Joe Praino is a comedian, actor and podcast host of two successful podcasts: The Joe Praino Podcast and Dirty Sports (with Andy Ruther), which showcases his immense depth of sports knowledge. He has interviewed the likes of writer/director David Zucker, NFL star Shawn Merriman, celebrity trainer Duffy Gaver and NBA star Brian Scalabrine, and he performs at several clubs across the country including Gotham Comedy Club, The Stand, The Laugh Factory, Comedy Bar, The Improv, Flappers and the Westside Comedy Theater. Achieving a comedy milestone, he had the recent honor of performing on the New Faces showcase at the Just for Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival.
Praino began his standup career while majoring in Journalism and Communications at Lehigh University, where he was Program Director of the campus radio station. Praino made a name for himself when his ambition and performing talents led him to host his own comedy/music show, “The Joe Show,” with guests ranging from the University President to inmates from the Lehigh Valley Correctional facility.
A native New Yorker, Praino worked the club circuit and was a CBS Page and a Desk Assistant at the Evening News With Dan Rather before standup comedy eventually won out as his full-time pursuit. He earned regular spots at the Comic Strip Live and Boston Comedy Club and he hosted his own variety show, Miscellaneous, at Galapagos in Brooklyn. Praino has had several indie film roles and appearances on “Now We’re Talking,” “Gotham Comedy Live” and several episodes of “ESPN Instant,” with some of his favorite analysts and commentators. Praino is a sports enthusiast, whose dream came true when he threw out the first pitch at a Mets game. He lives in sunny CA with his surf board and foster dogs.
Joe Praino appears on the album Valentine’s Day is for Suckers.