Bill Santiago

Bill Santiago is the first born of at least four children. He became a standup after narrowly escaping a career in journalism, facing the fact that as a comedian he was funny, but as a reporter he was a joke. It’s been said he was born to Puerto Rican immigrants, which is technically untrue, as Puerto Ricans are US citizens. Although, he’s got an uncle who was once deported to the Bronx. Currently, he is touring his show "The Immaculate Big Bang" (Religion, Science, Laughs) at Fringe Festivals around the country, to critical and audience acclaim. Recently, he served up his wit every weekend on "CNN Saturday Mornings," delivering comic relief commentary with "Santiago's Weekly Pop Wrapup." And he still appears regularly on CNN, after a good tweet. His comedy is heard regularly on SiriusXM Radio and other global digital platforms, providing critical chuckles for folks stuck in traffic around the world. Last year, Santiago hosted "Total BS," his own daily radio show, on SiriusXM, with an in-depth irreverent take on current events, culture and history, including: Isis and the apocalypse, the “Free The Nipple” movement, the Dalai Lama's decision not to reincarnate, political dynasties, Latinos on Broadway, and Marshal Bass Reeves -- the real Lone Ranger, who just happened to be black. While connecting solidly with his Latino fans, Santiago is just as as popular for his savvy mainstream material, reminiscent of George Carlin and Jerry Seinfeld, showcasing his journalistic roots, obsessions with language and keen insights on everything from family to culture , cats to politics, religion to dance and even quantum physics. With the premiere of his first television special, “Comedy Central Presents: Bill Santiago,” he won over fans nationwide with his dead-on observations about Spanglish – “twice the vocabulary, half the grammar!” and his beloved catchphrase “¡Porque Because!” Which led to his first book, "Pardon My Spanglish. ¡Porque Because!" The book is now being used at universities and high schools across the country to stimulate discussions about identity, language and multiculturalism. Santiago's second half-hour special for Showtime LOL aired in 2011.