Though Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld have driven more than a quarter of a billion streams online, most of their fans never bothered to learn their last names. To them, the duo are simply “Jake and Amir.”
That’s because Hurwitz and Blumenfeld have written and appeared in more than 500 installments of their eponymous Web series — two a week for the past five years. The popular sketches depict the shenanigans of two workplace desk mates: Amir is the desperate loon always craving attention, while Jake plays the straight man bewildered by his co-worker’s antics.
The pair met in 2006 when Hurwitz joined College Humor (Blumenfeld had been working there since 2005). At the time, the comedy-oriented website featured only written pieces, but the outlet was looking for a chance to produce online video.
“We were sitting across from each other just like we do in the videos,” Blumenfeld says. “Write what you know, I guess.”
Though the guys have each worked independently of one another (Blumenfeld had an especially memorable turn in “A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas”), the duo hope to continue the partnership as they pursue opportunities beyond College Humor, including the possibility of doing a TV skein together.
They dipped their toes in longer-form comedy last October with the 30-minute “Jake and Amir” Web spesh, “Fired,” and they are pursuing a digital project of their own. According to Blumenfeld they plan to launch something like a Web series with new characters for YouTube by the fall.
“Right now, everything we think of needs to be wrapped up in two minutes,” Hurwitz says. “That’s what the Internet has done to our brains.”
LAUGH FACTS
P.O.V.: Amir: “We love each other. I mean, what can you say?”
Jake: “Now don’t say that.”
Influences: Jake cites “Arrested Development” and comedian Mitch Hedberg; Amir likes “Louie” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Reps: Paradigm (Hurwitz) & ICM (Blumenfeld)/APA/Principato Young
