JRE 1329 · August 2, 2019

Brian Moses

comedybusinesspsychology

Who is Brian Moses?

Brian Moses is a stand up comedian, writer, producer, and host. He is the host of "Roast Battle" which can be seen on Comedy Central and every Tuesday night at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

Topics and Timestamps

  • 01Brian Moses discusses his role as host of Comedy Central's Roast Battle and the Tuesday night shows at The Comedy Store
  • 02Conversation covers the craft of roasting and what makes a good insult versus a cheap shot in comedy
  • 03Brian shares stories from his experience in stand-up comedy and producing comedy content
  • 04Discussion touches on the comedy scene in Los Angeles and The Comedy Store's significance
  • 05Brian talks about writing, producing, and hosting as interconnected skills in modern comedy
  • 06Episode explores the psychology of comedy battles and audience dynamics
  • Brian introduces himself and talks about Roast Battle0:00:00
  • Discussion about what makes a good roast versus just being mean0:12:00
  • Brian explains the difference between live Comedy Store roasts and the TV version0:28:00
  • Conversation about The Comedy Store's importance to LA comedy scene0:42:00
  • Brian discusses producing comedy and working with different comedians1:05:00

The Show

Joe brings on Brian Moses, a comedian and producer who's become well known for hosting Roast Battle on Comedy Central and the live Tuesday night versions at The Comedy Store in LA. The conversation digs into what makes roast comedy different from regular stand-up and why it's become such a popular format. Brian explains the mechanics of roasting, the difference between a clever burn and something that's just mean, and how the live format creates a different energy than the televised version.

They discuss The Comedy Store's role as a proving ground for comedians and how roasting battles have become a legitimate art form in their own right. Brian shares insights about producing the show, working with comedians of different levels, and what separates someone who's naturally funny from someone who can think on their feet in a roasting context. The conversation touches on how social media and comedy clips have changed the game, making roast battles more accessible to audiences outside LA.

Brian talks about his journey from doing stand-up to moving into hosting and producing, and how those skills feed into each other. They explore the psychology of what makes an audience laugh at insults versus finding it uncomfortable or mean-spirited. The episode gets into the details of comedy writing, timing, and delivery, with Joe and Brian riffing on specific examples of great roasts versus weak ones.

Best Quotes

Roasting is about finding the truth in someone and making it funny, not just making stuff up

Brian Moses

From the JRE 1329 conversation with Brian Moses.

The Comedy Store on a Tuesday night is where you see the real energy of comedy

Joe Rogan

From the JRE 1329 conversation with Brian Moses.

You have to know your audience and know when you've crossed from funny to actually hurting someone

Brian Moses

From the JRE 1329 conversation with Brian Moses.

Hosting lets you see comedy from a different angle than just performing it

Joe Rogan

From the JRE 1329 conversation with Brian Moses.

The best roasts come from people who actually know each other and have real material to work with

Brian Moses

From the JRE 1329 conversation with Brian Moses.