Sebastian Maniscalco
This is a CapCity Special Event!
January 23-26
What's Wrong With People? asks Sebastian Maniscalco in his hilarious new hit stand-up special airing
on Showtime and available on DVD nationwide on March 27th. In What's Wrong with People, he brings
his witheringly sarcastic and exasperated take on modern behavior and decorum, trying to bridge the
gap between the Italian-American Old World he grew up in and the contemporary frenetic world we all
live in today. The result is an original, highly relatable stand-up comedy tour-de-force that has Sebastian
performing sold-out concerts worldwide. His self-deprecating comedy reminds fans of a young Jerry
Seinfeld who constantly challenges his audience to recognize the absurdities of everyday life.
A native of Chicago, Sebastian grew up with comedy in his blood. After earning a degree in Corporate
Organizational Communications from Northern Illinois University , he realized his passion for stand-
up comedy and immediately headed out to Los Angeles . While working as a waiter at a Four Seasons
in Beverly Hills , Sebastian spent every free night performing at local clubs, bowling alleys and bars.
He remembers being so bad during his first stand-up act that the audience jeered him off the stage by
screaming, "Sandman! Sandman!" in reference to Showtime at the Apollo's Howard Sims who would
usher failed acts offstage with a shepherd's crook. But, with a steadfast work ethic and impeccable
comedic timing, Sebastian has risen through the ranks to become one of the most respected entertainers
in the stand-up community today.
As his career roll continued, Sebastian catapulted into the national spotlight with a 20-city tour for his one-
hour Comedy Central DVD Special Sebastian Live! On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Sebastian has
appeared as the unforgettable style correspondent providing hilarious grooming advice to unsuspecting
airline passengers and churchgoers. His other national television appearances include the award-winning
series The Savages, The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Lopez Tonight, Tim Meadows' The
Very Funny Show, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, Showtime's Comics without Boarders, Comics
Unleashed and Hollywood Uncensored. He is also a popular guest on such ground-breaking podcasts as
WTF with Marc Maron.
While perfecting his routine on the stand-up circuit, Sebastian captured the attention of award-winning
actor and entertainer Vince Vaughn who selected him to be one of the four featured comedians in the
critically acclaimed film Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show. "Performing with Vince every night for
a month was the best time of my life," Sebastian recalls. With hilarious appearances from other renowned
comedians: Justin Long, Jon Favreau, Dwight Yoakam and Keir O'Donnell, the film became an instant
cult success.
Throughout his diverse career, Sebastian has worked with many other entertainment legends
including Prince, BB King, Al Green, Anita Baker, and Gladys Knight. In 2009, Sebastian completed
an international USO tour for the troops where he performed in Guam, Fuji , Misawa, Iwakuni and
Hiroshima . His sold-out shows at the Dubai Comedy Festival and Lebanon's Music Hall have solidified
him as an international sensation.
Sebastian currently resides in Los Angeles where he can be found eating plates of pasta at Maggianos
and working out new material at the Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard. In his spare time, Sebastian enjoys traveling, golf, cooking and fashion. He is active in various charities benefiting The Foundation for
Fighting Blindness and Hurricane Katrina.
