James P. Connolly

James P. Connolly is an American comedian and tv/radio host known for his frequent guest appearances on Larry Charles' Dangerous Word of Comedy on Netflix, America’s Got Talent, and on several SiriusXM Comedy Channels. In 2002, Connolly was named Grand Comedy Champion on Next Big Star, a television talent show hosted by Ed McMahon. He is one of the most played comedians on Sirius XM Comedy and a sought after host for Fortune 500 companies and global events.
Early life
James P. Connolly was born and raised in San Mateo, California. He graduated from Aragon High School. He attended Harvard University on a Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship.
Military service
After college, Connolly was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, rising to the rank of captain, and served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. There, his commanding officer, commissioned Connolly to write jokes for an officer's roast, which Connolly credits as the start of his comedy career.
Career
After a short stint as a karaoke DJ in San Diego, Connolly relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he began his comedy career at the World Famous Comedy Store in 1995 and worked as a Tour Guide at Universal Studios. Connolly began his career with a hipster onstage persona before losing the white jacket and the hipster style for a more contemporary look.
Connolly has appeared on Comedy Central and HBO. He won Grand Comedy Champion on Ed McMahon's short-lived talent show and has made multiple trips overseas to entertain the troops. He is a go-to for Fortune 500 companies and travels the world for events and meetings. Connolly hosted VH1's "Movie Obsessions" and "Live From Here" on XM Radio for National Lampoon. In October 2013, he recorded the SiriusXM Blue Collar Radio Comedy Concert at SirusXM's Nashville Studios.
Awards
Connolly was named Grand Comedy Champion on Next Big Star on TV Talent show hosted by Ed McMahon. He was awarded "Best of the Fest" at the San Luis Obispo Comedy Festival and four times in a row at the Burbank Comedy Festival. He was a finalist at the San Francisco International Comedy Competition (twice), Comedy Central National Stand Up Comedy Competition and the Boston Comedy Festival (twice).
Discography
Television, film and radio
Television appearances
Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy (2019)
America's Got Talent (2017)
Comics Unleashed (2015)
Bob & Tom TV Show WGN (2008)
An American Thanksgiving with Bryant Gumbel (2006)
Latino Laugh Festival: The Show – Si Tv (2004)
Movie Obsessions (2002)
Next Big Star, w/Host Ed McMahon (2001–2002)
Jerry Lewis Telethon (1997, 1998)
Comedy Central – "Make Me Laugh" (1997)
Film
Holding Lucid (2014)
The Act (2004)
Boxing's Been Good to Me (2000)
Radio
SiriusXM Blue Collar Radio Comedy Concert
Audible A Journey from Combat to Comedy
Live From Here
The Dork Forest with Jackie Kashian
The Mother Funny Show by Kira Soltanovich
Bob and Tom Radio Show
References
External links
James P. Connolly official site
Harvard University alumni
American male film actors
American stand-up comedians
American talk radio hosts
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
Living people
United States Marine Corps personnel of the Gulf War
People from San Mateo, California
Comedians from California
20th-century American comedians
Year of birth missing (living people)