Over the course of Netflix Is a Joke Fest 2024, I attended eight particular person reveals and likewise caught 11 totally different units on the Outdoors Joke area. There was a ton of stuff I missed, however I did really feel like I skilled a great cross-section of the pageant’s choices, from big-name headliners at venues just like the Hollywood Bowl and Dolby Theater to a podcast recording at Largo to a 100-seat black field theater in East L.A.
Not all of those reveals have been raging successes: One acquired derailed by a last-minute solid change and an individual with Tourette’s yelling inappropriate statements throughout the complete efficiency. One opener I noticed acquired overtly combative with the gang earlier than bringing on the headliner. And some comics got here to the stage with materials that also wanted extra improvement (even John Mulaney acknowledged that he wanted to maneuver round a number of components of his set for future performances).
But my greatest takeaway from taking all this in was a brand new understanding what Netflix means to the comedy ecosystem as of late, and the difficult relationship each stage of comic has with main firms like this.
For a few of these reveals, it was largely enterprise as ordinary. That mentioned, How Did This Get Made?, Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and June Diane Raphael’s podcast specializing in mocking dangerous motion pictures, advised the viewers throughout one present that they have been requested to characteristic motion pictures which might be at present streaming on Netflix — they usually mentioned no.
To be clear, it appeared like that was extra of a request than a requirement, and the trio went on to cheerily tear aside the 2024 “comedy” Stunning Marriage ceremony. However the hosts additionally proceeded to “threaten” viewers members with expulsion in the event that they talked about the existence of rival streamer Hulu, earlier than developing with an concept for counter-programming, a pageant entitled “Hulu Is Hilarious.”
The Netflix branding was inconceivable to flee on the Outdoors Joke pageant hub, which for $25 (or prior buy of a ticket to every other Netflix Is a Joke Fest present) provided full days of stay comedy, together with some Netflix-branded points of interest and a few rattling tasty meals stalls. (The Inconceivable Meat bao grew to become a little bit of an obsession.)
Picture courtesy of Netflix
