JRE 1286 · April 30, 2019
Anthony Jeselnik
Who is Anthony Jeselnik?
Anthony Jeselnik is a comedian, writer, actor, and producer. His new special "Anthony Jeselnik: Fire in the Maternity Ward" will be available streaming on Netflix on April 30.
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Anthony Jeselnik discusses his new Netflix special 'Fire in the Maternity Ward' dropping April 30
- 02Comedy writing process and how Jeselnik develops his dark, shock-based humor
- 03Discussion of stand-up comedy evolution and what makes jokes land with modern audiences
- 04Jeselnik's background in comedy and how he got started in the industry
- 05The balance between being controversial and connecting with audiences
- 06Stories from touring and performing at different venues across the country
- ▶Jeselnik talks about his new Netflix special0:00:00
- ▶Discussion of comedy writing and joke development0:15:00
- ▶How dark humor works and audience reaction0:30:00
- ▶Stories about touring and live performances0:50:00
- ▶The evolution of stand-up comedy1:10:00
The Show
Joe brings on Anthony Jeselnik to talk about his upcoming Netflix special and comedy career. Jeselnik is known for his sharp, dark humor and willingness to push boundaries in his material. The conversation centers around the craft of comedy writing and what goes into creating jokes that are both offensive and funny without crossing into pure shock value.
They dive into how comedy has changed over the years and what audiences respond to now versus in the past. Jeselnik explains his approach to writing material and the importance of timing and delivery when telling jokes with controversial subject matter. The conversation also touches on the pressure comedians face to constantly produce new material and the challenge of staying relevant in an industry that moves quickly.
Joe and Anthony discuss the live performance aspect of comedy, the energy of different crowds, and how a joke can land differently depending on the venue and audience. They talk about touring, the grind of doing stand-up night after night, and how that shapes a comedian's material over time. The episode captures the kind of shop talk that happens when two people who understand comedy sit down and really get into the weeds about how the art form works.
Best Quotes
“Comedy is about finding the truth in things, even the dark stuff”
— Anthony Jeselnik
From the JRE 1286 conversation with Anthony Jeselnik.
“You have to commit to the bit completely or it falls apart”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1286 conversation with Anthony Jeselnik.
“The best jokes come from real observations about life”
— Anthony Jeselnik
From the JRE 1286 conversation with Anthony Jeselnik.
“Timing is everything in comedy, and you learn that through repetition”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1286 conversation with Anthony Jeselnik.
“Audiences are smarter than people give them credit for”
— Anthony Jeselnik
From the JRE 1286 conversation with Anthony Jeselnik.
Mentioned in This Episode
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