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Hari Kondabolu

Hari Karthikeya Kondabolu[1] (born October 21, 1982)[2][3] is an American stand-up comedian and writer. His comedy covers subjects such as race, inequity, and Indian stereotypes. He was a writer for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and the creator of the 2017 documentary film The Problem with Apu.

Hari Kondabolu
Kondabolu in 2016
Birth nameHari Karthikeya Kondabolu
Born (1982-10-21) October 21, 1982 (age 42)
New York City, U.S.
MediumStand-up, film, podcasts
Education
Years active2006–present
Genres
Subject(s)
Children1
Relative(s)Ashok Kondabolu (brother)
Websiteharikondabolu.com

Early life and family

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Kondabolu was born October 21, 1982, in the Flushing neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens, to Uma and Ravi Kondabolu,[2] who had immigrated from the city of Tenali in the Coastal Andhra region of South India.[4][5] His mother was previously a physician in India, and both parents became the heads of New York area medical labs. Ravi Kondabolu had immigrated to the United States in 1978.[6]

Kondabolu attended public schools in Queens: PS 69 in Jackson Heights, PS 115 in Floral Park, MS 172 in Floral Park,[7][8] and Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, where he graduated in 2000.[9]

Kondabolu is the older brother of Ashok Kondabolu, who is a former member of the group Das Racist.

Education

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Kondabolu continued performing standup when he attended Bowdoin College; he called his years at Bowdoin "incredibly formative"[10] and continues to spend part of every year in Maine.[11] He studied at Wesleyan University during his third year, focusing on identity and race, globalization, and "the impact of popular culture on society."[12]

Although his stand-up comedy career was gaining traction in 2007, he was accepted to the Masters in Human Rights program at the London School of Economics in 2007, and thus took a hiatus year from stand-up to earn his MSc.[13][14][15]

Stand-up comedy

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While in Seattle, Kondabolu began participating in its alternative comedy scene.[4][16] His act included "a bit where I used to read the U.S. citizenship application onstage."[17] In 2006, Kondabolu performed at the Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival in Seattle, which he credits as his "big break," as a booker for HBO's Comedy Festival saw his name on the Bumbershoot website.[18] Later, Kondabolu also filmed "Hari Kondabolu: Warn Your Relatives" in Seattle.[19][20][21]

 
Kondabolu on stage in 2017

Kondabolu has since made numerous television appearances as a stand-up comic. His first notable television appearance was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2007, when he also began to appear in a variety of national comedy festivals, including the 2007 HBO US Comedy Arts Festival.[22] In October 2012, he performed stand-up on an episode of Conan and, in March 2014, he performed stand-up on The Late Show with David Letterman. He has made several appearances on Comedy Central, including a 2008 episode of Live at Gotham,[23] three episodes of John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show in 2010 and 2012,[24][25][26] and most prominently, his own episode of Comedy Central Presents which aired on February 11, 2011.[27] He has also appeared a number of times on British television, including on Russell Howard's Good News in 2011 and 8 out of 10 Cats in 2012. In 2012, he had a recurring sketch as part of BBC Three's Live at the Electric hosted by Russell Kane.[28] He has also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival[29] and was a featured comedian for the US State Department-sponsored "Make Chai Not War" comedy showcase in India in 2012.[30][31]

From 2012 to 2013, he was on the writing staff for the FX comedy series Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, produced by Chris Rock and hosted by W. Kamau Bell, on which he often appeared as a correspondent.

His first stand-up comedy album, Waiting for 2042, was released in March 2014 on Kill Rock Stars.[32]

His second comedy album, Mainstream American Comic, was released on July 22, 2016, on Kill Rock Stars.[33][34] It debuted at #1 on the iTunes US comedy charts[35] and at #2 on the Billboard comedy charts.[36]

Since 2017, Kondabolu has served as a panelist on the NPR comedy news quiz Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.[37]

In 2018, he spoke about his experience of teaching a workshop at the Columbia River Correctional Institute Comedy School in North Portland as a guest on Live Wire! Radio.[38]

Themes

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Kondabolu's humor often centers on social issues such as poverty, racism, and a rejection of Indian stereotypes seen in media. He has spoken about the challenges of dealing with white fragility when addressing race in his comedy.[39] He has also addressed a variety of other social subjects, such as the LGBT community.

Podcast host

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Kondabolu and his younger brother Ashok performed in a monthly, mostly improvised talk show together in New York City called Untitled Kondabolu Brothers Project. Past guests have included Ajay Naidu, Aasif Mandvi, Bell, Leo Allen, Victor Vazquez (Kool AD of Das Racist), Charles Mudede and Blue Scholars. In January 2013, they started Untitled Kondabolu Brothers Podcast.[40] After a hiatus from 2015 onwards, the podcast debuted again as the Kondabolu Brothers Podcast in 2018 on the Earwolf label.[41][42]

He is a co-host of the podcast Politically Re-Active with Bell, which debuted in June 2016.[43] He also debuted as a rotating host on The Bugle alongside Andy Zaltzman in the fall of 2016 after the departure of John Oliver.[44][45]

Acting and film

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Kondabolu wrote and starred in Zia Mohajerjasbi's 2007 short film Manoj,[46] which has played in comedy and film festivals around the world, including the Just for Laughs Festivals in Montreal and Chicago, and which mocks comedians who broadly exploit their ethnic backgrounds for their material.[47] In Manoj, Kondabolu portrays both Manoj, a fictional Indian immigrant comic who plays to white audiences by repeating their stereotypes of South Asians, and an Indian-American who is critical of Manoj's approach.

Kondabolu portrayed "Crossword Businessman" in the 2009 film All About Steve,[48] a movie he mocks in Mainstream American Comic.[49] He also played a supporting role in the 2016 film Five Nights in Maine,[50] although none of his scenes were included in the final 75-minute cut of the film.[51][52] Also in 2016, he appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the Comedy Central web series White Flight.[53]

Kondabolu is the lead, creator, and executive director of The Problem with Apu, a documentary about the character Apu from The Simpsons that premiered in November 2017 on TruTV.[54][55] The film contextualizes Apu within minstrelsy and other tropes in American pop culture history that have historically stereotyped minorities.[56][57] Along with Megan Stalter, Kondabolu is a co-host of Season 1 of Netflix's Snack vs. Chef, a reality cooking competition series.

Personal life

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Kondabolu lives in Brooklyn with his wife and son, born in 2020.[58]

See also

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Discography

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  • Waiting for 2042 (2014)
  • Mainstream American Comic (2016)
  • Hari Kondabolu's New Material Night: Volume 1 (recorded 2012, released 2017)[59]
  • Hari Kondabolu's New Material Night: Volume 2 (recorded 2012–2018, released 2020)[60]

References

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  1. ^ Beem, Edgar Allen (Summer 2011). "Stand Up With a Social Conscience" (PDF). Bowdoin. Vol. 82, no. 2. Maine: Bowdoin College. p. 39. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Beem, p. 38
  3. ^ Zaltzman, Andrew; Kondabolu, Hari (October 19, 2018). "Hari Kondabolu Day: Bugle 4084". The Bugle (Podcast). Event occurs at 11:04. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Bklynr | Hari Kondabolu Walks Into a Bar". bklynr.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  5. ^ Sharma, Neha (April 20, 2012). "The Small Town South Indian Boys Of New York". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  6. ^ Bertrand, Donald (October 5, 1998). "Metro People in Profile: Ravi Kumar Kondabolu, Chief Technologist, New York Flushing Hospital". New York Daily News. p. 4 – via Proquest. Then came word in 1992 that the Indian government planned to use the Wyra acreage for other purposes. "My brother and I rushed back to India and offered our own money to start the college," he said. In 1994, Kondabolu Venkaiaah Choudary Memorial began in rented quarters with only 28 students. ... Ravi, who lives in Jamaica Estates, said he works long hours as chief technologist in the cardiology department of New York Flushing Hospital in an effort to send at least $15,000 annually back to India to support the college.
  7. ^ Kondabolu, Hari (October 1, 2015). "Noteworthy graduates: Hari Kondabolu, comedian". United Federation of Teachers. New York Teacher. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  8. ^ "WELCOME - Irwin Altman Middle School 172 - Q172 - New York City Department of Education". schools.nyc.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  9. ^ Rahman, Amrin. "Class of 2000 alum and Netflix comedian Hari Kondabolu speaks on diversity and his career". The Classic. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  10. ^ O'Donnell, Matt (July 6, 2015). "Leaving the 'Late Show'". community.bowdoin.edu. Bowdoin News. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  11. ^ Hari Kondabolu Archived March 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. SFstandup.com, October 15, 2008. By Nato Green. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  12. ^ "Interning with Senators". News India - Times. July 25, 2003. p. 21 – via Proquest.
  13. ^ "Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU | Hari Kondabolu (2014-2015)". www.nyu-apastudies.org. June 22, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  14. ^ "Degrees Awarded in Autumn 2008" (PDF). LSE Digest. The London School of Economics and Political Science: 76. August 1, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2016. MSc in Human Rights: ... Merit ... Hari Karthikeya Kondabolu
  15. ^ Blair, Elizabeth (July 18, 2013). "Comedian Hari Kondabolu On Diversity, Race And Burger King". NPR.
  16. ^ "Bio — Hari Kondabolu". www.harikondabolu.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  17. ^ Gross, Terry (April 21, 2014). "For Comic Hari Kondabolu, Explaining The Joke IS The Joke". National Public Radio. Fresh Air. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  18. ^ Chitnis, Deepak (March 4, 2014). "Growing up I'd tell people, even other Indians, that I was Telugu and they would have no idea what that meant: Hari Kondabolu". The American Bazaar. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  19. ^ "In Warn Your Relatives, Hari Kondabolu Steps into the Spotlight and Nails It". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  20. ^ Adams, Erik. "Hari Kondabolu gives you more to think about in Warn Your Relatives". TV Club. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  21. ^ Upadhyaya, Kayla Kumari. "Warn Your Relatives: Hari Kondabolu's new special is best when it's at its simplest". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  22. ^ Scanlon, T. "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to a Human Rights Master's Degree", Seattle Times, July 24, 2007
  23. ^ "Live at Gotham". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  24. ^ "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show: Season 1, Episode 2". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  25. ^ "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show: Season 3, Episode 1". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  26. ^ "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show: Season 3, Episode 5". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  27. ^ "'COMEDY CENTRAL Presents' is Back! Featuring Today's Best and Brightest Stand-Up Talent, the 15th Season Premieres Friday, January 21 at 11:00 p.m." news.sys-con.com. PR Newswire. December 15, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2016. Fresh new episodes from this season will include stand-up performances from Jack Whitehall, Al Jackson, Chelsea Peretti, Chris D'Elia, Hari Kondabolu, Jay Larson, Jessi Klein, Kyle Kinane, Louis Katz, Matt Fulchiron, Mike Vecchione, Natasha Leggero, Nate Bargatze and Sheng Wang.
  28. ^ "Live at the Electric: Hari Kondabolu". BBC. Archived from the original on April 22, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  29. ^ Hari Kondabolu (October 17, 2011). "Das Racist Cover Story: These Colors Don't Run". Spin. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  30. ^ "State Department Sends 'Chai' Comedy Tour To India". NPR.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  31. ^ "American Center Kolkata Bulletin" (PDF). The US State Department. January 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  32. ^ "Comedy Listings for March 14–20". The New York Times. March 13, 2014.
  33. ^ "Hari Kondabolu's New Album 'Mainstream American Comic' Is Out Next Month". June 6, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  34. ^ Marah Eakin (June 6, 2016). "Exclusive: Hari Kondabolu announces new record, premieres first track". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  35. ^ @harikondabolu (July 23, 2016). "MAINSTREAM AMERICAN COMIC is #1 on iTunes comedy. Aware my pal @JimGaffigan will take it back soon, but still proud" (Tweet). Retrieved July 24, 2016 – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "Comedy Albums: Top Stand-up Comedy Chart". Billboard. August 22, 2016. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  37. ^ "Hari Kondabolu | Panelists | Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! Stats Page".
  38. ^ ""Fresh Starts" with Gary Shteyngart, Hari Kondabolu, Maxine McCormick, and Lenore | Live Wire Radio". www.livewireradio.org. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  39. ^ "Hari Kondabolu Says His Mom Is Hilarious — And Not Because Of Her Accent". NPR. September 16, 2016.
  40. ^ "Kondabolu Brothers". www.kondabolubrothers.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  41. ^ @harikondabolu (March 4, 2018). "The Kondabolu Brothers Podcast debuts THIS THURSDAY MARCH 8TH on @earwolf" (Tweet). Retrieved March 15, 2018 – via Twitter.
  42. ^ "Kondabolu Brothers podcast on Earwolf". www.earwolf.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  43. ^ "Politically Re-Active with W. Kamau Bell & Hari Kondabolu". www.stitcher.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  44. ^ @harikondabolu (June 6, 2016). "If you haven't heard, @iamjohnoliver has left The Bugle (@hellobuglers) & I was chosen by @ZaltzCricket to be 1 of the new hosts! HUZZAH" (Tweet). Retrieved June 21, 2016 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ "VIB - Very Important Bugle". Soundcloud. The Bugle podcast. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  46. ^ Mohajerjasbi, Zia (September 24, 2008). "MANOJ". Vimeo. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  47. ^ "MANOJ KRISHNAMURTHY IS DEAD — Hari Kondabolu". www.harikondabolu.com. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  48. ^ "All About Steve - Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  49. ^ "A Special Blend of South Asian Humor". Mainstream American Comic (Comedy album). Kill Rock Stars. July 22, 2016.
  50. ^ "Five Nights in Maine (2016)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  51. ^ Kruse, Andy. "Episode #31: Hari Kondabolu". Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  52. ^ "Five Nights In Maine looks at grief close up". The A.V. Club. August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  53. ^ "Matt Braunger launches new webseries "White Flight" and tour dates - The Laugh Button". The Laugh Button. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  54. ^ "The Problem with Apu - Credits - truTV.com". truTV. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  55. ^ "The Problem With Apu". DOC NYC. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  56. ^ Routhier, Ray (August 1, 2016). "Comedian Hari Kondabolu, a Bowdoin College grad, in Portland on Friday". Maine Today. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  57. ^ Lisa de Moraes (May 10, 2016). "TruTV Greenlights Three New Series & Six Pilots; 'Fameless', 'Hack My Life' Renewed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  58. ^ Weekes, Julia Ann (April 26, 2023). "Hari Kondabolu sets the record straight on new comedy special 'Vacation Baby'". UnionLeader.com. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  59. ^ "Hari Kondabolu's New Material Night Volume 1, by Hari Kondabolu". Hari Kondabolu. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  60. ^ "Hari Kondabolu's New Material Night Volume 2, by Hari Kondabolu". Hari Kondabolu. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
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