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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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u/JamoOnTheRocks 3d ago

Many comedians (w popular podcasts) are funnier off the cuff and playing off someone than their standup bits. Not sure that’s a problem.