{{Short description|American comedian}} {{Infobox comedian | name = Chad Daniels | image = Comedian Chad Daniels performing live.jpg | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|3|2}} | birth_place = Fergus Falls, Minnesota, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | medium = Stand-up<ref name="LaughSpin Exclusive Special">{{cite news|last=Gadino|first=Dylan P. |title=Comedian Chad Daniels' new stand-up special to premiere exclusively on Laughspin|url=http://www.laughspin.com/2012/06/13/comedian-chad-daniels-new-stand-up-special-to-premiere-exclusively-on-laughspin/|access-date=6 July 2013|newspaper=LaughSpin|date=2012-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107163913/http://www.laughspin.com/2012/06/13/comedian-chad-daniels-new-stand-up-special-to-premiere-exclusively-on-laughspin/|archive-date=7 November 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref> | nationality = | active = 1998–present | genre = | subject = | spouse = | children = 2 | domesticpartner = | notable_work = | signature = | website = {{URL|http://ChadDaniels.com/}} | footnotes = }}
'''Chad Daniels''' is an American comedian.<ref name="Bits and Segways - You're The Best Review">{{cite web|title=Stand up comedy review: Chad Daniels|url=http://bitsandsegways.com/stand-up-comedy-review-chad-daniels/|publisher=Bits and Segways|access-date=12 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402113515/http://bitsandsegways.com/stand-up-comedy-review-chad-daniels/|archive-date=2 April 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Moontower Comedy Free Special">{{cite news|last=Birmingham|first=Steve|title=Chad Daniels' Free One Hour Special: "As Is"|url=http://www.comedymoontower.com/?tag=chad-daniels|access-date=6 July 2013|newspaper=Moontower Comedy|date=2012-06-25}}</ref> His albums have reached the top 10 on the Billboard comedy charts three times: No. 2 for 2017's ''Footprints On The Moon'', No. 6 for 2019's ''Dad Chaniels'', and No. 7 for 2014's ''Natural Selection''.<ref name=billboard_daniels>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/music/chad-daniels |title= Chad Daniels |last= |first= |date= |magazine=Billboard |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref> As of 2019, his albums have been streamed more than 700 million times.<ref name="growlermag2019">{{cite news |last= Strait |first= Patrick |date= March 7, 2019 |title= Chad Daniels talks about his new hip and the smell of comedy history |url= https://www.growlermag.com/chad-daniels-talks-about-his-new-hip-and-the-smell-of-comedy-history/ |work=The Growler |location=Minneapolis |access-date=2021-10-18 }}</ref> ''Footprints on the Moon'' also reached No. 1 on the iTunes comedy chart.<ref name="CityPages20171221">{{cite news |last=Strait |first=Patrick |date=December 21, 2017 |title=The year in comedy: 2017's new faces, new venues, and Chappelle |url= |work= City Pages |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul |access-date= }}</ref>
In 2020, Vulture.com called him "one of the great unsung American comedians right now, who has some of the best stuff about being a dad out there."<ref name="Vulture2020">{{cite news |last1= Fox |first1= Jesse David |last2= VanArendonk |first2= Kathryn |date=2020-03-25 |title= 79 Comedians to Check Out Based on Ones You Already Like |url= https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/comedians-to-check-out-based-on-ones-you-already-like.html |work=Vulture.com |location=New York City |access-date=2021-10-18 }}</ref>
==Early life== Daniels was born March 2, 1975, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.<ref name="allmusicChadDaniels">{{AllMusic | label = Chad Daniels| class= artist| id= chad-daniels-mn0001635531| tab= biography| first= Mark | last= Deming | accessdate= 2021-10-18}}</ref><ref name="Interrobang2019">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= March 22, 2019 |title= Chad Daniels New Hour Special "Dad Chaniels" Exclusive World Premiere Trailer! |url= https://theinterrobang.com/chad-daniels-new-hour-special-dad-chaniels-exclusive-world-premiere-trailer/ |work=The Interrobang |location= |access-date=2021-10-18 }}</ref> He graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1993.<ref name="FFDJ2015">{{cite news |last=Tellers |first=Josh |date=2015-03-26 |title='Listen to my stupidity': FF native Chad Daniels continues tour in region |url= https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/listen-to-my-stupidity-ff-native-chad-daniels-continues-tour-in-region/article_ce46519c-7f88-54fd-b5d8-84a060256c8f.html |work=Fergus Falls Daily Journal |location=Fergus Falls, Minnesota |access-date=2021-10-18 }}</ref><ref name="FFDJ2009">{{cite news |last=Hintgen |first=Tom |date=2009-12-05 |title=Fergus comedian hits the big time |url= https://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/fergus-comedian-hits-the-big-time/article_b54610f6-5878-5449-acea-4fd231ff99fd.html |work=Fergus Falls Daily Journal |location=Fergus Falls, Minnesota |access-date=2021-10-18 }}</ref>
==Career== ===Stand-up comedy=== Daniels' comedy is known for what Allmusic critic Mark Deming described as a "skewed, often dark view" on domestic family life.<ref name="allmusicChadDaniels"/><ref name="Fairbanks2010">{{cite news |last= Franich |first=Erica |date=March 26, 2010 |title= Laugh and bear it with comedian Chad Daniels |url= |work=Fairbanks Daily News-Miner |location=Fairbanks, Alaska |access-date= }}</ref>
He started performing standup at an open mic night at ACME Comedy Company in Minneapolis in 1998. His performance earned him a job as house emcee at Grand Forks, North Dakota, comedy club Westward Ho, hosting six shows a week in 1998–1999.<ref name="allmusicChadDaniels"/><ref name="GFH2009">{{cite news |last=Tobin |first=Paulette |date=March 26, 2009 |title=Daniels balances his rough and abrasive side with the 'guy next door' |url= |work=Grand Forks Herald |location=Grand Forks, North Dakota |access-date= |page=D2 }}</ref><ref name="LCT2008">{{cite news |last=Parlin |first=Geri |date=October 14, 2008 |title=Sad-looking Comic Really a Load of Laughs |url= |work=La Crosse Tribune |location=La Crosse, Wisconsin |access-date= |page=1}}</ref>
During the early 2000s, Chad was a favorite comedian at Hilarities comedy club inside of Pickwick and Frolic, in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 2003, Daniels was a finalist in Comedy Central’s ''Laugh Riots'' competition.<ref name="ElPaso2008">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 11, 2008 |title=Comedy corner |url= |work=El Paso Times |location=El Paso, Texas |access-date=}}</ref>
In 2009, he was named Artist of the Year in comedy by Minneapolis alt-weekly City Pages, which said "Plenty of comics have jokes about marriage and children, but few speak about the experience with such uncompromising honesty."<ref name="CityPages20091223">{{cite news |last= Miller |first= Bryan |date=December 23, 2009 |title=Aby Wolf, K'naan, and P.O.S. top Artists of the Year '09 |url= |work=City Pages |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul |access-date= }}</ref><ref name="Fargo2011">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= November 3, 2011 |title=Comedian Chad Daniels to Perform at NDSU |url= |work=Fargo Examiner |location=Fargo, North Dakota |access-date= }}</ref>
He has toured extensively in the U.S. and across the world.<ref name="growlermag2019"/> In 2012, he won the $10,000 grand prize at the Gilda's LaughFest competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan.<ref name="America's Comedy - You're the Best Review">{{cite web|last=Misiano|first=Lou|title=Chad Daniels' 'You're the Best'|url=http://www.americascomedy.com/chad-daniels-youre-the-best/|publisher=America's Comedy|access-date=12 September 2013}}</ref><ref name="MLive.com - Gilda LaughFrest Win">{{cite news|last=Kaczmarczyk|first=Jeffrey|title=Gilda's LaughFest unveils 10 comedians vying for $10,000 in next LaughFest Stand Up Comedy Competition|url=http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/11/gildas_laughfest_unveils_10_co.html|access-date=12 September 2013|newspaper=Booth Newspapers|date=2012-11-27}}</ref><ref name="Dayton2012">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= August 3, 2012 |title= Chad Daniels - Comic's online special gets boost from 'Conan' appearance |url= |work=Dayton Daily News |location=Dayton, Ohio |access-date= |page = AC18}}</ref><ref name="allmusicChadDaniels"/> He also performed at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal in 2004 and 2012,<ref name="ElPaso2008"/> Limestone Comedy Festival, Akumal Comedy Festival,<ref name="FOHDaniels">{{cite web |url= https://www.firstorderhistorians.com/2014/05/19/5-questions-with-chad-daniels/ |title=5 Questions with Chad Daniels |last=Meehan |first=Ryan |date=2014-05-19 |website=First Order Historians |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref> World Comedy Festival,<ref name="FFDJ2009"/> and the Aspen Comedy Festival, where he won the Comic's Comic award.<ref name="Fargo2011"/><ref name="allmusicChadDaniels"/><ref name="CityPages20151019">{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=P.F. |date= October 19, 2015 |title= Ride or die Minnesota: Why Chad Daniels prefers Fergus Falls over Los Angeles |url= |work=City Pages |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul |access-date= }}</ref>
He hosts a weekly podcast, ''Middle of Somewhere'', with fellow comedian Cy Amundson.<ref name="middleofsomewherepodcast">{{cite web |url=https://middleofsomewherepodcast.com/ |title=Middle of Somewhere |last= |first= |date= |website=Middle of Somewhere |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref><ref name="Fergus2021">{{cite news |last= Lamb |first= John |date=2021-02-04 |title= Grounded by COVID, Minnesota stand-up gets puppy, hangs out at lake cabin and enjoys life at home with kids |url= https://www.inforum.com/entertainment/music/6867927-Grounded-by-COVID-Minnesota-stand-up-gets-puppy-hangs-out-at-lake-cabin-and-enjoys-life-at-home-with-kids |work=West Fargo News |location=Fargo, North Dakota |access-date=2021-10-18 }}</ref>
He hosts another weekly podcast, ''Pretend Problems'', with his girlfriend and fellow comedian Kelsey Cook. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIKU2INj0lIk-Lqf0MsKV_1_IMZJ5Oa8G | title=Pretend Problems Podcast | website=YouTube }}</ref>
===Television and film=== Daniels' 2008 ''Comedy Central Presents'' half-hour special was named fifth-best all-time special by viewers in the network's 2010 Stand-Up Showdown.<ref name="GFH2011"/><ref name="Interrobang2019"/><ref name="CityPages20100210">{{cite news |last= Miller |first= Bryan |date= February 10, 2010 |title= A-List: Chad Daniels |url= |work=City Pages |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul |access-date= }}</ref><ref name="CityPages20120229">{{cite news |last= Wilson |first=P.F. |date=February 29, 2012 |title= A-List: Chad Daniels |url= |work= City Pages |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul |access-date= }}</ref> He has also starred in two hour-long specials, 2012's ''As Is'' and 2019's ''Dad Chaniels''.<ref name="Moontower Comedy - As Is"/><ref name="Interrobang2019"/>
He is featured in J. Elvis Weinstein's documentary ''I Need You To Kill''.<ref name=imdbDaniels>{{IMDb name|id=2941938|name= Chad Daniels}}</ref><ref name="CityPages20171121">{{cite news |last= Strait |first=Patrick |date= November 21, 2017 |title=Chad Daniels is thankful to be playing his biggest MN venue yet this Thanksgiving weekend |url= |work=City Pages |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul |access-date= }}</ref>
He has also appeared on ''The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien'' (one of only 13 comics to appear on that version of the show), O’Brien’s TBS talk show ''Conan'',<ref name="Dayton2012"/><ref name="vanyaland2018">{{cite news |last=Greenough |first= Jason |date= December 4, 2018 |title= After walking on the moon, Chad Daniels finally visits Boston |url= https://vanyaland.com/2018/12/04/after-walking-on-the-moon-chad-daniels-finally-visits-boston/ |work=Vanyaland |location=Boston, Massachusetts |access-date=2021-10-18 }}</ref> ''The Late Late Show'' with both Craig Kilborn and Craig Ferguson,<ref name="ElPaso2008"/><ref name="Interrobang2019"/> ''Live at Gotham'', ''The Bob and Tom Show'', and ''Laugh Riots''.<ref name="LCT2008"/><ref name="GFH2011">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= September 16, 2011 |title=Comedian Chad Daniels to perform at Muddy Rivers |url= |work=Grand Forks Herald |location=Grand Forks, North Dakota |access-date= | page= C2}}</ref>
===Albums=== Daniels has released seven albums: three with Stand Up! Records, three with 800 Pound Gorilla Records, and his self-produced debut.
Richard Lanoie of The Serious Comedy Site called Daniels "a smart, funny, surprising stand-up whose comedy will stand the test of time."<ref name=Lanoie2018c>{{cite web |url=https://theseriouscomedysite.com/comedy-cd-or-download/chad-daniels-busy-being-awesome/ |title=Chad Daniels – Busy Being Awesome |last= Lanoie |first= Richard |date=April 9, 2018 |website=The Serious Comedy Site |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref> He and Brett Watson both named ''You’re The Best'' in the website's top 10 comedy albums of 2012; Lanoie called it "a superb, brilliant, smart, very funny, original album."<ref name=Lanoie2018b>{{cite web |url= https://theseriouscomedysite.com/comedy-cd-or-download/chad-daniels-you-re-the-best-richard-s-review/ |title=Chad Daniels – You're The Best – Richard s review |last= Lanoie |first= Richard |date=April 9, 2018 |website=The Serious Comedy Site |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref><ref name=Watson2018>{{cite web |url=https://theseriouscomedysite.com/comedy-cd-or-download/chad-daniels-you-re-the-best/ |title=Chad Daniels – You're The Best |last= Watson |first= Brett |date=April 9, 2018 |website=The Serious Comedy Site |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref><ref name=Lanoie2012best>{{cite web |url= https://theseriouscomedysite.com/articles/2012-top-10-stand-up-comedy-mp3-albums-and-cd/ |title=2012 Top 10 Stand-up Comedy MP3 albums and CD |last= |first= |date=April 9, 2018 |website=The Serious Comedy Site |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref> Lanoie called 2014's ''Natural Selection'' "funny and original".<ref name=Lanoie2018a>{{cite web |url= https://theseriouscomedysite.com/comedy-cd-or-download/chad-daniels-natural-selection/ |title=Chad Daniels – Natural Selection |last= Lanoie |first= Richard |date=April 9, 2018 |website=The Serious Comedy Site |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref> Reviewing ''Natural Selection'', Chris Spector of Midwest Record said "Daniels keeps the laughs coming (in) rapid-fire fashion without any misses."<ref name="MWR20140331">{{cite web |url= https://midwestrecord.com/MWR793.html |title= CHAD DANIELS/Natural Selection |last=Spector |first=Chris |date=2014-03-31 |website=Midwest Record |publisher= |access-date=2021-10-18}}</ref> Jake Austen of ''Roctober'' magazine, reviewing his early albums, was impressed that Daniel could deliver "domesticated, regular-guy" humor about families and airline food "yet manages not to lose his edge."<ref name="roctober2013">{{cite news|first=Jake|last=Austen|work=Roctober|location=Chicago|title=The Stand Up! Records Listener's Guide|date=August 2013}}</ref>
==Personal life== Daniels is divorced, and has a son and a daughter.<ref name="CityPages20171121"/><ref name="FFDJ2009"/><ref name="CityBeat2020">{{cite news |last= Wilson |first=P.F. |date= January 7, 2020 |title= Minnesotan Comic Chad Daniels to Perform at Go Bananas Comedy Club |url= |work= CityBeat |location=Cincinnati, Ohio |access-date= }}</ref><ref name="growlermag2019"/> In March 2023, fellow comedian Kelsey Cook announced on Sirius XM's ''Jim and Sam Show'' that she and Daniels were dating. Cook also stated that the two had recently moved in together.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
==Discography== *''Two Minutes for Stale Hacking'' (self-released) *''Busy Being Awesome'' (Stand Up! Records, 2009) *''You're the Best'' (Stand Up! Records, 2012) *''Natural Selection'' (Stand Up! Records, 2014) *''Footprints on the Moon'' (800 Pound Gorilla Records, 2017) *''Dad Chaniels'' (800 Pound Gorilla Records, 2019) *''Twelfth Night'' (800 Pound Gorilla Records, 2021)<ref name="allmusicChadDaniels"/> *''Mixed Reviews'' (2023)
==Filmography==
===Film=== *''As Is'' (2012)<ref name="Moontower Comedy - As Is">{{cite web|last=Merriman|first=John|title=CHAD DANIELS' FREE ONE HOUR SPECIAL: "AS IS"|url=http://www.comedymoontower.com/tag/chad-daniels/|publisher=Moontower Comedy|access-date=12 September 2013}}</ref> *''I Need You To Kill'' (2017) *''Dad Chaniels'' (2019) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L629k4U-9P4 | title=Chad Daniels | Dad Chaniels (Full Comedy Special) | website=YouTube | date=27 March 2020 }}</ref> *''Mixed Reviews'' (2023) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1kVr3zkz7E | title=Chad Daniels - Mixed Reviews [Full Special] | website=YouTube | date=22 November 2023 }}</ref> *''Empty Nester'' (2024) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32652865/ | title=Chad Daniels: Empty Nester | website=IMDb }}</ref> *''For Reels'' (2025)
===Television=== *''The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn'' *''Live at Gotham'' (2006) *''Comedy Central Presents'' (2008) *''The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien'' (2009) *''The Bob and Tom Show'' (2010) *''Conan'' (2012, 2014, 2018) *''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'' (2012) *''After Midnight'' (2023)
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== <!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only --> *{{Official website|http://chaddaniels.com/}} *{{IMDb name|2941938|Chad Daniels}} *[https://standuprecords.com/collections/chad-daniels Chad Daniels at Stand Up! Records website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daniels, Chad}} Category:American stand-up comedians Category:Comedians from Minnesota Category:Living people Category:1975 births Category:People from Fergus Falls, Minnesota Category:21st-century American comedians Category:Stand Up! Records artists Category:20th-century American comedians