News - Greg Shapiro

Greg Shapiro, the Dutch DudeWithSign

June 15, 2021

'Dude with Sign.' I've been inspired by his work. And - as an artist - that's my way of saying I'm stealing his idea. In March 2021, I did a series of 'Dutch Dude with Sign' poses to encourage the Dutch English-speaking community to get more involved with the Dutch elections. But now I'm picking up where I left off - nu helemaal in het Nederlands.

ACCESS MAGAZINE REVIEWS GREG SHAPIRO’S THIRD BOOK

June 8, 2021

Greg Shapiro's The American Netherlander, with its sense of humour and sharp eye for detail, is a good starting point to understanding life as an international in the Netherlands. The author is an American comedian, a member of comedy group Boom Chicago, presenter of Comedy Central News, and author of two books now collected together in The American Netherlander: 25 Years of Expat Tales.

Greg Shapiro Masterclass: CULTURE SHOCK THERAPY

June 7, 2021

There are plenty examples of Culture Shock in the Netherlands. Like having a Dutchman introduce himself and say "Hello, my name is Freek. I am Freek, and this is my colleague Tjerk." But if you can keep a sense of humor about it, you experience Culture Shock THERAPY: when you realize that cultural differences can be hilarious

Greg Shapiro on ‘Weet Ik Veel’ with ‘How to Be Orange’

May 27, 2021

Last fall, I got a call from the Dutch quiz show Weet Ik Veel. They wanted to use a clip from the 'How to Be Orange' standup special I made for VARA in 2013. The episode aired in 2021.

I May Have Just Saved You from a €95 Fine

May 25, 2021

Lockdown cardboard is overflowing on the streets of Amsterdam! Ever wonder what would happen if an entire city would start working from home, ordering everything online and then dumping their used cardboard boxes all at once? Welcome to Pandemic 2021. I have a paper recycling container across from my house, which is often jammed. If only I could get the key to that side panel... SO I did it! Now I save my neighbors from getting €95 penalties.

Q&A: Why EU Vaccine Strategy Is Not as Bad as You Think

May 19, 2021

On my YouTube channel, I have a long-running show called 'United States of Europe' - Making fun of the EU the American way. So of course, I had to make fun of the EU's comically slow Covid vaccination rates, as compared to the US and the UK. BUT along the way, I realized - it's not that simple. In fact, in many ways EU vaccination policy is not as bad as you'd think. Trendwatcher Vincent Everts liked the video and interviewed me about it.

Greg Shapiro Hosts 1st-Ever CitizenM TV Show

May 14, 2021

For the CitizenM TV show, the Livestream doesn't need to be Live! We had 3 days of production, with plenty of time for me to meet the C-level execs and get to know them. We pre-recorded the transitions, and I spoke in the voiceovers. The priority on-set was to keep the vibe of a normal offsite event, as much as possible. And yes, the top management were way too dry in the first take. But with a couple of retakes - and me more actively engaging them - the managers managed to loosen up and feel like they were talking to their team, in person. I really appreciated hearing it back in the comments, like "You made us feel comfortable Greg, it was a joy. Many thanks!"

Greg Shapiro on NPO Op 1: How to Imitate Biden

April 22, 2021

SO I was asked to appear on a Dutch talk show. In Part One I was asked to comment – as Trump – on the results of Election 2020. In Part Two, Carrie asked me if I could do a Joe Biden imitation. I told her "I'm working on it." (in Dutch)

The Book Gifting Challenge: What’s the First Thing to Make You Laugh

April 19, 2021

Well, now everyone is in Lockdown. So I thought: "Oh, well. I'll have to approach the fabulous celebrities one on one. With social distancing!" And I came up with a hook: I'll interview the Dutch celebrities and ask them "What is the first thing in the book that makes you laugh out loud?" Right away, with America expert Laila Frank, I did not get the result I was expecting. In fact, it kind of backfired. Making it all the more hilarious! Got 60 seconds? Watch the video:

Greg Shapiro Presents THE ZOOM IMPROV WORKSHOP

April 15, 2021

After the success of my HOW NOT TO ZOOM 'video conference mini-show,' a client asked: “Could you lead one of your classic improv workshops via Zoom as well?” And I said YES. Or more specifically, “YES AND.” The Zoom Improv Workshop starts with: - Introducing yourself to your team in a whole new way. - Sharing WORST practice in video conferencing. - Showcasing Special Skills. And it builds up to: - Allowing yourself to be an expert, based on virtual backgrounds assigned to you at random.