As the attention economy increasingly rewards short clips on digital platforms, comedy has followed. That shift has opened a new business pathway for comedy producers. A single filmed show can become weeks of social media content, generating viewership and sponsorship revenue. More show producers are taking notice.

Don’t Tell Comedy recognized this model early on. When I spoke to Don’t Tell CEO Kyle Kazanjian-Amory for The Black Hoody, he told me “We’re putting out two new 10-minute sets on YouTube every week and a new short-form clip across our social channels every day...Our intention with digital marketing was we wanted to showcase emerging talent and bring more people to live shows. We didn’t realize it could become a business on its own.” 

Today, their digital content generates online ad revenue and attracts content sponsors like Dr. Squatch. Brand sponsorships and digital now account for 20% ($2 million) of Don’t Tell’s revenue. 

Comedy Social is a Show for the Social Media Era

Other comedy productions are beginning to follow a similar model.

Comedy Social is a New York City-based live show content project designed around creating short-form social media comedy clips. Its live shows usually feature 30 comedians performing one- to five-minute sets. Each taping aims to generate enough material for roughly 30 weeks of social content. After filming, the team spends about two weeks editing before releasing content.

They have expanded into Los Angeles and Austin, with plans to launch additional shows in Atlanta and Miami.

“There is no real platform for comedy anymore. All these networks that were primarily built on comedy have gone away,” says Justyn Davis, a cinematographer and lighting designer behind the venture.

Dan Madonia, a New York stand-up comedian who is also part of Comedy Social, makes a similar point: “It used to be you work to get your five minutes on Letterman and that would break you. But maybe we break you on the internet, because there is no Letterman or Conan that's going to break you to the entire country because the audience just isn't there. The audience is the internet.”

Their first clip reached 24,000 views on YouTube. The show also streams live on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and YouTube Live.

Like Don’t Tell, Comedy Social incorporates sponsors through branding and live-event partnerships. The company currently works with sponsors Rove and Ember Gardens, whose logos appear in clips and promotional materials.

Comedy's Content Distribution Problem

Comedy Social also solves challenges many comedians face: access to high-quality video and the ability to turn performances into shareable clips. Getting content online has become increasingly important, yet quality footage can be difficult to obtain.

When we asked comedians about the biggest barriers to posting comedy clips, the top answer was a lack of quality footage (35%), followed by not having enough time to edit clips (30%). Social media has become a primary way audiences discover comedians, which creates pressure to maintain an online presence. Comics want to post, but lack the resources and time to do so consistently.

“Some have been professional comedians for forty years and are extremely talented, but they don't know how to do the social media aspect,” Dan says. “They're not putting out clips because that was never part of the game when they were coming up.”

This is where Comedy Social comes in. Comedians are tagged in the videos and receive professional recordings of their sets. Ventures like Comedy Social are betting that helping comedians create and distribute high-quality content can solve a challenge while building a business of their own.

  • John Mulaney became the first comedian to sell out Chicago’s Wrigley Field for his July 11 John Mulaney: Mister Whatever tour stop.

  • Jeff Ross says in an interview that his Broadway and Netflix special Take a Banana for the Ride helped him through a battle with Stage 3 colon cancer.

  • Jo Koy will host Martin Lawrence Presents: Pass Tha’ Mic, a new multi-episode comedy showcase to spotlight emerging talent.

  • Hartbeat’s LOL Live returns to Hulu with 12 new half-hour stand-up specials rolling out through May 2027, as Kevin Hart’s company revives the emerging-comic format.

  • 800 Pound Gorilla inks a deal to become the official audio distributor for Comedy Central Records.  

  • Josh Johnson opens up about releasing an hour of new stand-up on YouTube every week while also hosting The Daily Show and touring nationally.

  • Elizabeth Pryor, daughter of Richard Pryor, explores her relationship with the comedy legend and the legacy of the N-word in her new memoir, Something We Said.

  • USA Today says Nate Bargatze faces scrutiny after attending the White House UFC Freedom 250 event. Comedian Michael Halcomb writes that backlash against Bargatze reflects a tendency to assign political identities to public figures based on limited evidence.

  • Jay Leno argues that podcasts have replaced traditional late-night television, calling Joe Rogan “the new Johnny Carson” and attributing the format’s decline to excessive commercials and the rise of YouTube.

  • Fox Nation is expanding its stand-up comedy catalog with original specials from comics such as Jeff Foxworthy.

  • Sam Tallent announces Brut, his second novel following Running the Light, set to publish on September 22.

  • Wanda Sykes turned down an appearance on The Roast of Kevin Hart and criticizes modern roasts as reliant on “lazy writing”.

  • The New York Comedy Festival will present Variety’s annual 10 Comics to Watch showcase as part of its official programming on Nov. 12.

  • Carlos Mencia was arrested in Los Angeles on 12 felony tax-evasion charges.

  • Julian Shapiro-Barnum launched Outside Tonight, a new YouTube late-night show filmed in Wagner Park in New York City that aims to reinvent the format for young audiences; watch the first episode here. 

  • Larry David debuts his new HBO sketch comedy series Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America on June 26. 

  • Netflix renews Funny AF with Kevin Hart for a second season, with the comedy competition series set to return in 2027.

  • BET revives ComicView, the long-running stand-up showcase, hosted by Chris “CP” Powell starting June 30.

  • Casey Loving writes that Saturday Night Live's costume and production design teams have just three days to turn sketches from Wednesday's table read into live television.

  • Mike Myers confirms that Austin Powers 4 is officially happening.

  • Matthew Belloni reports that Jimmy Kimmel is benefiting from a shifting late-night landscape as Stephen Colbert exits the ratings battle.

  • Kenan Thompson says he could remain on Saturday Night Live indefinitely, telling Variety that stepping away from regular duties has made performing stress-free.

  • Theo Von and David Spade’s BUSBOYS hit digital platforms on June 16 and is now available to rent or buy.

  • Matthew Frank writes that comedy movies are searching for a path back to young audiences as horror continues to thrive with low-budget, creator-driven hits from YouTube talent.

  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is still auctioning additional memorabilia from its 11-season run.

Specials, Signings, Tours

  • New specials from Jourdain Fisher (YouTube, June 23), Sally Ann Hall (Prime Video/Apple TV, June 23), Stephen Bargatze (Out in a Minute, Nateland Entertainment YouTube, June 26), Des Bishop (Bridge & Tunnel, Hulu, June 26), and Edy Modica (Veeps, June 26).

Festivals This Month

Festival Submissions

  • Vermont Comedy Festival · December 3–6, 2026 · Woodstock and surrounding towns in Vermont. Complimentary ski, snowboard, or snowshoe rentals through local partners. Fee: $30 early bird (June 15–21). Submit here.

  • Diablo Improv Festival · October 16–18, 2026 · Walnut Creek, California. No fee. Deadline: June 22. Submit here.

  • Asheville Comedy Festival · August 6–8, 2026 · Asheville, North Carolina. Fee: $45. Submission deadline: June 22. Submit here.

  • Eyes Up Here Comedy Festival · July 22–25 & August 8, 2026 · Jersey City & Morristown, NJ. Fee: $15. Deadline: June 28. Submit here.

  • Full list of festival submissions on our site here. We’ve also partnered with Inside Comedy to track festival submissions!

Comedy Jobs

Casting Calls / One-Offs

  • Eisenberg Casting / ROCK THE BOAT · Bryson City, NC. Liberal Comedian (Documentary Participant). $500 flat fee + share of comedy show door revenue; travel, meals, and lodging covered. Filming Aug. 15-17, 2026.

  • NowThis / Standup Desk Series · New York, NY. Stand-Up Comic. Compensation not listed. Currently booking NYC comedians.

  • Omnicom · New York City, NY. Contest Host – Improv Comedian. $800–$1,000/day (1-day shoot). Expires June 24, 2026; shoots June 25, 2026.

  • National Comedy Entertainment Agency · San Diego, CA. Stand-Up Comedian. $25–$500 per show. Seeking new and experienced comedians; no experience required.

  • Gnarly's Theater · Golden, CO. Event Producer / Promoter. Revenue share/commission/bonus structure (compensation negotiable). Ongoing opportunity to produce live events, including comedy shows.

  • NSE · Las Vegas, NV. Master of Ceremonies. $75–$100/hour. Contract.

  • Independent Documentary Project · Austin, TX. Camera Person for Comedian. $80–$120. Filming scheduled for late June-early July 2026.

  • Independent Comedy Project · Los Angeles, CA. Comedy Writers / Producers / Filmmakers. Unpaid. Collaboration on a prank comedy project.

  • Independent Comedy Film · Ann Arbor, MI. Cinematographer / Sound Recordist / Gaffer. $138/day + dinner. Filming July 11–August 9, 2026.

  • Live Comedy Show · Kansas City, MO. Photographer. $200. June 28, 2026.

That’s The Jokebook — your Sunday comedy update. Have something to share? Message us at [email protected]. 

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