JRE 1396 · December 10, 2019

Michelle Wolf

comedypoliticsentertainment

Who is Michelle Wolf?

Michelle Wolf is a comedian, writer, producer, and television host. Her new special "Joke Show" starts streaming on Netflix on December 10.

Topics and Timestamps

01Michelle Wolf discusses her new Netflix special Joke Show and the creative process behind it
02Conversation about the comedy landscape and how cancel culture affects comedians' material
03Michelle talks about her background in comedy writing and working on various TV shows
04Discussion of political comedy and how she approaches sensitive topics in her material
05Michelle shares insights about performing stand-up versus other formats like sketches and hosting
06The pair discuss the evolution of comedy and what audiences expect from comedians today
▶Michelle introduces her new Netflix special Joke Show0:00:00
▶Discussion about the comedy landscape and cancel culture's impact on comedians0:10:30
▶Michelle talks about her background in comedy writing for TV0:25:00
▶Conversation about performing stand-up versus other comedy formats0:40:15
▶Michelle and Joe discuss political comedy and sensitive material0:55:45

The Show

Joe brings on comedian Michelle Wolf to talk about her new Netflix special Joke Show dropping December 10. Michelle is a seasoned comedy professional who's worn multiple hats as a comedian, writer, producer, and television host, so there's a lot of ground to cover about the state of comedy and her creative approach.

They dive into what makes Michelle's comedy work and how she constructs her material. The conversation naturally flows into the current climate around comedy and cancel culture. Michelle shares her perspective on how comics have to navigate talking about controversial topics while still being true to their voice. It's the kind of honest conversation about the realities of being a working comedian in 2019 that JRE listeners expect.

Michelle brings up her experiences working in comedy writing and how that shaped her as a performer. She talks about the difference between writing for shows versus doing stand-up versus hosting, and how each format requires a completely different skill set. Joe relates to this from his own experience doing different types of comedy work over the years.

The discussion touches on how audiences have changed and what they want from comedians now. Michelle has thoughts on political material and how it lands differently depending on the crowd and moment. They explore whether comedy is getting edgier or more restricted, and what that means for people trying to do original work.

It's a substantive conversation about the craft of comedy, the business of comedy, and the cultural moment we're in. Michelle comes across as thoughtful about her material while still maintaining that edge that makes her comedy worth paying attention to. By the time the episode wraps, Joe and Michelle have covered a lot of territory about what it takes to succeed in comedy right now.