Joe Dombrowski would know how much posting comedy content online matters. He first went viral after a spelling bee prank on his fourth-grade students that he posted in 2017 when he was teaching in Michigan.
Following an appearance on Ellen, he launched a full-time comedy career. Since then, he's performed stand-up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, was named one of Variety's 10 Comics to Watch in 2025, and has appeared at major festivals including New York Comedy Festival and Netflix Is a Joke.
His Instagram is filled with stand-up clips, many of which have earned more than 200,000 likes. We asked Joe why posting comedy on social media is so important, and why more comedians should make it part of their routine.
Mark Garcia started Upper Cumberland Comedy after moving to Cookeville, Tennessee, where he found little stand-up comedy outside of Nashville. Since then, he's produced more than a dozen shows across rural Tennessee, bringing touring comedians into wineries and small-town venues. He shared what he's learned about rural audiences.
New York Comedy Festival announces its first wave of 2026 headliners, including Marc Maron, Ilana Glazer, Sarah Sherman, Adam Friedland, Ms. Pat, and Jordan Jensen. The festival will also host Variety's 10 Comics to Watch showcase for the first time.
Shane Gillis breaks the Guinness World Record for the most tickets sold to a solo comedy show, moving 76,212 tickets for his July 17 performance at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. This follows more than 1 million tickets sold across 100+ shows over the past two years, per Variety.
Two new comedy clubs open in Houston.
Heritage Auctions lists Johnny Carson’s original The Tonight Show mug for auction, with bidding topping $1,550.
Kliph Nesteroff will write the first full-length biography of Norm Macdonald.
Matt Ruby argues that YouTube has become stand-up's primary audience-growth platform, while Netflix delivers brand prestige and marketing value more than ticket sales.
Jukebox Comedy Club releases archival stand-up footage of Norm Macdonald performing a 2008 set.
PEOPLE profiles Underground Overground Comedy as they expand into magic with Underground Overground Magic.
Sacha Baron Cohen returns as Ali G in a Wimbledon appearance, fueling speculation that the character is making a comeback.
State of Comedy highlights upcoming live comedy events, including The Elysian's Spaghetti Fest and Benny Feldman's sold-out special taping.
Larry the Cable Guy says that audiences should simply avoid comedians they dislike.
Helium Comedy launches an original content division to develop creator-driven comedy projects and podcasts.
The Roast of Kevin Hart ranks among its 50 most-watched TV titles of the first half of 2026 with 21 million views.
Kevin Hart draws 42 million views for the first season of Funny AF on Netflix.
Katt Williams' The Last Report leads Netflix's stand-up specials with 11.5 million views in the first half of 2026.
Danny McBride says there's "something going on" between comedy and horror, explaining that both rely on surprise and carefully building tension: "With both of them, you're structuring an experience...it's the same way with those scares."
Stephen Colbert finishes the second quarter of 2026 as late night's most-watched host, with The Late Show averaging 3.49 million viewers during its farewell run. Jimmy Kimmel Live! reaches 2.73 million, Jimmy Fallon at 1.39 million, The Daily Show averages 1.18 million, and Comics Unleashed with 840,000 viewers.
Chloe Fineman announces that she is leaving Saturday Night Live after seven seasons.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia returns for its 18th season on Aug. 17.
The Daily Show delivers its strongest ratings in years, with Jon Stewart's return leading to its highest 18-49 ratings in nine years and largest average audience since 2019.
Netflix releases the first trailer for Bill Maher’s Mark Twain Prize special, which premieres July 21 and features tributes and roasts from Woody Harrelson, Jay Leno, Whitney Cummings, and Louis C.K.
Kenan Thompson makes his commercial directing debut with a new Mike and Ike candy campaign.
Marcello Hernández joins Hot Ones this past week.
Alisha Dhillon reunites with Comedy Invasion creator Quentin Lee to co-create Unleeshed, a new vertical series set in the world of stand-up comedy and roast battles that premieres on AAM.tv in November.
Specials and Tours
New specials from Laura Merli (Prime Video/Apple TV, July 21), Willie Macc (YouTube, July 21), Rhys Darby (Gorilla Comedy+, July 23), Suzi Chicago (YouTube, July 23), Brian Bates (YouTube, July 24), Mary Beth Barone (Netflix, July 28), and Kazeem Rahman (YouTube, July 31).
Seth Meyers adds eight dates to his stand-up tour, with shows across the U.S. from October 2026 through January 2027.
Sarah Sherman announces a short “new crap” tour ahead of Saturday Night Live's 52nd season, with August stops in Pittsburgh, Thornville, and Denver.
Festivals This Month
Just For Laughs Montréal · July 15–26 · Montréal, Canada
KC Fringe Festival · July 16–26 · Kansas City, Missouri
iO Fest 2026 · July 23–26 · Chicago, Illinois
Portland Sketch Comedy Festival · July 23–25 · Portland, Oregon
Festival Submissions
Denver Sketch Festival • October 8–10, 2026 • Denver, Colorado. Live sketch comedy and video sketches. Submission fee: $40, or $20 (Video only). Submission deadline: July 19, 2026. Submit here.
The Comedy Film Challenge 2026 • July 24–August 9, 2026 • El Paso, Texas. 48-hour comedy filmmaking competition where teams create an original short film using assigned creative elements, with a public screening. Submission fee: Not listed. Submission deadline: July 24, 2026. Submit here.
Cleveland Comedy Festival • September 30–October 3, 2026 • Cleveland, Ohio. Stand-up comedy festival with opportunities for live podcasts and special tapings. Submission fee: $25. Submission deadline: July 25, 2026. Submit here.
(Full list on our website here, updated weekly. We also partner with Inside Comedy to track submissions! )
Comedy Jobs
Leland · Remote. Comedy, Stand-Up & Improv Coach.
The Lincoln Lodge · Chicago, IL. Junior Board Application. Approximately 80 volunteer hours per year.
The Comedy Cellar · New York, NY. Floor Manager. $55,000–$80,000 annually.
Upwork · Remote (U.S.). Social Strategist for Comedy Brand Launch. $30–$50/hour.
Casting Calls / One-Offs
Craigslist · Las Vegas, NV. Deadpan Comedian for Paid Comedy Bit. $1,200, plus a $300 bonus if successful. Auditions August 3; performance August 7.
Craigslist · Somerville, MA. Stand-Up Comedian for Retirement Party. $75. Hiring three comedians total. August 8.
Freda · Chicago, IL. Host Your Own Comedy Show Open Call.
Off Script Entertainment · Virtual. Holiday Charity Comedy Show Submissions. Event date: November 28. Email performance clips (no length specified), a brief bio, and social media links to [email protected] with the subject line "ACEs Matter Comedy Submission."
HannahWFoxx · Griffin, GA. Improv Comedy Actor for Short-Form Commercials & Social Media Skits. $100/day.
Nathan Doan Productions · Oceanside, CA. Comedy Script Writer. $150–$200/day.
Craigslist · New York, NY. Senior Citizen Actress for Comedy Video. $200 guaranteed. Shooting in late July.
Craigslist · Newark, NJ. Photographer for Live Comedy Show. $250 flat rate. July 18.
(Full job/gig list on our website here, updated weekly)
That’s The Jokebook — your Sunday comedy update. Have something to share? Message us at [email protected].