Amir Blumenfeld
A defining voice of early internet comedy, he turned awkward office dynamics and absurd character bits into a digital generation's humor.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Israeli American comedian·Birthday: January 18·Millennials
Biography
Amir Blumenfeld, with his signature deadpan delivery and willingness to play the desperate, socially oblivious foil, became a cornerstone of CollegeHumor's rise in the 2000s. Moving from Los Angeles to New York to join the site, he found his perfect comedic partner in Jake Hurwitz. Their 'Jake and Amir' web series, set in a drab office, mined endless humor from Amir's pathological need for Jake's approval through increasingly bizarre schemes. The shorts, characterized by rapid-fire, repetitive dialogue, cultivated a massive online following and helped define the aesthetic of scripted digital comedy. Blumenfeld's work extended beyond the duo, writing and starring in countless other sketches for the site and co-hosting the podcast 'If I Were You,' offering hilariously bad advice. His career traces the path from niche web videos to a sustained, influential presence in comedy.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Amir was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Amir Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Amir's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-created and starred in the long-running web series 'Jake and Amir,' which produced over 700 short episodes.
- Co-hosted the popular advice podcast 'If I Were You,' which ran for over a decade and topped comedy podcast charts.
- Was a lead writer and cast member for CollegeHumor's original video content during its peak cultural influence.
- Starred in and wrote for the MTV series 'The CollegeHumor Show,' bringing the site's brand to television.
Did You Know?
He was born in Israel and moved to Los Angeles when he was two years old.
Before comedy, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley, intending to pursue a career in law.
He and Jake Hurwitz performed a live 'Jake and Amir' show at Carnegie Hall in 2015.
Blumenfeld's character in 'Jake and Amir' was famously obsessed with the smoothie chain Jamba Juice.
“I'm not a character, I'm a person, and I'm not even a good person.”
