Editing Matt Besser (section)

==Early life==
Besser was born and raised in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first=Gavin|title=The Merry Pranksters|url=http://rulefortytwo.com/articles-essays/movies/upright-citizens-brigade/|work=Details Magazine|access-date=2011-08-22}}</ref> to parents Diane and Sandy Besser.<ref>[http://eggmanwalrus.com/the-funny-ones-selections-from-the-diane-and-sandy-besser-collection-april-6-may-20-2012/ "The Funny Ones" selections from the Diane and Sandy Besser Collection / Opening Reception Friday April 20th, 2012, | Eggman & Walrus Art Emporium] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011221709/http://eggmanwalrus.com/the-funny-ones-selections-from-the-diane-and-sandy-besser-collection-april-6-may-20-2012/ |date=2014-10-11 }}</ref> His father was [[Jewish]], whereas his mother was Christian. Besser is an atheist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mattbesser.com/?page_id=853|title=Nashville Scene Review -|website=www.mattbesser.com|access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://heebmagazine.com/matt-besser-the-_heeb_-interview/3612|title=Matt Besser: The _Heeb_ Interview – Heeb|website=heebmagazine.com|date=29 October 2008 |access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref> He is a quarter German and a quarter French from his mother's side.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://totallylaimepodcast.com/2011/10/07/episode-88-matt-besser/|title=Totally Laime|access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref> Besser's grandfather's cousin was [[Joe Besser]] of [[The Three Stooges]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earwolf.com/episode/episode-9-matt-besser|title=A Couple of Stooges, episode #9 of Who Charted? on Earwolf|website=www.earwolf.com|access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref>

He was recruited to play soccer after starting on his high school team, but instead attended [[Amherst College]] with a major in American Studies. There, he started doing [[stand-up comedy]] and competed in a contest at [[University of Massachusetts Amherst|UMass]] that was judged by [[Judd Apatow]].<ref name="BA">{{cite web|title=BA #029: Matt Besser|url=http://boxangeles.com/2014/06/19/ba-029-matt-besser/|website=Box Angeles podcast|date=19 June 2014 }}</ref> After graduating, he briefly moved to Denver in an attempt to pursue stand-up, but quickly moved to Chicago. He worked various odd jobs, including stints as a substitute teacher, a host at [[Carnegie Deli]] and as a host at [[Dick's Last Resort]].<ref name="BA"/>