Tony Sam

Sam was born and raised in Chicago.{{cite podcast |url= https://tdf.libsyn.com/dorkforest/tdf-261-tony-sam |title= TDF 261 – Tony Sam |website=The Dork Forest |publisher= |host=Jackie Kashian |date=2014-11-25 |time= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} He has a degree in molecular and marine biology from Florida Atlantic University. He worked for several years as a scientist at various jobs, including studying cranio-facial defects in developing zebrafish embryos at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital.{{cite web |url= http://theapiary.squarespace.com/thebastion/2006/11/2/inside-with-tony-sam-comedian-producer-scientist.html |title=Inside With: Tony Sam, Comedian, Producer, Scientist |last= McQuern |first= Elizabeth |date=2006-11-02 |website=The Apiary |publisher= |access-date=2021-03-04}} In 2006, he co-authored a paper in the prestigious medical journal, Nature Medicine.{{cite journal |last1=Topczewska |first1= Jolanta M.|last2=Postovit |first2= Lynne-Marie|last3= Margaryan |first3= Naira V.|last4=Sam |first4= Anthony|author-link4= Tony Sam|last5=Hess |first5= Angela R.|last6=Wheaton |first6= William W.|last7=Nickoloff |first7= Brian J.|last8= Topczewski |first8= Jacek|last9= Hendrix |first9= Mary J.C.|date=2006-07-30 |title=Embryonic and tumorigenic pathways converge via Nodal signaling: role in melanoma aggressiveness |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/nm1448 |journal=Nature Medicine |volume=12 |issue= 8|pages=925–932 |doi=10.1038/nm1448 |pmid= 16892036|s2cid= 31906174|access-date=2021-03-12|url-access= subscription }}

Sam began performing stand-up around 2003 in Chicago,{{cite news |last= Johnson |first=Allan |date=2005-04-08 |title= Stand up and deliver: Thriving underground scene puts the edge back in comedy |url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-04-08-0504080400-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |location=Chicago |access-date=2021-03-04 }} and studied improv and sketch at iO Theater and The Second City Training Center.{{cite web |url= http://www.comedycake.com/archives/24550 |title= Quick Dish: TONY SAM Headlines at The Hollywood Improv |date= September 24, 2015 |website=Comedy Cake |publisher= |access-date=2021-03-04}} He became known as an alternative-comedy scenemaker, co-founding (with Brooke Van Poppelen) Chicago Underground Comedy in 2005, a weekly rotating showcase of alternative comics designed to forefront stand-up as opposed to sketch comedy and improv.{{cite news |last= Canon |first= Ramsin |date=2010-06-01 |title= Chicago Underground Comedy Celebrates 5 Years, Telfer CD Release |url= http://gapersblock.com/ac/2010/06/01/chicago-underground-comedy-celebrates-5-years-telfer-cd-release/ |work=Gapers Block |location=Chicago |access-date=2021-03-04 }}{{cite news |last= Ryan |first= Kyle |date=2005-09-15 |title= Interview: Tony Sam |work= The Onion A.V. Club (Chicago print edition)|volume=41|number=37 |location=Chicago |access-date= }}{{cite news |last=Holm |first=Kelsey |date=2005-09-01 |title=Underground comics stand up at Jokers |work=The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier |location=Waterloo, Iowa/Cedar Falls, Iowa |access-date= }} Kumail Nanjiani was one of the original cast members.{{cite news |last= Shively |first= Colin |date=2010-06-08 |title= Comedy group marks anniversary |url= https://columbiachronicle.com/ae8d800a-13b0-5353-9d14-592b2b71c513 |work=The Columbia Chronicle |location=Chicago |access-date=2021-03-04 }} Chicago's NewCity called Sam one of the city's most interesting comics in 2009, and praised ChUC as a "mainstay of alternative comedy"{{cite news |last=Kowarski |first=Ilana |date=2009-05-17 |title= Ten Rising Comics to Look For And Five Places to Go See Them… |url= https://www.newcitystage.com/2009/05/17/ten-rising-comics-to-look-for-and-five-places-to-go-see-them/ |work= Newcity Stage |location=Chicago |access-date=2021-03-04 }} and "one of the two best places to perform in Chicago".{{cite news |last= Schramm |first= Mike |date=2007-05-17 |title= Solo System: Mike Schramm looks at the current state of stand-up comedy in Chicago |url= https://www.newcitystage.com/2007/05/17/solo-system-mike-schramm-looks-at-the-current-state-of-stand-up-comedy-in-chicago/ |work= Newcity |location=Chicago |access-date=2021-03-04 }}

Several critics have praised the comic range of Sam's voice; Jake Kroeger of website The Comedy Bureau wrote that it "is so unique, drastically wandering up and down in frequency, that he makes [his] characters exceptionally hilarious and absolutely unforgettable".{{cite news |last=Kroeger |first=Jake |date=2011-06-12 |title= Tony Sam-Tip of the Hat 6/11/11 |url= https://thecomedybureau.com/tony-sam-tip-of-the-hat-61111/ |work=The Comedy Bureau |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }}

Sam's television credits include co-executive producer for Cooking Channel's Food: Fact or Fiction? with Michael McKean and a producer for Josh Gates Tonight, Expedition Unknown, Jay Leno's Garage, Girl Meets Farm, Storage Wars: Barry Strikes Back, Brandi & Jarrod: Married to the Job, MTV's Ridiculousness{{IMDb name|id=6152940|name= Tony Sam}} and the Netflix hit home-renovation show, Instant Dream Home,{{IMDb name|id=6152940|name= Tony Sam}} which in 2023 was nominated and won the Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Instructional and How-To Program".{{cite web |title= IMDB - INSTANT DREAM HOME (TV SERIES 2022-) AWARDS|url= https://m.imdb.com/title/tt21107788/awards/?ref_=tt_awd |work=IMDb |location= |access-date=2023-06-04 }}

Sam has also written for Smosh and MTV News.{{cite news |title=Author: Tony Sam |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/author/samto/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905054007/http://www.mtv.com/news/author/samto/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 5, 2014 |work=MTV News |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} McKean praised Sam's work on Food: Fact or Fiction? in an interview on Andy Richter's podcast, Three Questions with Andy Richter, calling Sam "a very funny writer".{{cite podcast |url=https://omny.fm/shows/the-three-questions-with-andy-richter/michael-mckean |title=Michael McKean |website=The Three Questions with Andy Richter |publisher= |host=Andy Richter |date=2020-01-27 |time= |access-date=2021-04-01 }}

As an actor, Sam has appeared on truTV's Hack My Life, Conan, G4's Attack of the Show!, Food: Fact or Fiction?, and Josh Gates Tonight.{{cite news |date=2011-05-19 |title= HAHAJK.com Head Writer and Chicago Underground Comedy Co-Founder to Host Showcase at Just For Laughs Chicago Festival |url= https://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/5/prweb8456231.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110603050449/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/5/prweb8456231.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= June 3, 2011 |work=PRWeb |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }}{{cite news |last=Wenzel |first=John |date=2012-07-26 |title= Tony Sam's "Persona!" draws characters out of stand-up comics |url= https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/26/tony-sams-persona-draws-characters-out-of-stand-up-comics/ |work=Denver Post |location=Denver, Colorado |access-date=2021-03-04 }}

Sam has performed frequently at the Hollywood Improv, and at festivals including the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival,{{cite news |last= McCarthy |first= Sean L. |date= May 19, 2011 |title=The Full Schedule For The 2011 TBS Just For Laughs Chicago Comedy Festival |url= https://thecomicscomic.com/2011/05/19/the-full-schedule-for-the-2011-tbs-just-for-laughs-chicago-comedy-festival/ |work=The Comic’s Comic |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} Bridgetown Comedy Festival,{{cite news |last=Kroeger |first=Jake |date= May 23, 2016 |title= The 2016 Bridgetown Comedy Festival Is Happening Next Week |url=https://thecomedybureau.com/2016-bridgetown-comedy-festival/ |work=The Comedy Bureau |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }}{{cite news |last=Kroeger |first=Jake |date= April 26, 2011 |title= The Last Day of Bridgetown |url=https://thecomedybureau.com/the-last-day-of-bridgetown/ |work=The Comedy Bureau |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} San Francisco Comedy & Burrito Festival,{{cite news |last=Kroeger |first=Jake |date= August 15, 2012 |title=Tickets and the Line-up for The San Francisco Comedy & Burrito Festival is Here |url=https://thecomedybureau.com/sfcbf-line-up-tickets-oct/ |work=The Comedy Bureau |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} Bumbershoot, SF Sketchfest, Chicago Sketch Fest, New York International Fringe Festival, and New York Underground Comedy Festival.

Sam has hosted several podcasts, including Tony Sam's Word of the Day, a podcast about language begun in 2014.{{cite web |url= https://soundcloud.com/tonys-word-of-the-day |title= Tony Sam's Word of The Day Podcast |last=Sam |first=Tony |website=Soundcloud |publisher= |access-date=2021-03-04}}{{cite news |last=Kroeger |first=Jake |date= February 17, 2014 |title="Learn" More Words with Tony Sam's Dictionary Word of the Day Podcast|url=https://thecomedybureau.com/tony-sam-dictionary-word-day-podcast/ |work=The Comedy Bureau |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} In 2017, he began co-hosting the podcast Legally Insane with Matt Ritter, a lawyer turned comedian.{{cite news |date=2017-10-10 |title= New Podcast "Legally Insane" Dives Into Crazy Legal History |url= https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-podcast-legally-insane-dives-into-crazy-legal-history-300533633.html |work=PR Newswire |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }}{{cite web |url=https://cascademedia.com/show/legally-insane-podcast/ |title=Legally Insane Podcast |last1=Ritter |first=Matt |last2=Sam |first2=Tony |website=Cascade Media |publisher= |access-date=2021-03-04}}

He has also guested on many other podcasts, including Jackie Kashian's The Dork Forest, Josh Adam Meyers' The 500,{{cite podcast |url= https://ncpodcasts.com/500-episodes/465-magnetic-fields-69-love-songs-tony-sam |title= Episode 465: Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs with Tony Sam |website= The 500 with Josh Adam Meyers |publisher= |host= Josh Adam Meyers |date=2019-07-03 |time= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} Probably Science,{{cite podcast |url= http://www.probablyscience.com/probablyscience/episode-25-with-tony-sam |title= Episode 25 with Tony Sam! |website=Probably Science |publisher= |host=Matt Kirshen |date= June 19, 2012 |time= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} Dumb People Town and Sklarboro County with the Sklar Brothers,{{cite podcast |url= https://www.earwolf.com/episode/sklarbro-county-125/ |title= Episode 220.5 Sklarboro County 125|website= Earwolf |publisher= Earwolf|host= The Sklar Bros. |date=2014-10-04 |time= |access-date=2014-10-04 }} and The Space Cave with David Huntsberger.{{cite podcast |url=https://www.thespacecave.com/113-marine-molecular-biology-with-tony-sam-pt-1/ |title=113 – Marine & Molecular Biology with Tony Sam pt. 1 |website=The Space Cave |publisher= |host=David Huntsberger |date=November 7, 2017 |time= |access-date=2021-03-04 }}{{cite podcast |url=https://www.thespacecave.com/114-molecular-marine-biology-with-tony-sam-pt-2/ |title=114 – Molecular & Marine Biology with Tony Sam pt. 2 |website=The Space Cave |publisher= |host=David Huntsberger |date=November 14, 2017 |time= |access-date=2021-03-04 }}

Sam's debut album, Scaredy Cat, was recorded May 24, 2014 at Acme Comedy Company in Minneapolis and released later that year on Stand Up! Records.{{AllMusic |class= |id=scaredy-cat-mw0002812769 |tab= |title= Tony Sam, Scaredy Cat |access-date=2021-03-04 }} It received generally positive reviews and praise from several high-profile comics including Kyle Kinane, Michelle Buteau, The Sklar Brothers, Beth Stelling, Jason Nash, former SNL cast member, Brooks Wheelan, Brody Stevens and Eddie Pepitone.{{cite news |last=Sam |first=Tony |date= November 12, 2014 |title=Comedian Testimonials|url=https://tonysamcomedy.tumblr.com/testimonials/ |work=Tony Sam Tumblr |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} Jake Krueger of the Los Angeles based review site, The Comedy Bureau, called the album one of the best of 2014,{{cite news |last=Kroeger |first=Jake |date= January 2, 2015 |title=The 100 Best Things in Comedy We Were Witness To In No Particular Order of 2014 |url=https://thecomedybureau.com/100-best-things-in-comedy-we-were-witness-to-2014/ |work=The Comedy Bureau |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} saying it "strikes a great balance between a genuine silliness and unfiltered candor".{{cite news |last=Kroeger |first=Jake |date= October 7, 2014 |title=Tony Sam's Scaredy Cat Out Now from Stand Up! Records|url=https://thecomedybureau.com/tony-sam-scaredy-cat/ |work=The Comedy Bureau |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} Ed Placencia of the website Comedy Reviews said "Sam gleefully adds a touch of fun and whimsy to each of his bits. ... Scaredy Cat wonderfully displays that he has decided to embrace the simple tactic of just having a good time."{{cite news |last= Placencia |first=Ed |date=2019-04-18 |title= Tony Sam's Scaredy Cat |url= http://comedy-reviews.com/tony-sams-scaredy-cat.html |work=Comedy Reviews |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} Richard Lanoie of The Serious Comedy Site called it "smart".{{cite web |url= https://theseriouscomedysite.com/comedy-download/tony-sam-scaredy-cat/ |title= Tony Sam – Scaredy Cat |author= Richard Lanoie |date=2018-04-09 |website=The Serious Comedy Site |access-date=2021-03-04}} Huffington Post reviewer Tony Bartolone called the album "refreshingly silly".{{cite news |last= Bartolone |first= Tony |date=2014-10-28 |title= Tony Sam Is a Big, Fat Scaredy Cat |url= https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tony-sam-is-a-big-fat-sca_b_6060158 |work=Huffington Post |location= |access-date=2021-03-04 }} Chris Spector of Midwest Record wrote that "Sam does a fine job of being that normal guy that lives next door that suddenly, unexpectedly goes nuts."{{cite web |url= http://midwestrecord.com/MWR887.html |title= Volume 37/Number 12 |author=Chris Spector |date=2014-11-12 |website=Midwest Record |access-date=2021-03-05}}

Four segments from the CD were turned into cartoons by animator Alex Clark.{{cite AV media |people=Tony Sam (comedian), Alex Clark (animator) |date=2020-10-28 |title=Tony Sam: Haunted House |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onNhi0tKsgY |access-date= 2021-03-16 |format= cartoon |publisher=Stand Up! Records}}{{cite AV media |people=Tony Sam (comedian), Alex Clark (animator) |date=2020-09-16 |title=Tony Sam: Beard Jokes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T70y9Dm1Bw8&t=1s |access-date= 2021-03-16 |format= cartoon |publisher=Stand Up! Records}}{{cite AV media |people=Tony Sam (comedian), Alex Clark (animator) |date=2020-09-30 |title=Tony Sam: Death Jokes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa3JvZ6XnyE |access-date= 2021-03-16 |format= cartoon |publisher=Stand Up! Records}}{{cite AV media |people=Tony Sam (comedian), Alex Clark (animator) |date=2020-09-30 |title=Tony Sam: Lost Dog Poster |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cihfjIZo7ko |access-date= 2021-03-16 |format= cartoon |publisher=Tony Sam}}

In 2021, under the name A.W. Sam, he published a book of poetry, Waste[LA]nd: Poems For L.A., about Los Angeles.{{cite web |url=https://tonysamcomedy.tumblr.com/post/664083232949665792/wasteland-poems-for-la-sam-a-w |title=Waste[LA]nd: Poems For LA: Sam, A W: 9781737893806 |last=Sam |first=Tony |date=2021-10-04 |website=Tony Sam |publisher=Tumblr |access-date=2021-10-04}} In 2022, Sam released his second collection of poetry, Toil. The book was praised by actors Jonah Ray and James Urbaniak.{{cite web |url=https://tonysamcomedy.tumblr.com/post/675056052602044416/aw-sam-toil-book |title=I'm proud to announce the release of my newest... |last=Sam |first=Tony |date=2022-02-01 |website=Tony Sam |publisher=Tumblr |access-date=2022-05-05}}

• Tony Sam, Scaredy Cat (Stand Up! Records, 2014)

{{reflist}}

• [https://tonysamcomedy.tumblr.com/ Tony Sam on Tumblr]
• [https://standuprecords.com/collections/tony-sam Tony Sam at Stand Up! Records website]
• {{IMDb name|id=6152940|name= Tony Sam}}
• {{Twitter|Toekneesam}}

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Category:American male comedians

Category:American stand-up comedians

Category:Writers from Chicago

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:Stand Up! Records artists

Category:Comedians from Chicago

Category:Male actors from Chicago

Category:Florida Atlantic University alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)