Live Underground from The Comedy Store

Who is Live Underground from The Comedy Store?

Joe sits down with Jeff Ross, Greg Fitzsimmons & Andrew Santino in the basement of The Comedy Store on January 19, 2017.

Topics and Timestamps

• 01Joe records a live episode from The Comedy Store basement with Jeff Ross, Greg Fitzsimmons, and Andrew Santino on January 19, 2017
• 02The comedians discuss their experiences performing at the legendary comedy club and stories from the underground comedy scene
• 03Conversation covers personal anecdotes about comedy, hecklers, and the evolution of stand-up performance
• 04The group talks about the unique energy and history of The Comedy Store as a testing ground for comedians
• 05Multiple comedians share war stories from their careers and interactions with other famous comedians
• 06The episode captures the raw, unfiltered nature of comedians riffing together in an intimate underground setting
• ▶Descending into The Comedy Store basement to record0:00:00
• ▶Comedians discuss performing in The Comedy Store and its historical significance0:05:00
• ▶Jeff Ross shares stories about roasting and his comedy career0:15:00
• ▶Greg Fitzsimmons and Andrew Santino exchange stories about bombing and killing on stage0:35:00
• ▶The group discusses the evolution of comedy and The Comedy Store's role in developing comedians1:00:00

The Show

JRE 902 brings the podcast down into the basement of The Comedy Store, one of the most legendary comedy venues in the world. Joe sits with three excellent comedians: Jeff Ross, known for his roast comedy work, Greg Fitzsimmons, a veteran of the stand-up circuit, and Andrew Santino, a younger comedian still building his career. The setting is intimate and underground, which gives the whole conversation a different vibe than the typical studio setup.

The beauty of this episode is watching three comedians at different points in their careers all riff together about comedy, the craft, and what it takes to make it in this business. They're in the actual basement of The Comedy Store, the place where basically every major comedian of the last forty years has tested material and cut their teeth. There's something special about recording there, like the walls have absorbed decades of comedic energy.

The comedians dig into stories about performing, bombing, killing, and the weird psychology of trying to make strangers laugh for a living. They talk about the unwritten rules of comedy clubs, the relationship between comedians and audiences, and how the game has changed over time. There's genuine affection for the craft evident in how they discuss their work and their peers.

The conversation has that authentic quality you get when comedians are just hanging out and talking shop. It's not interview-style with Joe asking questions and getting answers. It's more like four guys in a basement talking about what they know and love. The Chemistry between them works because they all understand comedy at a deep level, even if they approach it from different angles and eras.

What makes this episode particularly interesting is the location and the moment in comedy history. This is January 2017, and The Comedy Store is still this sacred ground where comedy happens every single night. The basement itself becomes a character in the episode, with its low ceiling, sketchy lighting, and the unmistakable feeling of being in a place where comedy is taken seriously but not pretentiously.

Best Quotes