Alt Comedy Resources

Whether you're a fan looking to discover more alt comedy, a performer seeking venues and opportunities, or a researcher studying comedy history, this curated collection of resources will help you navigate the alternative comedy landscape.

For Fans

Essential Viewing

Foundational Alt Comedy Shows
  • "Mr. Show with Bob and David" (1995-1998)
  • "The Day Today" (1994) and "Brass Eye" (1997-2001)
  • "The Mighty Boosh" (2004-2007)
  • "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!" (2007-2010)
Contemporary Alt Comedy Specials
  • Hannah Gadsby: "Nanette" (2018)
  • Bo Burnham: "Inside" (2021)
  • James Acaster: "Repertoire" (2018)
  • Maria Bamford: "The Special Special Special!" (2012)
Alt Comedy Web Series
  • "High Maintenance" (2012-2015 web series)
  • "Broad City" (2010-2011 web series)
  • "Limetown" (2018-present)
  • "I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson" (2019-present)

Essential Listening

Alt Comedy Podcasts
  • "Comedy Bang! Bang!"
  • "The Flop House"
  • "Las Culturistas"
  • "Threedom"
  • "How Did This Get Made?"
Comedy Analysis Podcasts
  • "Good One: A Podcast About Jokes"
  • "The Comedy History 101"
  • "Failure to Heckle"

Books About Alt Comedy

"Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy"

by Judd Apatow

"Born Standing Up"

by Steve Martin

"We Killed: The Rise of Women in American Comedy"

by Yael Kohen

"Comedy at the Edge"

by Richard Zoglin

For Performers

Alt Comedy Venues by Region

North America
  • Dynasty Typewriter (Los Angeles)
  • Union Hall and The Bell House (New York)
  • The Hideout (Chicago)
  • Comedy Bar (Toronto)
Europe
  • Soho Theatre (London)
  • The Stand (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle)
  • Kilkenny Cat Laughs (Ireland)
Australia/New Zealand
  • The Comics Lounge (Melbourne)
  • The Classic (Auckland)
  • Giant Dwarf Theatre (Sydney)

Festivals Featuring Alt Comedy

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Annual, August, Edinburgh, Scotland

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Annual, March-April, Melbourne, Australia

SF Sketchfest

Annual, January, San Francisco, USA

Nettle Bath Comedy Jam

Annual, June, New York, USA

Open Mics and Development Spaces

Guidelines for finding alt-friendly open mics
  • Look for venues attached to theaters or arts spaces rather than traditional comedy clubs
  • Research the hosts and regular performers to gauge style alignment
  • Attend as an audience member first to assess the atmosphere
  • Consider non-comedy specific open mics that welcome interdisciplinary performance
Resources for starting your own alternative comedy night
  • Guide to finding unconventional venues
  • Tips for building an inclusive lineup
  • Promotion strategies for alternative shows
  • Technical considerations for DIY performance spaces
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For Researchers and Journalists

Academic Resources on Alt Comedy

Journals covering comedy studies
  • Comedy Studies (Routledge)
  • Journal of Popular Culture
  • Studies in American Humor
Notable academic papers on alternative comedy
  • "Alternative Comedy and Affect: The Performance of Emotional Labor" by Dr. Eliza Wang
  • "From Counterculture to Mainstream: The Trajectory of Alternative Comedy" by Rafael Guzman
  • "Gender and Performance in British Alternative Comedy" by Dr. Sarah Thomason
University programs with comedy focuses
  • Comedy Studies Program at Emerson College
  • Performance and Comedy at University of Kent
  • Media and Comedy at USC School of Cinematic Arts

Archives and Collections

British Stand-Up Comedy Archive

University of Kent

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National Comedy Center Collections

Jamestown, New York

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Oral History Projects

Documenting alternative comedy

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Interview Resources

For researchers and journalists working on alt comedy projects, we offer:

  • Contact information for alt comedy journalists
  • Guidelines for interviewing comedians
  • Access to historical interview collections
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For Everyone: Community Resources

Online Communities

Reddit Communities
  • r/AltComedy
  • r/EarwolfPodcasts
  • r/ExperimentalComedy
Discord Servers
  • Alt Comedy Collective
  • Experimental Performance Lab
  • Comedy Writers Workshop
Social Media Groups
  • Alternative Comedy Alliance (Facebook)
  • #AltComedy (Twitter/X)
  • Independent Comedy Network (LinkedIn)

Workshops and Classes

Improv Schools with Alternative Approaches
  • The Annoyance Theatre (Chicago)
  • The Free Association (London)
  • The Assembly (Los Angeles)
Writing Workshops for Comedy
  • Alternative Comedy Writing Lab (Online)
  • Experimental Humor Workshop (NYC)
  • Character Development Intensive (Toronto)
Performance Classes
  • Multimedia Comedy Creation (Online)
  • Physical Comedy and Clown (Multiple cities)
  • Solo Show Development (Multiple cities)

Support Networks

Mental Health Resources for Performers

Organizations and resources specifically supporting performer mental health and wellness.

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Diversity Initiatives in Comedy

Programs supporting underrepresented voices in alternative comedy.

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Industry Support Organizations

Networks and unions supporting comedians and comedy writers.

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