doing live talk and game shows at suchalternative comedy venues as theUpright Citizens Brigade Theater, Jimmy Pardo began the podcastNever Not Funny in 2006 at the urging of now-producer Matt Belknap. The show is in its thirty-first season[6][7] and places Pardo among the founders of podcasting. Pardo has been called a "pioneer" of podcasting.[8]Never Not Funny primarily features fellow comedians in improvised conversations. Many of his guests have gone on to host their own podcasts, including Conan O'Brien, Marc Maron & Sarah Silverman.
Pardo hosts an annual 12-hour live telethon charity fundraiser forSmile Train, an international children's charity to help children with cleft lip and palate. To date, the annual telethon event has raised over $1.7 million, totaling 4,800 surgeries.[citation needed]
In September 2013, Pardo released a comedy album entitledSprezzatura.[9]
In 2017, Pardo and Matt Belknap launched an additional podcast,Playing Games with Jimmy Pardo.[10]
In 2019, Pardo, Matt Belknap, and videographer Eliot Hochberg began releasing the web seriesJimmy's Records and Tapes on YouTube. Episodes feature Pardo talking about what went on in his life during a particular year while highlighting music and trivia regarding said year.[11]
Pardo is married to comedy writer Danielle Koenig,[12] daughter of actorWalter Koenig.They have one son named Oliver.[13]