Kirov By Night

Written by Andrew Kirov, Executive Producer/Host

I’ve always been a huge fan of comedy. When I was a kid, I’d stay up every week night to watch David Letterman and, if I could make it, Conan. On Saturday nights, I’d watch MadTV and Saturday Night Live. I always thought the hosts and cast members of those shows had the best job in the world. I couldn’t think of anything more fun than producing and performing in a comedy television show. And I still can’t.

Andrew Kirov

I started Kirov By Night in fall 2008. I was a senior at Northwood High School in Minong, WI. Several friends and I had the idea of combining the formats of a late night talk show, like The Tonight Show or the Late Show, and a sketch comedy program, like Saturday Night Live. We produced two episodes at Northwood, complete with original live comedy sketches, short comedy videos and live interviews with local “celebrities” like our high school band teacher and a reporter from the Spooner Advocate. I was never more proud of anything I’d accomplished in my seventeen years. It was great.

Alphabet Time Sketch on Kirov By Night

Kirov By Night took a hiatus of about three years, but it was always in the back of my mind. As a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, I restarted my original comedy show with a much larger staff, access to more equipment and the backing of the Communicating Arts Department and Theatre Program. Kirov By Night performed five episodes at UWS from March 2012 until May 2013, thus beginning the current reign of the show. We were very successful at UWS, garnering local media stories in the Duluth News Tribune and KBJR News. We also attracted the services of Emmy Award winning actor Martin Sheen, who has since recorded Kirov By Night’s introduction as well as several promotional videos and voice overs for the show.

Andrew Kirov interviewing KBJR News Anchor Kevin Jacobsen

Because of our success at UWS, Kirov By Night was able to secure a recurring spot at The Underground. To date, we have performed five episodes at The Underground, have a sixth coming on April 25^th, and have no plans of slowing down with more coming in the future.

Over the years, Kirov By Night has maintained the format it started as. It is a hybrid of a late night talk show and sketch comedy program. We write and perform our own original live comedy sketches about subjects as diverse as German techno bands, dancing street gangs, Santa Claus, and Jim Carlson. We produce original comedy videos making fun of topics like Duluth tourism, Taylor Swift, Bigfoot, and 1980s sitcoms. Plus, we have interviews with local celebrities such as Duluth Mayor Don Ness, news anchor Kevin Jacobsen, DSSO Music Director Dirk Meyer, The Duluth Playhouse cast of Spamalot, and meteorologist Justin Liles.

Andrew Kirov interviews Duluth Mayor Don Ness

If you’re a fan of comedy TV shows, I know you’ll love Kirov By Night. It’s The Tonight Show of the Twin Ports. It’s the Saturday Night Live of Duluth/Superior. Check us out on April 25^th. We have guests Dan Hanger from Fox 21 and Blake Thomas from The Underground’s Take It With You live radio show. And I mean, come on, it’s only $5. You won’t find better entertainment value anywhere. Give Kirov By Night a chance. You won’t regret it.