April 2026
Free! Monthly! Digest! Finding your new favorite reason to laugh is a click away...
Hello, comedy lovers (and those who are only reading this out of professional obligation!) In case you’re new to the newsletter — and technically that is 49 of you! — here’s a quick introduction: this free digest is a collection of the most interesting, original, and (obviously) funny talent, live events, and media I’ve seen this month. Thanks for being here!
In addition to aggregating monthly “would you look at these guys” spotlights (like this one), State of Comedy also offers more editorial content for premium subscribers. To really explore the evolving space where comedy and commerce meet, I’ve been diving into case studies in contemporary media production (like this one and this one) that map a small, stable plot of the otherwise tectonic landscape.
We all need to hear from the entrepreneurs behind trailblazing business structures — these are the folks actively (and successfully) defying convention, creating new systems that will define the future of media and entertainment1.
Now obviously, there are legion qualified voices in this industry talking about this stuff, articulating their own insider perspectives and observations.2 To that point: I’d like to share a few reads that have recently helped me get a grasp on “what the hell is going on” :
Speaking generally (but emphatically) — I recommend following The Ankler’s Elaine Low as she rolls out her series The Disappearing Ladder, which aims to answer the question, in her words: “What does a sustainable career in entertainment even look like now?”
Note: if you’re looking for more comedy-centric news, both on the business and culture sides, I’ve been impressed by the comprehensive coverage coming from The Jokebook Magazine and I’m a devoted listener of Deadline’s Comedy Means Business Podcast. Lastly, Laurel Cummings is posting weekly news in comedy as well as weekly job listings for funny people. (The Town is also obviously insightful regarding the penthouse POV of entertainment, but I wish they’d let Producer Craig host a comedy-focused spin-off…)
With that: let’s start checking out the newest voices in comedy...
Festivals
This past month’s SXSW Comedy Festival was programmed with live shows and podcast recordings from major players in the present-day funny business — many blurring the line between “established” and “emerging” — like Dropout, Funny or Die, Don’t Tell Comedy x Deadline, Cracked Comedy Club, and Bill Burr x Fox Entertainment Studios. To dive deeper into the ethos behind booking this year’s festival talent, read this.
If you’re motivated to discover new comedy talent, it’s essential to check out the rising standups and sketch performers competing for the title of “JFL New Face.” The second round of showcases in the race to Montreal will take place at the end of April in LA and second week of May in New York. Showcases are open to the public — anyone can purchase tickets at participating venues’ upcoming show schedules: UCB Franklin, The Improv, The Stand, NY Comedy Club and The Comedy Store.
New York
The Brooklyn Comedy Collective has kicked off their annual flagship residency — nine of the theater’s best and brightest improv and sketch performers (who all happen to be unrepped!) will perform a collaboratively devised revue on BCC’s mainstage every Saturday night until May 2nd. Check out their website to scope the talent and buy tickets.
Start spreading the news: after moving to LA in 2018, UCB’s Del Close Marathon is returning to its home turf. Coincidentally, it will overlap with the last few days of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Sounds like a legit excuse for west coast industry to take a trip to The Greatest City in the World this June….
Los Angeles
The Joy Who Lived is a month long, all-trans theater and comedy festival (running now thru April 12th). Due to proven interest from audiences and performers, this year has scaled dramatically from 2025’s inaugural festival (essentially, a handful of shows intended to counter-program the Harry Potter play running at the Pantages.) This year’s fest boasts a full month of all-trans and gender-nonconforming programming, including comedy, readings, solo shows, workshops, fundraisers and a Trans Community Day on April 11th. The event schedule presents abundant opportunities to engage. (FWIW I highly recommend checking out the work in progress from the musical duo Couplet, who are as entertaining as they are married3.)
Approaching its tenth anniversary, the positively bonkers indie art-film Snowy Bing Bongs Across The North Star Combat Zone (from dance-comedy trio Cocoon Central Dance Team) will be holding screenings in both New York (April 16 at Nitehawk) and LA (5/1 at Vidiots) to celebrate. Produced by The (Academy Award-winning) Daniels and co-directed by Rachel Wolther and Alex H. Fischer, Snowy Bing Bongs is an experience that is “hard to define but made for the Adult Swim generation” (THR) and “possibly the most funny and delightful thing I saw all year” (Vulture).
Jonah Feingold is making some cool moves with his startup Romantical, a media company “dedicated to a singular mission: creating homemade, feel-good romantic comedies born to bring joy to folks.” He’s currently raising money for the company, where “the plan is to produce films, digital series, live events, brand partnerships, and licensing, all feeding into a compounding IP engine.”4
Channelvue — written by Joe Veix and directed by Brandon Tauszik — is an experimental comedy/horror short set entirely in a hacked TV Guide channel. Featuring an ever-scrolling list of easter eggs (Channel 40 in particular made me lol whenever it came back around), Veix and Tauszik are playing with every kind of media to create this insane story. They used the actual ‘90s Prevue Channel software in a Commodore Amiga emulator to build out the fake listings, and they shot everything on Betacam in glorious 480p. Taking authenticity one step further, viewers can actually call a fake corporate phone tree (1-855-470-TOOF) and visit a Teeth4Gold website. Veix landed with managers after his script THE HOLE TRUTH earned him a spot in the 2025 Black List Writers Lab. According to his reps, that script is currently being sent around…
Mad Realities is a growing digital studio producing “TV in the palm of your hand” — and if you don’t know them already, IDK… try to keep up?5 They were signed by CAA nearly a year ago to develop and scale short-form shows based on their existing franchises — like the hilarious/adorable Shop Cats, set in New York’s iconic bodegas and hosted by rising star Michelladonna. (Pertinent info: They are currently hiring a New York-based creative producer.) They’re even creating red carpet-ready formats:
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Long live cartoons, you guys. You can discover the next wave of animation talent at A Studio Digital. Founded by Bento Box, they are platforming independent and emerging creators in the adult animation space. The audience for indie adult animation is fanatic — A Studio Digital has it’s own fan-generated Wiki! Their YouTube is a trove of animated treasures, but my (very different) favorites have been Pinocchio from Jonny Crickets and Lil’ Witch at a Party from Cole Ott.
I know it’s the most LA thing in the world to say, but sincerely: let’s stay in in touch!
I’m always available for your show/content/talent tips! Reply here, or email stateofcomedynewsletter@gmail.com.
And if you’d like to submit your standup tape for consideration, there is a submission form on the Newcomers website. I say this with the somber weight of someone who doesn’t make a dime doing it, but it’s a promise: I watch every submission.
Have a great week, everyone! I hope you laugh.
But like, specifically the funny shit.
In case it wasn’t clear: I am an LA-based comedy talent manager and live show producer (see: Newcomers). Formerly, I’ve been a New York-based producer, booker and photographer. Ultimately, I love comedy, and if you think any of this poses a conflict, I promise you I’m not rich enough for it to matter.
And they are very married.
Indiewire, from Dana Harris Bridson: https://www.indiewire.com/news/analysis/startup-logic-indie-film-romantical-1235185381/
I’m sorry, that was rude. You’re doing great. I appreciate you being here.