Comedy, Controversy, and Crowd Work: Ari Shaffir & Tony Hinchcliffe Join JRE

Get ready for a wild ride as Ari Shaffir and Tony Hinchcliffe, two comedy heavyweights, join Joe Rogan for a no-holds-barred conversation. This episode dives deep into the world of stand-up, explores the nuances of crowd work, touches on controversial topics, and delivers plenty of laughs along the way. Buckle up, because this one’s a rollercoaster!

TL;DR

Ari and Tony discuss the art and challenges of crowd work, sharing hilarious and sometimes cringe-worthy experiences.
The conversation explores the current landscape of comedy, including the impact of social media and cancel culture.
They delve into controversial territory with stories from their careers and personal lives.
Tony Hinchcliffe shares insights into the creation and evolution of his popular “Kill Tony” podcast.

Key Topics Covered

The Art of Crowd Work

Ari and Tony are masters of crowd work, and they dissect the skill with Rogan. They emphasize the importance of quick thinking, reading the room, and being unafraid to bomb. They share stories of incredible successes and epic failures, highlighting the unpredictable nature of interacting with audience members in real time. What I found particularly interesting was the way they describe the ‘energy’ you feel when you are riffing with the audience.

They talked about how you can feel if the crowd is with you or against you very quickly and have to adapt based on the audience in front of you. A comedian must be quick on their feet and be able to pivot based on the crowd’s reaction.

“You have to be comfortable with silence. It’s part of the game.” – Tony Hinchcliffe

Comedy in the Age of Social Media

The discussion shifts to the impact of social media on comedy. They talked about the upside of marketing and promotion, while also acknowledging the downsides of heightened scrutiny and the potential for jokes to be taken out of context. Rogan, Shaffir, and Hinchcliffe explore how comedians are adapting to this new landscape and the challenges of navigating cancel culture.

They debate the boundaries of comedy, and if anything is off-limits. Is there a line that shouldn’t be crossed? Should comedy be free from all restraints?

“The internet is forever. You can’t take anything back.” – Joe Rogan

Inside “Kill Tony”

Tony Hinchcliffe gives listeners a peek behind the curtain of “Kill Tony,” his wildly popular live podcast. He explains the show’s concept, where aspiring comedians perform one-minute sets and receive immediate feedback from a panel of seasoned comedians. Tony emphasizes the importance of providing constructive criticism, even when it’s harsh, to help young comics grow. He also highlights the unexpected success of the show and its devoted fanbase.

They talk about the grind of the show, and how much time it takes up to get the show running every week. How much dedication he has, and is starting to pay off for him. He talks about being on the road with his shows, and trying to balance all of the responsibilities.

Intriguing Anecdotes & Stories

Ari Shaffir recounts a hilarious (and slightly cringe-worthy) story about a disastrous crowd work interaction involving a heckler who turned out to be surprisingly quick-witted. The story illustrates the unpredictable nature of live comedy and the importance of being able to think on your feet. The ability to recover from a bad situation.

Tony Hinchcliffe shares a story about the early days of “Kill Tony,” when the show was struggling to find an audience. He describes the challenges of building a following and the persistence required to keep the show going. This one really stood out with the persistence required for the show.

Controversial Opinions & Debates

The comedians touched on controversial opinions from each other and from themselves. They debated the boundaries of comedy and what subjects, if any, are off-limits. This led to some interesting and thought-provoking moments.