Myq Kaplan (born October 7, 1978 ) is an American stand-up comedian. Born Michael Kaplan in Livingston, New Jersey, he is based in Boston and New York City.

Education

Kaplan received his bachelor's degree from Brandeis University in 2000 and a master's degree in linguistics from Boston University. While a student at Boston University in 2005, he won its "funniest student" contest.

Comedy career

Kaplan tours North America regularly and has performed over 1,000 shows at comedy clubs. He was a semifinalist in the 2006 Boston Comedy Festival and in the 2006 Seattle Comedy Competition. He was one of nine finalists in Comedy Central's 2007 Open Mic Fight competition. In 2008, a reader poll by Boston's The Phoenix named him Local Comedian of the Year. He took part in Montreal's Just for Laughs comedy festival in 2009.

Television, internet and recordings

Myq Kaplan has appeared on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham and in promotional work for the network. He has been featured on ABC News Now. On December 16, 2009, he performed for the first time on The Tonight Show. Kaplan also appeared as a contestant on the competition TV series Last Comic Standing during the summer 2010. He placed fifth in the competition. He is also a frequent guest on long running comedy podcast Keith and the Girl. Myq Kaplan has been a guest on the podcast "Comedy Bang! Bang!" three times, #110 (June 27, 2011) #658 (May 31, 2020), and #818 (June 26, 2023). Myq Kaplan has been a guest on the podcast "You Made It Weird With Pete Holmes" 2 times, one released on April 4, 2012 and as a returning guest released December 20, 2017 Kaplan hosts his own podcast Hang Out with Me. On April 30, 2010, his Comedy Central Presents special aired on Comedy Central. Myq Kaplan's comedy album Vegan Mind Meld was released April 27, 2010, and his second album, Please Be Seated was released in 2012. In August 2014, Myq Kaplan's one-hour standup special entitled Small, Dork, and Handsome appeared on Netflix for streaming. On January 31, he was the first guest on Bombing with Mike Dorval, where he talked about his joke writing and a joke that bombed for The New York Times. Kaplan was also a contestant on the tenth season of America's Got Talent. He was eliminated in the Quarterfinals.

Personal life

Kaplan is also a musician, primarily as a guitarist and vocalist. He is a vegan, polyamorous and once described himself as "atheistic". However, he elaborated in a 2016 podcast that he has become more spiritual through use of psychedelics.

Discography

Comedy albums

Music albums

Podcast albums

EPs

Singles

Compilation appearances

Film and television appearances

Films

TV series

Comedy specials

Stand-up appearances

Videography

Comedy animations

Music videos

Video podcasts