JRE 1468 · May 1, 2020

Alonzo Bodden

comedypoliticsbusiness

Who is Alonzo Bodden?

Alonzo Bodden is a stand up comedian and also the winner of Last Comic Standing Season 3. Check out his podcast called “Who’s Paying Attention” available via Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.

Topics and Timestamps

01Alonzo Bodden discusses his comedy career and winning Last Comic Standing Season 3
02Conversation covers the evolution of stand-up comedy and modern comedy landscape
03Alonzo talks about his podcast 'Who's Paying Attention' and what drives the show
04Discussion touches on social commentary and how comedians address current events
05Alonzo shares insights about performing and connecting with audiences
06Conversation explores the business side of comedy and building a career in entertainment
▶Alonzo discusses winning Last Comic Standing Season 30:05:00
▶Conversation about the evolution of stand-up comedy0:15:30
▶Alonzo explains his podcast 'Who's Paying Attention'0:28:45
▶Discussion on comedians as social commentators0:42:00
▶Talk about building a comedy career in the modern era0:58:15

The Show

Joe Rogan sits down with Alonzo Bodden, the winner of Last Comic Standing Season 3, for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, the entertainment industry, and what it takes to make it as a stand-up performer. Bodden brings his perspective as someone who's been grinding in the comedy world for years and achieved major success through one of the biggest comedy competitions ever.

The episode dives into how stand-up comedy has evolved over time and how comedians today navigate a completely different landscape than previous generations. They talk about the pressure to be funny in an age where comedy is consumed across so many different platforms and mediums. Bodden shares his journey and what the Last Comic Standing experience was like, giving insights into the competitive nature of that show and how it changed his career trajectory.

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on Bodden's podcast 'Who's Paying Attention,' where he breaks down current events and politics through a comedic lens. This ties into a broader discussion about the role of comedians in society and how comedy can be a vehicle for social commentary. They explore how comedians have become some of the most important voices in media for actually discussing what's happening in the world without the typical corporate news filter.

Bodden opens up about the craft of comedy itself, discussing how to construct jokes, timing, and the importance of understanding your audience. The conversation gets into the business side too, talking about how comedians build their brands, tour, and sustain a career in an industry that's become increasingly fragmented with streaming and social media. They discuss the challenge of staying relevant and keeping material fresh while also building a loyal fan base that supports your work across multiple platforms.

Throughout the episode, there's an underlying theme about authenticity in comedy and why audiences connect with certain comedians over others. Bodden's perspective as someone who's had mainstream success but also stays connected to the grassroots comedy community gives him a unique vantage point on where the industry is headed.