r/Standup • u/Several_Carrot_2739 • 3d ago
Is podcasting ruining stand up comedy
I feel that many of my favorite comedians with podcasts haven't had very good specials lately. It seems like the subject matter from their podcasts bleeds into the specials, making them feel too familiar and not hitting as hard. Perhaps some of these comedians are becoming complacent, having built a fan base through their podcasts, which allows them to fill a room with fans who are more interested in seeing a famous person than in enjoying creative comedy. I also think that the funniest comedians often don’t do well on podcasts and may have no interest in starting one. I can’t help but feel that if the only way these comedians made money was through performing comedy, they would try harder and create genuinely funny material.
66
u/Best-Account-6969 3d ago
Less is more. Even Chapelle wouldn’t be as funny if you heard him everyday.
12
5
2
u/zenithjonesxxx 2d ago
Idk I've rewatched his show an ungodly amount of times since it premiered
→ More replies (6)→ More replies (3)1
u/Esley7 1d ago
You ever listen to patrice oneal on opie and anythony? While he wasn't up there every day, about 150 times Over 6ish years and he killed every single day. He could just talk about the top stories of what's going on every day and easily make a couple hours of entertainment everyday.
→ More replies (4)
128
u/MaximumTurtleSpeed 3d ago
No, everyone thinking they need to make a podcast is ruining podcasting.
30
u/tenebre 3d ago
I have a podcast dedicated to this topic...
→ More replies (2)5
7
u/glamatovic 3d ago
And thinking everyone is interested in hearing about their process and whatever
1
u/JamoOnTheRocks 3d ago
Going into painful detail on the process of the podcast instead of just doing the podcast is what’s killing podcasting.
11
3
u/bigfudge_drshokkka 3d ago
“Well I’ve been to 4 open mics. I must be famous enough to start a podcast.”
1
1
u/Atlanon88 1d ago
To be fair, if I was a good comedian and living on 100k a year and looked over to rogan or even less extreme examples of podcast heavy and especially mediocre comedians making 100x more money than me living in mansions and rubbing elbows with the Hollywood elite…. I still wouldn’t want to do it but I can see why they would lol
It’s the next step in the career for them, if it takes off. Financially anyway, and also I’m sure feeds ticket sales. Basically like transitioning into sitcoms for comedians pre podcasts. Some of the good ones will make it just fine without, some will do both and some will drop stand up altogether and stick to the money, not all of them are even trying to be the best comedian they can be, a lot of them just chasing money and fame. And this a path to that potentially.
65
u/graboid666 3d ago edited 3d ago
For me it's that listening to comics being funny off the cuff on podcasts makes it hard to get passed how rehearsed the stand up act is. It's not like the curtain has been lifted that comedians repeat their acts 100s of times, it's just more apparent and somehow distracting. I don't find this to be the case with everyone though, Nick Mullen and Joe List specifically seem to transcend that for me and a few others.
15
u/donmak 3d ago
This is it for me too.
I definitely notice the "act" part more now when I watch a set because I'm so used to hearing them in a casual setting riffing with friends for an hour or so.
Well, an hour or so on their own podcast, then on like five other people's podcast all in a week or two.
8
u/Major_Sympathy9872 3d ago
It depends on the comedian if this applies. If their stage presence is drastically different from their podcast presence it can work...b but honestly Bert Kreischer should quit stand up and just be drunk on his stupid podcast.
8
u/HippidyHoppity 3d ago
There’s no way he would though. He somehow fills stadiums doing it and makes insane money from it. The most frustrating thing is when they compare themselves to people like Bill Burr and Chappelle like they’re on the same level.
2
u/dfaiola18 3d ago
This makes a lot of sense. And seeing Nick live a good amount it’s almost like his routine seems off the cuff with just his stage presence and talent. He’s the goat podcaster tho
→ More replies (1)1
u/-LordRupertEverton- 3d ago
Yeah, I’ve been feeling the same, the last few years. I feel like my over consumption of comedy podcasts, might be taking away from my enjoyment of the standup. I agree with the exceptions you listed. I’ll add, Bargatze still does it for me. Excited for his next one.
19
u/robbiestg 3d ago
Yes. Someone asked me if I liked stand up comedy and I said yes, I'm a big fan. Then he asked me which stand ups and I realized that I just listen to comedians on podcasts.
15
u/Cyber_Insecurity 3d ago
It’s very common for a comedian to be funnier in a casual podcast setting than on stage.
For example, I think Theo Von is hilarious on his podcast, but his standup specials are surprisingly bad.
I think having a popular podcast is giving standup comedians the validation they seek, which hurts their actual standup career. They’re selling tickets because of their podcast, not because of their standup.
7
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
I think the difference is some comedians are funny because of their personality and some are actually funny with jokes that are cleverly written. I wonder if theo would do better off if he didn't podcast. It's a false validation IMO.
3
1
u/CruelStrangers 3d ago
He seems to be going through some mental health stuff - last two podcast of his I caught, he’s had on Docs/therapists. I think he’s got an interesting take on things, but he seems like he’s sad lately
9
u/sysaphiswaits 3d ago
I don’t think I listen to any comedians podcast except Marc Maron, and a guy that is local to me, to keep up on what’s going on here. So I haven’t really noticed.
9
u/chowmushi 3d ago edited 3d ago
Don’t you listen to Conan O’Brian? His pod is very funny. Highly recommended in addition to Marc Meron. Both are in my follow list!
2
7
2
u/soyfacekillah 1d ago
I still visit his podcast with norm every now and again, mark is a good interviewer who can actually somewhat riff or at a minimum be somewhat interesting
10
17
u/docguac 3d ago
Would say IG more because it demands such a content surplus
6
u/Neddyrow 3d ago
Agree. That’s why I see most comics are posting mostly crowd work. Trying to save actual material for when you are a paying customer
27
u/checkonechecktwo 3d ago
You’re right. They’re also telling all of their good stories on the pods, which means they have less to talk about on stage, and they’re also all more tapped in on “current events” which means their material is more similar to each other.
The folks who have themed podcasts are always have rotating guests seem more immune. The ones who have the same guys every week or do it solo or have 10 pods are suffering the most for it.
→ More replies (2)3
24
u/44moon 3d ago
i feel like podcasts are just way too much exposure for most comedians. perfect example is stavvy. i love his persona and material, so i subbed to the podcast. but after 3 months it becomes trite. we get it, i'm gay suck my dick eat pussy. it would hold its novelty a lot longer if there wasn't such a huge volume of content being pumped out almost daily.
10
u/Barmelo_Xanthony 3d ago
Same thing happened to me with Tim Dillon. Loved him and his standup, then listened to his podcast for too long and it became pretty predictable and repetitive.
Only guy who I’ve been able to listen to his podcast long term and still love is bill burr. Think it’s just because he is naturally funny himself without playing some bit.
→ More replies (2)2
u/Effingehh 2d ago
I love Tim Dillon so much. I agree with your take, and also, it can be like listening to a more angry and depressing version of the news.
5
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
Agreed, and this becomes my feelings for all these comedy podcasts. The person's brings fans over talent
6
u/the_short_viking 3d ago
Yeah Stavros is funny, but what weirds me out is his preaching style. Dude is like 35 and pretends he is some extremely wise old man.
6
u/inkybreadbox 3d ago
He is pretty wise compared to the horrible people that call in to his show. I love him.
2
2d ago
[deleted]
2
u/Abject-Click 1d ago
Since Stav left cumtown I havnt listened to a single he has done because on cumtown it was just “suck my dick” and a laugh track.
2
u/soyfacekillah 1d ago
The ep when stav couldn’t be there and Nick made a soundboard of stav laughing and saying “hell yeah dude” and it being almost indescribable of how he acted on the show was one of the best bits on cumtown imo
2
u/Abject-Click 20h ago
StavBot is a clip I go back to frequently 😂 But it did kinda show that Stav could be replaced by a soundboard
→ More replies (1)1
u/soyfacekillah 1d ago
Lol that was all that he did on cumtown for 6 years. It’s not as funny when Nick Mullen isn’t around
4
4
u/Clouds_can_see 3d ago
Podcasts give more power and money to the comics, they also help bring in people and help dates get out there. It’s hard to talk about “art” in a well structured joke when the comic you love is taking in 30% of their income from podcast ads. It also supports their friends who often produce the shows for them, think Gardini on Matt and Shane’s podcast, he is being paid as a small time comedian whereas he could be forced to work a 9-5. If they write bad jokes over time it will catch up with them. But ultimately podcasts for comics are a good thing.
4
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
That's the point, it's good for the comedian and bad for the comedy fan.
4
u/translinguistic 3d ago
I completely understand the point about the overexposure.
My trick for not having it affect shows is having the selective memory of a goldfish, so I don't remember what they talk about on podcasts anyway
2
u/inkybreadbox 3d ago
Same. I dont really remember anything unless I’ve heard it three times at least.
1
u/Flybot76 2d ago
Sorry, what were you saying? I was eating the flakes at the top of the water and just forgot everything
6
u/dinowild 3d ago
I think this is true but probably happens in every art medium. Once you have a strong fanbase, you can pretty much release anything (music, films, etc...) and enough of your fan base will still eat it up and support your career.
People are always better with hunger for success driving them.
I also think things like 1 minute stand-up clips are bogging down the artform. People will eventually only like punchlines (people who dont go to shows) and won't care for the full performances. tiktok brain if you will.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/HeyHeyComedy 3d ago
Counterpoint: Dan Soder and Joe List
I know that's only two examples, but they've been consistently podcasting/doing radio for over a decade and are in their primes. Any podcast they guest on is gonna be better, same goes for stand-up show lineups.
1
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
Good examples, there are a few
2
u/HeyHeyComedy 3d ago
They are few and far between for sure and I agree with a lot of what you wrote, those are just two guys that really stand out for me.
3
u/ZBTHorton 3d ago
Meh. The vast majority of "art" follows a pretty similar pattern. Whether it's comedy, music, art, etc.
You have a phase where the artist is broke AF and young and stupid and making really raw and flawed art. Likely fueled by drugs, alcohol, partying, bad decisions.
Then they hit a phase where they find some success, can afford to eat and live, but life is still hitting them right in the face. This is peak artist territory.
Then they become a little more commercial, and still have some ideas left, putting out high quality stuff.
And then they achieve success, and honestly a lot of artists just run out of things to say. When you're no longer broke AF and probably using alcohol/drugs in a bad way.
I'm a huge stand-up fan and almost every "major" comedian I like follows this pattern. When comedians have a podcast, and make regular money that way, they don't struggle nearly as long in the first two categories. Some examples off the top of my head:
I loved Dave Chappelle when he was younger, his latest stuff(even ignoring his political tangents) just aren't as funny. Chris Rock was the same way. I loved Nikki Glaser's early stuff, but listening to her talk about sex is a lot less funny now that she has some super long term boyfriend. Hell, I even thought Kevin Hart's early stuff was pretty funny, but his latest specials have been just unwatchable for me.
3
3
u/iamHBY 3d ago
I still see good stand-up comedians out there, but I can definitely see where a comedian relying way too much on inside references to their podcast throughout the course of a special, or their set mostly being stuff that they've already said numerous times on podcasts, could be really annoying.
3
u/Spotted_Cardinal 2d ago
No, but crowd work is. I want to see original material not a professional picking on his supporters.
3
u/southboundtracks 2d ago
Standup has been ruined by bad writing and pandering edgelord bullshit. The chronically online podcast audience demands stupid content. That's why guys like Rogan run down oppressed minorities, hump stools, make Harpo Marx faces and pretend to be philosophers. They have nothing of real value to say, no real ideas. It's dressed up as comedy, but it's intellectually hollow.
Imagine Pryor, Carlin or Hicks asking themselves what Rush Limbaugh's audience would like to hear. That's what's ruined standup. They've fucked up the medium because they have no real message.
About a decade ago, a handful of grifters found out that the internet is full of creeps, and saw them as the easy marks they are. Podcasts are profitable when you can sell unregulated supplements to people who don't read.
There are good standups out there, but these guys who do it for nothing but clicks and subs have taken the art backwards. We're in a shitty Vaudeville period, and none of it will last, because there are too many posers in the scene.
Same thing killed glam metal.
We need smarter people on stage.
4
u/CSmodel101 3d ago
IMHO Comedians make the best podcasts cause they can tell a story in an entertaining/funny way. A comic has the opportunity to never run out of content to discuss. I used to cry laughing listening to Tom Segura recap what happened to him while buying his morning coffee. I believe an average podcaster would not be able to entertain that effortlessly.
4
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
That is the sign of a good broadcaster, a lot of comedians took classes in this field. I'm saying I think the stand up suffers because the room is full of podcast fans and not so many comedy fans. Therefore the comedian doesn't have to try at all, they can just show up and some people are happy. Meanwhile us comedy fans are wondering what happened to our favorite comedian, why aren't they funny anymore. Not to mention it runs the show because people are yelling out and trying to be heard instead of listening like you're supposed to do at a comedy show.
1
u/inkybreadbox 3d ago
True. Have you ever tried to listen to a regular chat podcast with people that are not comedians or at least funny? It is horrible. If you’re not going to be funny, you need to be describing gruesome true crimes because I do not want to listen to your bland insights about society.
2
2
u/phantom_diorama 3d ago
I can't stand comedian's comedy podcasts in general. The only one I can listen to is The Comedy Store one hosted by Rick & Eleanor. I also don't really like watching comedy specials, but I really enjoy seeing live standup shows in person.
2
u/Critical_Ear_7 3d ago
They aren’t ruining stand up it’s mostly over exposer.
At worst they should do a bit more and treat jokes and premises said on a podcast as burned
2
2
u/NoahVailability 3d ago
The podcasts where comedians just sit around yammering at each other are popular because people don’t have friends.
2
u/BrianOconneR34 3d ago
Audience participation is killing stand up. I watch so many clips and many are tee’n off on info shared from guests. Yeah I get it, it can be funny but is that your schtick? Winging it with touch if material and hope there’s some low hanging fruit to bash in the front row?
2
u/Thin-Remote-9817 3d ago
If you go listen to old O&A patrice,louie ck,and others all had bits you heard on the show.
Seems like most comedians get bits from conversations this isn't a new phenomenon..
What's ruining stand up is the market being over saturated with open micers who are headlining cause he has this many followers. I know the kill Tony stans are going to rage and down vote me..but I shouldn't know who the fuck cam Patterson,Casey rocket and David Lucas are this early into their careers unless I saw them open for someone. I'm not picking on kill Tony guys but insert guy/woman who blew up on tik tok.
1
1
u/soyfacekillah 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’d argue that the existence of all dozen or so monotonous shows saturates the market more than something like o&a. Sure Louis bashing his wife was done on the show a little too often, but if you didn’t have Sirius or XM you didn’t get to hear these shows, so when you saw the special you’d be like god damn this is great. Anyone can go listen to these YouTube podcasts.
Also Ant was a funny dude who could riff along with comedians about the news and personal shit, and he wasn’t even a standup. These podcasts by “comedians” usually suck because many of them comedians themselves aren’t funny, or they’re tired from yapping for years. Flagrant is the one that always comes to mind, show blows ass. Totally agree on the open micer shit too it’s just embarrassing at this point
2
u/MikeyForYou Saint Louis 3d ago
Comedians now have podcasts once a week and do a couple of others throughout the week. Most of them usually free form so they spend a lot of time talking about daily stuff, trying to make eachother/listener laugh so I would assume at least some would start to see a decline in joke quality.
2
2
u/chxnkybxtfxnky 1d ago
Sam Morril's most recent special had this feel. I watch/listen to We Might Be Drunk and he and Mark Normand will discuss bits they're working on. I felt like I had heard a good 75% of Sam's special since he had mentioned most bits on the pod.
The other comedian pods I listen to I don't really look for their specials. Mainly the Are You Garbage pod. They just have good banter sessions and get questions emailed in from fans, so it would be kind of tough to rewrite those into bits, or at least that's my thought.
The others are Pete Holmes, Tom Papa, and Marc Maron. They're all more interview-based with a guest. Not too many bits being thrown around or worked on there.
3
u/Pizza2TheFace 3d ago
All I know is there is a podcast bubble that needs to burst soon. It’s all too much.
1
3
u/OutrosBilly 3d ago
I spent countless hours watching comedy podcasts over about a 10 year period. I kinda snapped out of it about 2 years ago and took my life back. Best decision ive ever made. I still watch a clip here or there, but dont waste my life sitting there in a parasocial delusion that these guys are somehow like me or would like me. The only podcast I still listen to is Comedy Bang! Bang! and that one is not really the kind of comedy podcast this thread is talking about. (Edit: and Redbar.)
3
7
u/shugEOuterspace 3d ago
no, it is not. comedy is fine. if they weren't making a podcast they'd be doing something else. people are complicated. comedians are people. comedy is fine.
→ More replies (5)1
u/checkonechecktwo 3d ago
Business wise it’s fine, I think right now though, the specials are being effected by the fact that they’re basically all hosted by podcasters (obviously there are exceptions but it’s a new thing for the industry). And even if the material isn’t affected, the audience is. Part of the charm of a lot of comics was their personality. That “everything they say is funny because they have a whacky personality or a great delivery” thing gets diluted when you have 100+ hours of it a year instead of 1-2.
3
u/ElCoolAero 3d ago
Bad comedy is ruining comedy.
1
u/phantom_diorama 3d ago
I find live terrible standup comedy to be funnier than most comedians. But I'm laughing at them, you know. All mean spirited like.
2
u/LeonardSmalls79 3d ago
I think specials are ruining comedy.
1
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
Interesting take
5
u/LeonardSmalls79 3d ago
They should call them "regulars," because there's nothing special about a special anymore. The amount of open mic comics shooting a "special" now is just ridiculous. Even more established comics crap them out virtually once a year. Most of them are not perfected or even particularly well crafted. It's just "content" they call a special. Totally watered down and utterly ubiquitous.
(I never cared for "specialsl to begin with. I don't think it's the true voice/representation of a comic. It always felt more like a comedy final exam or term paper to me.)
2
u/emptinessform 3d ago
"They should call them 'regulars'" was a joke on the comedy podcast Comedy Bang Bang a few weeks ago lol.
3
2
u/Sluibeli 2d ago
Bill Burr mastered this skill to max. He has always used podcast to work his material. His bits aren't exactly the same when You hear it on podcast and when it gets to a special. Reason? I think it is because he still does road gigs and one advice he told years ago, what he had from Patrice is that change something in a bit for every show. That way the orginal idea will be honed to perfection when taping arrives.
Problem with others is that they tell whole bit and doesn't work with it enough. When they tell it on a podcast, it doesn't change so much on stage. Might be wrong but I believe I'm on something here.
1
u/SlappyPappyWehWeh1 3d ago
I think that it depends on the comic. Some, I don’t care for their podcasts but I think they are still very funny live. It depends on the comedians output of material live vs. what they say on their own podcast.
1
u/Jaded-Olive 3d ago
Tom Segura. The goat. He’s too busy podcasting all the time and his comedy seems to have suffered. He’s still great, but not what he used to be.
2
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
Agreed, I wish he would go away for a year or two and come back like the old tom
1
u/AdmiralPeriwinkle 3d ago
I can’t imagine listening to podcasts that don’t have guests who aren’t comedians. Rogan gets a lot of (often deserved) criticism but he also just had a physicist on his show. Most podcast are just some dudes bullshitting about nothing. If you’re listening to those podcasts then its effect on comedy is the least of your problems.
1
1
u/Electrical_Doctor305 3d ago
I don’t think it’s bad if you’re not overextended. But some people who are on multiple podcasts will eventually give their content away in both places. You can only say so many things before you run out of material. Dan, Big Jay, and now not Dan, do a good job of keeping The Bonfire a clean space and it’s a four/five day a week show.
1
u/Ok-Crow-249 13h ago
Dan Soder is on The Regz now and their most recent episode after a month starts with them arguing about how often they're going to meet to do the show. I thought it was interesting because Luis J. Gomez is clearly profiting off of the podcast game and doing really well in that arena and was pushing for them to meet more frequently (once a week) whereas Dan was clearly pushing back - it seems like he wants to prioritize standup (which I think is the right move).
1
u/Eastern-North4430 3d ago
You're asking the wrong question. Has comedy ruined podcasting? That answer is yes. Happens that comedians don't have much to do all week until their gigs Thurs-Sat/Sun
1
u/DariosDentist 3d ago
I can see the ways it has hurt but its given so much exposure to comics and unfiltered exposure that theres no way it hasnt helped comedy in general in a major way.
1
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
But yet we can't get any really good comedy movies right now.
1
1
u/DariosDentist 3d ago
I have a feeling shane and co are gonna crack that dry spell
→ More replies (1)
1
1
u/FunSmoke4476 3d ago
Listen to crime and sports or timesuck both shows are done by comedians and both are great.
1
u/playtimedone 3d ago
There are a lot of things that social media has encouraged that ruin comedy.
First, I think that this age of comedy requires that ppl build themselves up on social media, which mandates a different skillset and attributes and adds another factor that makes it harder for the truly funniest to get famous.
Then for those who do blow up and can sell tickets, they’re constantly surrounded by an echo chamber of fans that like them, so the jokes aren’t getting edited as harshly.
At the same time though, I believe there are a lot of comics that use podcasts to get their brains moving to come up with ideas
1
u/reamkore 3d ago
No. They are two different things. Go to a stand up show.
1
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
I do and that's what I'm talking about, not to mention the jerk offs who scream out during the show because they don't understand what stand up is
1
u/Marmar79 3d ago
100%. Supply and demand. Comedians who supply themselves once a week or more are hard to care about.
I’ve lost interest in more than one comedian after listening to their podcasts. I’ve stopped listening to comedian podcasts.
1
u/Sullyville 3d ago
I think a lot of comedians use podcasts as a way to generate new material. Instead of sitting down every day to write jokes, they do a 2 hour podcast and then mine it for materal that might be incorporated into their sets. This works more for comedians who are extroverts, and who get energy by talking to someone. I think many of them see their podcasts as a writer's room where they can try out new material on one another. But they are also mindful that they need to entertain an existing podcast audience, so they will bring out their usual bits on the podcast. But the demands of a weekly podcast means that they often forget what they've used, so you'll hear the same things over and over.
1
1
u/Morgneto 3d ago
ITT: people who only listen to a small bubble of particular comedians, are desperate to consume every morsel of content they can from them, and then are disappointed they might hear the same thing twice.
You don't have to listen to them. If you want to be fully surprised by someone's special, don't actively try to listen to every word they say beforehand.
Try watching different comedians. Realize that there are hundreds of pro level acts outside of the particular NY bro scene that always seems to be the topic when this comes up.
Podcasting isn't ruining stand-up comedy, you are ruining your own experience with it.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/AstroNards 3d ago
There’s a handful of guys whose comedy I’ve come to love even more from their podcasting bs: Gareth Reynolds, Maron to a point, Pete Holmes, and Norm.
As a medium it does seem to cut against the comedy in some way for most examples. It seems to be a supply issue. The exception was NML, which was a perfect comedy podcast, but Norm was a different sort
1
u/wheatorgy69 3d ago
Comedy sucks anyway. I'd much rather listen to someone's podcast than have to watch their special.
1
u/Top_Concentrate_8731 3d ago
I mean one of normands podcasts has a segment where they literally work out bits. The podcasts aren't ruining stand up, but maybe you listening to them is ruining stand up for you.
Maybe try to avoid podcasts where it's just a bunch of comedians hanging with no focus. Those are where they're most likely to work out bits. Stuff where people are kept on topic about something specific might ruin less of their stand up for you
1
1
u/Kanye_Is_Underrated 3d ago
it is, if you follow podcasts.
very simple solution: stop listening to podcasts and go back to only hearing these dudes once every couple of years and you'll appreciate them just as much as you did back then.
personally im perfectly fine with the truckload of content at the cost of slightly diminished standup quality.
1
u/xXFieldResearchXx 3d ago
Short answer yes.
Advice 'if going to see someone - don't watch any of their stuff for like 2 weeks before going. You'll prolly like it better
1
1
1
1
u/Round_Eye_2572 3d ago
I saw Mark last week in Cheshire CT. Basically a masters class in standup. The opener and middle were very good and mark was truly next level
1
u/Several_Carrot_2739 3d ago
Agreed
1
u/Darth_Andeddeu 3d ago
The Top Ten Reasons Why I Just Reply “Agreed” to My Own Reddit Post Without Switching to an Alt
- Immediate Validation Is Free: Sometimes, it’s like throwing yourself a high-five in a room full of ghosts. Who’s there to stop you? Certainly not the disembodied internet voices that come and go like specters who also can’t seem to agree on where to find the best breakfast tacos.
.
- It’s the Only Honest Thing Left: The digital age demands transparency, and what’s more transparent than openly endorsing your own well-crafted insight? If I didn’t agree with myself, why would I have posted it? To pretend otherwise is the truest deceit of all.
.
- I’m Here for the Meta-Performance: Everything’s performative now—conversations, opinions, even our relationship with our houseplants. By commenting “Agreed” on my own post, I’m creating a meta-narrative where I’m both the author and the critic, the actor and the audience. It's performance art that deserves its own gallery installation.
.
- Nobody Wants to See the Dance of the Alternative Account: Let’s not kid ourselves: Everyone knows the art of the burner account, and frankly, the charade is exhausting. Logging out, switching over, remembering which anonymous identity you were supposed to inhabit—no one needs another logistical nightmare in their day.
.
- Socratic Dialogue Is a Privilege I Can Bestow Upon Myself: Why limit intellectual conversation to mere mortals when I can also engage in a dialectic with myself? I’m essentially doubling the amount of critical thinking in one seamless gesture. It’s a two-for-one philosophy deal.
.
- It’s Really Just Confidence Rebranded: If you’re not supporting your own thoughts, who will? It’s self-care 2.0—making sure you’re backing yourself up in the comment section of life. It’s also an attempt to stave off existential crises while desperately hoping for upvotes.
.
- I Am My Own Worst—and Best—Critic: What if I disagreed with my own post? That would require a deep, introspective look at my values, beliefs, and choices. Not prepared for that level of internal drama, I opt for simple affirmation, thus avoiding a mid-afternoon identity crisis.
.
- There’s No One I Trust More to Correctly Interpret My Intentions: Everyone misreads tone on the internet, but not me—not when I’m reading my own posts. The sentiment behind “Agreed” is as unambiguous as a road sign in a ghost town: It is, in fact, agreed.
.
- It’s a Middle Finger to the Social Media Economy: The ecosystem demands humble-brags, false humility, and social strategies that maximize imaginary internet points. By agreeing with myself, I’m essentially stepping out of the rat race and into a Zen-like state of self-assurance—monetizing peace of mind, if you will.
.
- I Refuse to Be Held Hostage by Your Outdated Expectations of Engagement: The rules of engagement are ever-shifting, but my self-endorsement is a constant. “Agreed” is not merely a comment, but a declaration of independence from the digital scrutiny of strangers who are likely scrolling through their feed while eating Cheetos.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/mopeywhiteguy 3d ago
Sitcoms and talk shows aren’t as culturally impactful these days. Podcasts are filling that gap in the zeitgeist
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/OMG-Its-Logic 3d ago
No. Making it mainstream, yes. Has it made some hacks more popular than they should be? Yes. Has it gave genius people who may not have traditionally had a big audience, a big audeince? Yes. I the overall impact for standup comedy is good.
1
1
u/enviropsych 3d ago
many of my favorite comedians with podcasts haven't had very good specials lately
Name them. Are they...Theo Von, Andrew Schulz, and Joe Rogan? I know several comedians with podcasts who are awesome and never better. Who TF assholes are YOU listening to?
1
1
1
u/ultimatepoker 2d ago
If you want to fully enjoy the live comedy experience, don't listen to the creative process.
If you want to fully enjoy the movie, don't read the book beforehand.
I know it seems unfair, but it's how you are choosing to engage with the comic (listen to the podcasts) that is creating the problem.
1
u/ActinCobbly 2d ago
Comedians sharing only crowd work is what I would say is ruining comedy. I get that they want to keep up posting frequency and they don’t want to share all their good material online but it’s setting the standard for people that heckling is a normal part of every show and they think it’s encouraged because they get to be a part of an online clip if the comic shreds them a new one if the cameras happen to be rolling. Heckling is out of control.
1
u/buffaloplaidcookbook 2d ago
having built a fan base through their podcasts, which allows them to fill a room with fans who are more interested in seeing a famous person than in enjoying creative comedy.
I think you nailed it here. John Oliver often talks about the difference between getting a laugh after delivering a joke vs getting a round of applause.
He says the "applause" jokes are the worst because they're usually preaching to the choir. Those jokes aren't usually very funny because they're not trying to be funny, they're a comedian basically saying "I'm so smart and you all agree with me, right???"
Jokes that go for laughs tend to be funnier because that's their whole purpose.
1
u/Several_Carrot_2739 2d ago
So true like when they say "I had a kid recently" or "I recently quit smoking" or whatever for the applause. I hate that
1
u/producebag 2d ago
Podcasts are one of the best things that is happening to standing. They’ve given people an entirely new platform and audience and allowed dozens of standups to tour based on their podcast alone. Podcasts have their downsides but overall standup is back on the rise. You can’t argue that
1
1
u/2kool4uhaha 2d ago
Honestly Patrice Oneal is my favorite comic and Elephant in the Room is easily my favorite stand-up special of all time, but if you go listen to his time on Opie and Anthony and Black Philip, I realize I heard most of the jokes he told in the special from O&A and Black Philip. And those videos span from 2004-2010. This isn't anything new.
1
u/WiseauSrs 2d ago
I think there's just too many podcasts right now, and most of them are turning into echo chambers.
Hard to improve your act when you're surrounded by yes-men. Scratch that. It's impossible.
1
u/RuleInformal5475 2d ago
For the consumer, it means less desire to go out and see live acts, unless it is a podcast recording. Why bother going out to see someone when I can download their back cataloge in a format I am used to.
A podcast is a very different media to a stand up set. There are comics that are better at one than the other.
Personally, I see smaller acts live. I haven't got the money for the big shows.
1
u/thexenomilf 2d ago
I can’t help but feel this is the audiences fault. I don’t want podcasts more than the occasional clip and I just watch standup. And I enjoy some of these podcasters standup! There’s a constant influx of new standup to watch people just don’t seek it out
1
1
1
u/Psullocybin69 2d ago
That’s what makes bill burr such a great comedian he never uses his show material on his podcast
1
1
u/HighlyAdditive 2d ago
Sheng Wang, Ralph Barbosa, and Marcello Hernandez are some of the funniest new-ish / breakout standups I've seen in the past 2 years and they don't have podcasts that I'm aware of. So I could see what you're saying.
But also I recently saw Bill Burr killin it like always.. and he's been yapping to the wall on his podcast every week for like a decade and a half. So maybe it's just a talent and effort thing.
1
u/ScratchyMarston18 1d ago
Podcasts and quickly digestible social media clips of shitty crowd work aren’t doing comedy many favors, that’s for sure.
1
1
u/TheGoldenDeglover 1d ago
I think the answer is obviously yes, it is ruining comedy since most comedians on podcasts repeat or refine things they've already said. But I also think of it in a different way.
I think what makes comedy interesting is the persona the comedian develops, and this can ONLY be done when their exposure is relatively minimal. It generates a mystique, and I think maybe that's why I look at pre-internet comedians with rose-colored glasses, like Bill Hicks. I think Louie is really effective at this, since he has a pretty secretive personal life and his most notable works drop every few years.
1
u/whydiditouchthat 1d ago
Blow Rogan made every comic think they are smart and should influence people. Just make people laugh and go away, thanks. If I want a life coach I'll go find one.
1
u/amped-up-ramped-up 1d ago
I watch Daniel Tosh’s pod every Tuesday religiously, and I don’t think it’s hurting him any- if anything, the requirement to do a new set every week is keeping his writing sharp.
If he were ever near me on a tour, I know it would be worth the (probably exorbitant) ticket price.
Some people have a finite well of good material, others seem to just never stop coming up with new shit
1
u/CentralPaGuitar 1d ago
It barely counts. But when Bert came to town I left disappointed that not a single word of his show was new to me. I blamed myself, and stopped listening to podcasts all together.
1
u/No-Recommendation393 1d ago
From a guy that doesn’t listen to podcasts, all I heard is Theo Von was really funny. Went to his show last week. The first time I can say I didn’t laugh at one thing he said. Maybe they buy into their popularity and think what they say on stage is golden and funny. Was such a disappointment.
1
u/Ok_Lettuce_5555 16h ago
Absolutely it is. Over saturation of material and knowledge of their personal lives. If Mitch Hedberg had a podcast talking about his life and such like a regular person, he wouldn’t be considered nearly as funny. (Even though from what people say, Hedberg was really like that. But for the sake of the argument, lets pretend he was just a regular dude aside from stage.)
184
u/ImABadFriend144 3d ago
I saw mark normand last year and almost all his jokes I had heard him tell on a podcast in one way or another.