Few cities boast the rich comedic history of Chicago.
The second city launched generations of stand-up comedians to national stardom.
In the late ’90s and early ’00s the Windy Apple launched the likes of Kumail Nanjiani, Peter Holmes, Hannibal Buress and more to national fame. Mike Bridenstine chronicles the scene during that time period in his new book “The Perfect Amount of Wrong.”
Can being wrong feel so right? It’s a good bet.
Today’s Stand-Up Spotlight adds an update on comedian Trevor Noah; a feature about Liv Pearsall; and one person’s list of comedians whose return to stand-up following a Hollywood career failed to recapture the magic.
Make the move. Make the funny.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – September 12, 2023
Comedian’s book recalls Chicago’s heyday as an incubator for stand-up stars
In the new book “The Perfect Amount of Wrong,” stand-up comic and producer Mike Bridenstine chronicles how he watched a handful of comedian-run Chicago shows in the late ’90s and early ’00s, mostly in the back rooms of bars or unused annex spaces at restaurants, produce a wave of alternative talent still working at the top of their game.
The list of talent from that time is astounding: Kumail Nanjiani (“Eternals,” “The Big Sick”), Pete Holmes (“Crashing,” “You Made It Weird”), Hannibal Buress (“The Eric Andre Show,” “Broad City”), Cameron Esposito (“A Million Little Things”), Dwayne Kennedy (“United Shades of America”), TJ Miller (“Silicon Valley”), Kyle Kinane (“Paradise PD”), Matt Braunger (“Upload”), Brooke van Poppelen (“Girl Code”) and countless others.
What Is Trevor Noah Doing Now That His Run On The Daily Show Ended?
It may be hard to believe, but it’s been almost a year since Trevor Noah announced his exit from The Daily Show. The comedian hosted the satirical talk show for seven years and officially departed his post in December 2022. In recent months, the political and social commentary-fueled talk show has been trying to find a new permanent host and has been utilizing a number of guest hosts. All the while, Noah has been pursuing other endeavors. And based on his exploits, one gets the feeling that he doesn’t plan on slowing down any time soon.
Liv Pearsall on Creating Original Comedy Content and Her SNL Dreams
Liv Pearsall has become a leading figure within the new wave of Gen Z comedic talent.
The 24-year-old content creator has had a whirlwind three years, with videos of her skits, sketches, and relatable humour earning several million followers across her social media platforms. And now, the rising star is preparing to take her career to new heights.
5 Comedians Who Returned to Stand-Up After Doing Movies and TV But Didn’t Hit the Same
For decades, the dream for stand-up comics was to leverage their routines into a sitcom or a movie deal. Tim Allen, Ellen DeGeneres and Ray Romano all started as stand-ups but made their riches when TV and the movies came calling. But sometimes a funny thing happens to comics who search for greener pastures — after a stint making sitcoms and comedies, the grass starts looking leafy and lush again on the stand-up side of the fence.
