BriTANicK
American Internet sketch comedy duo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BriTANicK (/braɪˈtænɪk/) is an internet sketch comedy duo from Atlanta, Georgia, that consists of Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher. McElhaney graduated from the Atlanta International School and Kocher graduated from The Paideia School. They attended New York University together. The duo's videos have been featured on internet video sites including YouTube, CollegeHumor, Cracked, Break, and FunnyOrDie. BriTANicK was nominated by the ECNY Awards as Best Sketch Comedy Group in New York in 2008 and by Comedy Central's inaugural Comedy Awards for best web video.[1] In 2012, BriTANicK appeared in Joss Whedon's adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing.[2]
- Internet comedy
- sketch comedy
BriTANicK | |
|---|---|
![](#/media/File:BriTANicK_"The_Coach"_screenshot_3min_6sec.jpg) BriTANicK in their 2012 short, "The Coach". Brian McElhaney is in bed; Nick Kocher is standing. | |
| Comedy career | |
| Medium | Internet comedy, writing, television |
| Genres |
|
| Subject | Everyday life |
| Brian McElhaney | |
| Born | August 8, 1986 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | |
| Nick Kocher | |
| Born | January 15, 1986 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
History
Both members of the duo started performing and creating videos while they were students at New York University. They started officially performing as BriTANicK in 2008, when they opened for Robin Williams at the SF Sketchfest. Since then, they have continued to create internet sketches, as well as performing around the country.[original research?] They have performed three shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York: "Begging for Approval", "The Infinity Prison", and their current monthly live show "The Monthly Mankerthon". Kocher and McElhaney perform sketch regularly at UCB as well as stand-up and improv comedy around New York City.[citation needed] A pilot for a BriTANicK TV show was ordered by Comedy Central in 2014. The pilot, which was ultimately never sold, was written by and starred the duo alongside Natalie Palamides, Maya Erskine, and Jessy Hodges.[3][4][5]
In 2016, Kocher and McElhaney were hired as writers by NBC's Saturday Night Live.[6]
Internet sketches
BriTANicK were featured regularly on Cracked.com and CollegeHumor.[citation needed]. Their sketch "Pillow Talk" featured Private Practice's Chris Lowell. They were featured as "Kings of DotComedy" on G4's Attack of the Show!.[7]
In the spring of 2020, the duo directed three episodes of Making Fun with Akilah and Milana for Comedy Central digital.[8]
Reviews, awards and festivals
BriTANicK has been reviewed in the Charleston City Paper and Time Out Chicago, and was named a Time Out New York "Don't Miss" critic's pick in 2009.[citation needed]
The duo has performed in SF Sketchfest, NYC Sketchfest, Chicago Sketchfest, and Piccolo Spoleto in Spoleto Festival USA. In 2008 they won the Seattle Sketchfest Video Contest and NY Comedy Festival's "Web Video Cram-Off". Their sketch, "Academy Award Winning Movie", resulted in coverage on the websites of the Huffington Post and Time magazine as well as praise from Roger Ebert, Joss Whedon, Stephen Fry, and Ashton Kutcher. They were nominated for The Comedy Awards' "Best Viral Original" and the ECNY Awards' "Best Comedic Video".[citation needed]
In 2022 and 2024 they performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In 2024 they directed Demi Adejuyigbe's performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[9]
Personal life
Nick Kocher married Scottish actress Karen Gillan in May 2022 at Castle Toward in Dunoon, Scotland.[10]
Filmography
As writers and directors
- The Goodwin Games (2013) (as writers)
- Saturday Night Live (2016–2017) (as writers)
- Pizza Movie (2026) (as directors and writers)
- Over Your Dead Body (2026) (as writers)
Brian McElhaney as actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Mercy | Assistant Manager | Episode: "I'm Not That Kind of Girl" |
| 2011 | Arthur | College Student | |
| 2011 | Searching for Sonny | Gary Noble | |
| 2011 | Young Adult | Book Associate | |
| 2012 | Much Ado About Nothing | Second Watchman | |
| 2014 | How I Met Your Mother | Justin | Episode: "Sunrise" |
| 2014 | Unforgettable | Officer Tim Gosling | Episode: "East of Islip" |
| 2014 | The Amazing Spider-Man 2 | Times Square Bystander | |
| 2014 | Balls Out | Chance | |
| 2015 | Dude Bro Party Massacre III | Turtleneck Bro | |
| 2015 | HitRecord on TV | Little Boy Boom | Episode: "Re: The Number 2" |
| 2017 | Adam Ruins Everything | Assistant Director | Episode: "Adam Ruins Conspiracy Theories" |
| 2019 | Plus One | Martin the Bartender |
Nick Kocher as actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Louie | Young Eddie | Episode: "Eddie" |
| 2011 | Searching for Sonny | Calvin Knight | |
| 2011–2012 | I Just Want My Pants Back | Lench | 7 episodes |
| 2012 | Much Ado About Nothing | First Watchman | |
| 2014 | How I Met Your Mother | Kyle | Episode: "Sunrise" |
| 2014 | Balls Out | Grant | |
| 2015 | Dude Bro Party Massacre III | Flannel Bro | |
| 2015 | HitRecord on TV | Arachned | Episode: "Re: The Number 2" |
| 2016 | Another Period | Vanderbilt #2 | Episode: "The Prince and the Pauper" |
| 2022 | The Bubble | Scott The EPK Guy | |
| 2023 | Late Bloomers | Benj |