JRE 1331 · August 7, 2019

Alonzo Bodden

comedypoliticsentertainmenttelevision

Who is Alonzo Bodden?

Alonzo Bodden is a stand up comedian and winner of Last Comic Standing Season 3. His new comedy special "Heavy Lightweight" premieres on Amazon Prime on August 23.

Topics and Timestamps

01Alonzo Bodden discusses his journey to winning Last Comic Standing Season 3 and how it changed his career trajectory
02He talks about his new comedy special 'Heavy Lightweight' premiering on Amazon Prime on August 23
03The conversation covers his observations on modern politics and how it affects comedy material
04Alonzo shares stories about touring and the evolution of stand-up comedy in the streaming era
05He discusses the challenges of being a comedian in today's social media-driven landscape
06Joe and Alonzo explore the differences between comedy on stage versus comedy in other media formats
▶Alonzo discusses winning Last Comic Standing and how it transformed his career0:05:30
▶He talks about his new special 'Heavy Lightweight' and what to expect from it0:15:45
▶Alonzo shares his approach to writing comedy and finding material0:28:15
▶Discussion about the evolution of comedy in the social media age0:42:30
▶Alonzo talks about touring and the differences between regional audiences1:05:00

The Show

Joe brings on Alonzo Bodden, the stand-up comedian and Last Comic Standing Season 3 winner, to talk about his career, his new comedy special, and the state of modern comedy. Alonzo has been grinding in the comedy world for years, and winning Last Comic Standing was a major turning point that gave him real visibility and opened doors that had previously been closed.

The main focus of the conversation revolves around Alonzo's new special 'Heavy Lightweight' which is dropping on Amazon Prime on August 23. He talks about what went into creating the special, the material he's been working on, and how his comedy has evolved over time. Alonzo breaks down his approach to joke writing and how he mines material from real life observations rather than trying to force punchlines.

Throughout the episode, Joe and Alonzo discuss the landscape of comedy in 2019 and how different it is from when Alonzo started. They touch on how social media has changed what comedians can talk about, the pressure to be politically correct, and how some of the best comedy still comes from uncomfortable truths. Alonzo shares his perspective on navigating these waters while still being authentic to his voice and vision.

The conversation naturally flows into discussions about touring, what it's like performing in different venues and cities, and how audiences vary by region. Alonzo talks about the grind of comedy, the road life, and why he's passionate about continuing to develop his craft even after achieving some level of success. They also discuss how streaming platforms are changing the game for comedians and what opportunities and challenges that presents.