This unhinged hamster-themed game show, hosted by a Philly resident, is the perfect way to end the holidays

Brian Balthazar’s repertoire rivals the capacity of a hamster’s cheeks which — fun fact — can store up to 20% of their body weight in food. It’s a fitting comparison for the Philadelphia resident, whose latest project has him cohosting the Max game show Human vs. Hamster, in which Homo sapiens are asked to compete the same tasks as the humble household pet, on a giant scale — often to surprising results. .

Balthazar grew up in Honesdale, a small northeastern Pennsylvania town known as the birthplace of modern railroading. His first big break came at age 11, when he was cast in a 15-performance run of Oliver! at the Bethany Mansion, now known as the Mansion at Noble Lane.

Now based in Philadelphia, he juggles producing television through his own company, Balthazar Entertainment, gardening with his partner, and exploring the city’s ever-evolving food scene. And when he’s not doing all that, you’ll find him on stage doing stand-up comedy “for anyone who will have” him or appearing on TV.

There is also a consistent element of “offbeat” in his comedic interests, Balthazar said. When he heard about a show pitting humans against hamsters to settle a dispute of superiority — he never looked back. And the show is just strange and silly enough to entertain the whole family in the waning days of holiday break.

The full season of Human vs. Hamster, starring Balthazar, Saturday Night Live’s Sarah Sherman, and sports TV host Kyle Brandt, is streaming now on Max (formerly HBO Max).

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and conciseness.

There weren’t many people in my family who had gone to a four-year university, so I didn’t have a lot of people to turn to about navigating school at Syracuse University and getting a job. I went to Boston because I knew it was a place where I could pursue my creative side. I just dove in and found work at a PR firm, booking appointments for a medium, singing and dancing on a boat, and working at a health club — then I was out of money.

I decided to live in my car that summer during a period when I was freelance writing. I got an article in the local Boston news station, and when I was leaving the building, I saw a job posting for an overnight writer. That’s how I first got into television news.

I remember vividly the phone calls pouring in when John F. Kennedy Jr.‘s plane was missing. It went from being this ’oh my gosh’ moment to a very true and real thing. I remember being among the first people to write about the disappearance and the subsequent development of JFK Jr. and his wife, Carolyn, losing their lives in that crash.

It was tricky. I was working on the Today show at the time. So, I ended up getting a lot of gigs as a warm-up comic for TV shows.

I was fortunate that I got to meet and work with Joan Rivers. Once Joan Rivers invites you into her world, she would invite you everywhere, to Thanksgiving, Passovers, and star-studded events. I just couldn’t believe I was there and got to work with her. One time I did an interview with her and I said something funny. She said, ‘Oh let me say that.’ She used my line! That was the most thrilling comedy moment in the world.

One of the things I learned from her and from doing it myself is that there really is humor in the darkest of situations. And if you’re able to harness that humor, even if you’re not a comic, [during] the difficulties of life, you will be infinitely better off and infinitely happier than if you don’t.

The network actually had their plans for the show already in place but I managed to wave my arms and get an audition. Sarah Sherman from Saturday Night Live and I did a play-by-play on Zoom of a hamster going through an obstacle course. It was exciting because Sarah Sherman is just this iconic, hilarious, SNL cast member, and it was kind of a ”pinch me” moment.

I was out at Parc one day for brunch on a weekday and I hear my name being called and it’s Sarah Sherman standing on a street in Philadelphia. What are the odds?

First of all, I feel like the coolest guy at the table. I went to her show that night and it was just jaw-droppingly funny.

The obstacle courses on Human vs. Hamster are by nature more suited to a hamster than a human because there’s a treadmill wheel, things they can climb very easily, and they only need a very limited amount of space on a ledge to fit.

They train for six weeks with treats on the obstacle courses, placing treats that get them acquainted with what they need to do. Soon, they begin removing treats from the course until there’s only one treat [left] at the finish line.

I am intrigued by these animals that are so adorable and yet can still live in the wild. Some people often have small animals and they just put them in a cage, when they need stimulation. The courses on Human vs. Hamster are a dream for these hamsters, with obstacle courses and challenges.

I’m just a fan of this area so much and I really fell in love with the Philadelphia food scene.

I love New York, but Philadelphia chefs have more inventive restaurants here. I think there’s an amount of creativity and inventiveness to the food and cocktail scene here that we don’t get there.

I’ve been a mixologist on the Food Network, cooking stuff for them and producing shows. So, when I came down here, I was thrilled with restaurants like Friday Saturday Sunday.

I love everything at Lark in Bala Cynwyd, but I’m obsessed with their cocktail menu.

If you’re willing to splurge, chef Eric Leveillee at Lacroix has a chef’s table experience where you sit and eat in the kitchen while the food is being made. It’s like being in an episode of The Bear.