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Adam Christing

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Adam Christing
Christing Emceeing at the Reagan Library
Born
Los Angeles, California
EducationBachelor of Arts in Public Speaking
Alma materBiola University
Occupation(s)Comedian
Speaker/master of ceremonies
Author
Director
Known forFounder of Clean Comedians
Websiteadamchristing.com

Adam Christing is an American comedian, author, and motivational speaker from La Mirada, California. He is the founder and president of Clean Comedians, an organization composed of comedians, speakers, and entertainers who refrain from using objectionable material and profanity during their performances.[1]

Christing has written three books: Comedy Comes Clean, Comedy Comes Clean 2, and Your Life is a Joke. He also wrote, produced, and directed the 2008 mockumentary Change Your Life! He has appeared on numerous radio and television programs including Entertainment Tonight, and NBC Nightly News. He has appeared in print publications including Fortune, USA Today, and The New York Times.[2]

Early life and education

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Christing was born in Los Angeles, California and has lived in Southern California for much of his life.[3] He began performing magic tricks at the age of 9 and gained membership into Hollywood's Magic Castle at age 17.[4]

He earned a bachelor's degree in public speaking from Biola University in Los Angeles,[2] and was named to the university's Alumni Hall of Fame.[2][5]

In 1987, Christing was mentioned in a Los Angeles Times piece for successfully preventing a theft.[6]

The genesis of Christing's idea for Clean Comedians is briefly profiled in the book Life Is a Series of Presentations.[7]

Career

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Christing founded Clean Comedians in 1990.[1] as a response to the rise in prominence of frequently profane comedians like Andrew Dice Clay and Howard Stern.[8] By 1992, the group consisted of around 20 entertainers, including impersonator and fellow Biola University alumnus Steve Bridges.[1] Members of the group primarily performed (and continue to perform) for corporate events, association gatherings, religious groups, educational and fundraising events.[8][1]

Christing was able to capitalize on the "clean and funny" image by releasing two books: Comedy Comes Clean in 1996 and Comedy Comes Clean 2 in 1997, both published by Three Rivers Press.[4][9][10]

In 2005, Christing turned his attention to self-help and life coaching by selling Clean Comedians and founding TheMeaningOfLife.com.[11] The website offered various "empowerment" DVDs and life coaching sessions designed to help people engage in a spiritual "life transformation."[12] The site also hosted a contest that awarded $10,000 to the entrant who could provide the "most profound" statement of the meaning of life in under 25 words.[11]

In 2008, Christing produced, wrote, and directed a mockumentary-style comedy film called Change Your Life!, starring Tony Plana.[2] In 2012, he returned to the helm of Clean Comedians.[13]

In 2013, he released Your Life Is A Joke: 12 Ways to Go from Ha Ha to AHA!, a humorous self-help book.[14]

Christing has been named among the top five "after-dinner" speakers in the United States and was profiled in a cover story of The Funny Paper, a magazine that showcases wholesome performing artists.[3] He is often hired as a master of ceremonies for non-profit groups and companies like Johnson & Johnson, Choice Hotels, and The Ritz Carlton.[3] Since making Change Your Life!, Christing has written and directed a historical documentary and a number of identity and parody videos for companies like HP and Insperity. He has given over 4,000 live speeches and performances throughout his career.[3]

Filmography

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  • 2008, Change Your Life!, writer and producer

Bibliography

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Title Publication date ISBN, publisher
Comedy Comes Clean August 20, 1996 ISBN 9780517887363, Three Rivers Press
Comedy Comes Clean 2 July 29, 1997 ISBN 9780517887370, Three Rivers Press
Your Life is a Joke November 21, 2013 ISBN 9780989930314, Markin Books

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Leader, Jody (September 30, 1992). "Good, Clean Fun". Chicago Tribune via Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Wooding, Dan (August 4, 2010). "Adam Christing—'Interactive Entertainer'—Is Dan Wooding's Special Guest On Tomorrow's His Channel Live". Continental News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Schick, Dennis. "Adam Christing - The Clean Comedian". The Funny Paper.
  4. ^ a b "Comedy comes clean with Adam Christing". The Gettysburg Times. November 3, 1999. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  5. ^ Christing, Adam (5 March 2012). "Tribute to comedian and friend Steve Bridges". International Press Association. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Whittier: Magician's Public Spirit". Los Angeles Times. January 8, 1987. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  7. ^ Jeary, Tony; Kim Dower and J.E. Fishman (2005). Life Is a Series of Presentations: Eight Ways to Inspire, Inform, and Influence Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime. Touchstone Books. ISBN 978-0743269254.
  8. ^ a b Bravin, Jess (May 12, 1992). "Clean Comedians Do Away With the Unspeakable : Stand-up: Their performance to benefit Garden Grove High School's drama department, however, fails to draw a big audience". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  9. ^ Comedy Comes Clean: A Hilarious Collection of Wholesome Jokes, Quotes, and One-Liners. Crown Trade Paperbacks. 1996. ISBN 0517887363.
  10. ^ Comedy Comes Clean 2: Another Hilarious Collection of Wholesome Jokes, Quotes, and One-Liners. Three Rivers Press. 1997. ISBN 0517887371.
  11. ^ a b Ross, Michael E. (March 2, 2006). "Life's age-old mystery: What's it worth to you?". NBCNews.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  12. ^ "Seekers of the meaning of life can log on to U.S. website". The Vancouver Sun. Canada.com. March 21, 2006. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  13. ^ Olson, David (October 17, 2012). "REGION: Keeping comedy clean". The Press-Enterprise. Archived from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  14. ^ Christing, Adam (2013). Your Life Is A Joke: 12 Ways to Go from Ha Ha to AHA!. Adam Christing. ISBN 9780989930314.
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