" In a comedic landscape that is often wrought with sarcasm, self deprecation, and cynicism, I have to say that Eliot Chang is a welcome relief!  His point of view is honest and real yet Eliot's approach is marked by a fun positive energy that is genuine and refreshing.  (That is something that sets him apart - the fact that he is still funny with this attitude and energy that other people try to put forth and it comes off as an act).  He's simply fun to watch and makes me laugh. "                                           -JoAnn Grigioni, VP Talent, Comedy Central Eliot Chang's "Comedy Central Presents" half hour special was voted #2 in Comedy Central's Stand Up Showdown 2011.  Other TV appearance include E!'s "Chelsea Lately" and Showtime's "Minority Report."  Sharp biting opinions combined with his trademark polished wardrobe make Eliot's live performances memorable. This comedian is also an actor and improviser.  He studied improv in NY at the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) and then with Armando Diaz at the Magnet Theater, where he was on the house team "Jungle! Jungle!"  He continued his acting training in LA with Lesly Kahn. Every year Eliot tours America for 8 months and has performed at over 400 colleges.  Born and raised in NY, Eliot moved to Los Angeles in 2007.  He travels regularly between both coasts for projects. Want more? Eliot fell into stand up comedy by accident.  One fateful night in NY he suffered through a bad comedy show and said the common phrase "I'm funnier than these guys."  Shortly after he learned that one of his friends tried stand up and then thought "if he can do it, I can do it."  Then one day he was passing by the original Gotham Comedy Club and noticed a sign in the window for that day's open mic.  He walked in, signed up, went onstage unprepared and the rest is history... And what is that history? Eliot returned to the Gotham every week.  The urban "Def Jam" rooms in NY also helped his career in the beginning because they were the only shows that would put him on, usually as a gimmick.  He became known as "that Asian kid who does the black shows."  Although his material has changed since then, he learned 3 lessons from black audiences: never show fear, never be what you are not, and always dress nice. Within a few years and with no representation this stand up rookie started his own college tour.  In 2003 he began sending unsolicited tapes and emails to Comedy Central's NY office.  As luck would have it, one night at Comic Strip Live some executives from Comedy Central saw him perform and took a liking to his act.  After hearing about his unanswered mailings, one of the executives (who Eliot still thanks to this day) said "Give me your tape and I will put it on that guy's desk."  A year later Eliot filmed his 1st appearance for Comedy Central's "Premium Blend."  It was filmed at the John Jay Theater in NY and it ended with a standing ovation.  It aired January 2005. For the next few years, Eliot continued his annual college tour but did not perform stand up on TV and lost touch with Comedy Central.  Feeling that he had hit a ceiling NYC and needed to make a drastic change.  Within 2 weeks of making that decision he moved to Hollywood in December 2007.  He had one goal.  To get his Comedy Central Presents half hour special. Having no contacts in Los Angeles, he was determined to not waste anytime.  Spending every night at the major comedy clubs in town within 2 months he was performing on all their stages and networking with every comic he met.  This would lead to another chance meeting. In October 2008, Eliot was visiting NY and went to watch a fellow LA comic perform at Comix comedy club.  That night the LA comic introduced him to a Comedy Central executive who would change his life (who he still thanks to this day).  He was hell-bent on re-establishing a relationship with the network and make up for lost time.  Business cards were exchanged, emails were sent, and within a month Eliot was on Comedy Central's Hotlist 2009 and scheduled to perform on Comedy Central's South Beach comedy festival in Miami in January 2009. Unwavering in his goal to get his half hour special, he recognized this once in a life time opportunity to impress the right people.  For the 4 weeks prior to the Miami show, he performed every night, 2-3 spots a night, just to perfect his 10 min set.  By the time the festival came around he was ready to rock the stage.  And he did. Nine months later Eliot was offered his own Comedy Central Presents.  Ironically, the network decided to move the film location for the new season to the John Jay Theater in NY.  Eliot's special was filmed in November 2009 and aired April 23rd, 2010. It has been a long arduous journey for this comedian.  From open mics to TV to headlining his yearly national tour. Before every show Eliot has the same thought, "I get to be me as a job.  I am very blessed."