In 2011 I was No. 18 right after some dude named Conan.
In 2012 I was listed 24th.
I was named one of New York’s “Ten Comedians That Funny People Find Funny.” Even made the Table of Contents…
IN TONY
Stand-out mention in Montreal’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival.
Called out for solid performance at Just for Laughs in Montreal.
From “Seminars and Future Stars”
I had the pleasure recently of being a guest speaker at an informal seminar for comics at NYC’s Friar’s Club. One comic who took the opportunity to introduce himself at the seminar and invite me to see him in a Monday night 8pm ‘Eating It’ show at NYC’s Luna Lounge was Craig Baldo, whose work I’d already started hearing about. It’s rare I get to see such a strong, diverse line-up with so many winners in one collective show, and among these great sets Baldo was still the clear audience favorite, as well as mine. His offbeat, likable style is a blend of hip and quirky observations and characters that spotlight his background as a guitarist and beat box musician. (He originally started in stand-up using a guitar and silly original tunes.) He can take the familiar theme of a guy bumbling in his attempts with women and make it totally fresh, as well as coming up with wonderful new twists, like taking his mom to a rave for Mother’s Day and having to deal with her partying. One minute he’s a beat-obsessed club kid, the next minute he’s a sitcom/film casting chameleon who can play either the leading male or the character sidekick as he moves seamlessly from diverse characters back to his own relaxed, charismatic stage persona. The audience knew they were in for a fun ride with him from beginning to end and didn’t want him to leave the stage. So, if you’re in a lineup that also includes this up and comer, stay to catch his set. I’m sure I’ll be writing more about this exciting talent in the near future.
From “Comedy Best Bets, 10 Standout Stand-Ups Worth Watching”
Craig Baldo is one of the multitalented performers whose comic writing has been featured on the “Token Male” segment of Girlcomic.net. His fresh, hip material—peppered with music and pop culture references—is making him a familiar face on TV and in comedy clubs. Using his background in music (he plays guitar, piano and congas), this self-described “guitar comic” soon decided to shed the “guitar,” and instead now uniquely infuses bits and characters with music. Two of our favorites: the guy who takes his mom to a rave for Mother’s Day, and the clueless club kid who can’t get the techno beats he’s been dancing to out of his head.
Baldo’s musical material served him well doing audience warm-up for over a thousand Destiny’s Child fans for CBS’ “The Early Show,” and as studio warm-up for VH1’s “Never Mind the Buzzcocks.” It’s also part of what makes him stand out at “Eating It,” the Luna Lounge Monday show, where we first saw him and where he performs regularly.
Baldo also honed his comedy chops during his six-month run of “Chunky Bits” (a weekly stand-up and video shorts show he produced and hosted at NYC’s Siberia Bar). His accessible, laidback, but obviously exuberant enjoyment of sharing the funny with audiences goes over whether he’s at the West Village Comedy Cellar or the Boston Comedy Club, in upscale rooms like Gotham Comedy Club and Carolines, or serving as MC for Rich Hall at the Riviera in Las Vegas or Judy Tenuta in Atlanta.
Along with club appearances, you can spot Baldo in sketches on NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” as well as on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” and NBC’s “Late Friday.” As an actor, film work includes “Whaa, Huhh” (featured in the N.Y. Comedy Film Festival), and the Village Voice just singled him out for his stage appearance in Trilogy Theatre’s “Roadkill.” He’s now finishing an NYC run at HERE in “It’s a Detective Agency.” You can still catch Baldo on May 21 and 22, and we’re sure you’ll be seeing much more from him in the future on stage and screen.
