TGS Live at the Comedy Cellar

<p>Over the last couple years, I’ve been in communication with Noam Dworman, the owner of the <a href="https://www.comedycellar.com/" target="_blank">Comedy Cellar</a> in New York, which is one of the most influential comedy clubs in the country. He suggested that we collaborate and put together <strong>a show that would explore the relationship between truth, free speech, and comedy</strong>. After a lot of back and forth, we came up with the idea of putting non-comedian intellectuals into conversation with professional stand-up comics. We weren’t quite sure what would happen, but we both sensed the idea had great potential.</p><p>And so, last month, <strong>The Glenn Show held its first live event</strong>. Roland Fryer, Coleman Hughes, and I served as the “serious” participants, and Noam invited the comics <strong>Andrew Schulz</strong>, <strong>Judy Gold</strong>, <strong>Shane Gillis</strong>, <strong>T.J.</strong>, and <strong>Rick Crom</strong> to come up and offer their thoughts. The event also included special appearances from <strong>Nikki Jax</strong> and the stellar <strong>Sam Jay</strong>. Noam and I wanted to know, are there <strong>certain truths that only comics can get away with telling</strong>? Can delivering <strong>a potentially unsettling idea in comedic form</strong> make people more receptive to it? </p><p>The place was packed—tickets sold out in just a few days. The atmosphere was electric. After I introduced the event and kicked things off with an opening provocation, the show took on a life of its own. As you’ll see, <strong>the comics took the idea and ran with it</strong>. There are moments of chaos, moments of profundity, and <em>a lot</em> of laughs. I couldn’t have asked for a better live debut for TGS, and I am excited to be able to share with all of you who made it possible through your support.</p><p>We’re planning on doing more of these events in the future, so let us know what you think!</p><p>Many, many thanks to Noam Dworman for his hard work, generosity, and for providing video and audio of the event. The title sequence was created by our own <a href="https://psychopolitica.substack.com" target="_blank">Nikita Petrov</a>. </p><p><em>This post is free and available to the public. To receive early access to TGS episodes, an ad-free podcast feed, Q&amp;As, and other exclusive content and benefits, click below.</em></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=0s" target="_blank">0:00</a> Some unspeakable truths </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=487s" target="_blank">8:07</a> Are comics now afraid to speak their minds onstage? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=1178s" target="_blank">19:38</a> The difference between telling the truth and getting a laugh </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=1722s" target="_blank">28:42</a> Can jokes actually do harm? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=2210s" target="_blank">36:50</a> Nikki Jax on comedy and trans issues </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=2614s" target="_blank">43:34</a> Who actually “cancels” comics, audiences or corporations? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=3026s" target="_blank">50:26</a> Sam Jay on artistic freedom and mob mentality </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=3355s" target="_blank">55:55</a> Q&amp;A: I’m worried people won’t understand that my one-woman show is satire. What should I do? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=3522s" target="_blank">58:42</a> Q&amp;A: Does comedy have real power or is it ‘just jokes’? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=3995s" target="_blank">1:06:35</a> Q&amp;A: Do comics sometimes inadvertently reinforce wrongheaded points of view? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=4223s" target="_blank">1:10:23</a> Q&amp;A: Why are Ivy Leaguers so unfunny? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=4393s" target="_blank">1:13:13</a> Q&amp;A: Are college campuses inhospitable environments for comedy? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=4605s" target="_blank">1:16:45</a> Q&amp;A: What got Roland suspended at Harvard? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=4820s" target="_blank">1:20:20</a> Q&amp;A: Does the general public need social media training? </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ZtmVSBlrM&#38;t=4951s" target="_blank">1:22:31</a> Q&amp;A: Is there a way to stop corporations from folding to social media pressure campaigns?</p><p></p><p></p> <br /><br />This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://glennloury.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">glennloury.substack.com/subscribe</a>