Is This Live On?
While the coronavirus pandemic halted live concerts and open mic nights, comedy has remained a vital source of relief. Heavyweights like Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld pivoted to virtual formats for fundraising and specials. Yet emerging comedians—some refining their craft, others breaking through—have become the true stars of quarantine comedy.
As clubs went dark in March, inventive stand-ups turned to Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to connect with audiences craving laughs. Here are seven rising talents making waves:
Sydnee Washington
Who is she?
This lifelong Brooklyn comic describes herself as “the best friend who says everything you’re too afraid to say.” Washington, 30, thrives on relatability but jokes, “I have great bone structure, amazing skin, but I’m a hot mess.” Forced off stage, she embraced the camera, calling it a chance to experiment: “I was doing the same thing over and over—because I’m a psycho.”
Pandemic Hit
Her weekly Instagram Live show “Syd Can Cook” features comedian friends guiding her chaotic kitchen adventures—think mushroom risotto triumphs and flaming napkin mishaps. Washington plans to continue the “low-budget, high-quality” series post-quarantine.
Where to Find Her
Follow @justsydbw on Instagram, and catch her podcast The Unofficial Expert with Marie Faustin every Friday.
Tim Dillon
Who is he?
The 35-year-old Long Island comic, a former mortgage broker, delivers fearless takes on cancel culture, racial unrest, and pandemic absurdities. “I’m comfortable with dark comedy,” he says. “Society is held together by duct tape, and I’ve found a way to make that funny.”
Pandemic Hit
Dillon’s COVID-19 parody features him as a spiky virus ball lamenting daddy issues and wishing he “was AIDS” for better PR.
Where to Find Him
His podcast The Tim Dillon Show and YouTube channel (@timjdillon) have surged in popularity during lockdown.
Andrew Schulz
Who is he?
The 36-year-old New Yorker’s timing was impeccable: He opened a Brooklyn studio pre-pandemic, mastering digital content early. “This is a home game for me,” he says. His satirical “rant videos”—like comparing Biden to Trump—averaged 1 million views, while his podcast Flagrant 2 doubled its audience.
Also Starring In
Schulz humorously claims credit for the Call Her Daddy podcast drama after canceling a date with co-host Sofia Franklyn, who then met “Suitman.”
Where to Find Him
Instagram (@andrewschulz) and the Flagrant 2 YouTube channel, though he’s eager to return to live stand-up.
Meg Stalter
Who is she?
The alt-comedy queen of Twitter thrived online with absurd characters—like delusional moms and clueless influencers. “There’s nothing to lose right now,” says the 29-year-old Bed-Stuy comic.
Pandemic Hit
Her two-part “Mom Night” videos, filmed at her Ohio family home, showcase suburban chaos, complete with hot tub mishaps and plant-centric Earth Day antics.
Where to Find Her
Catch her podcast Confronting Demons and follow @megsstalter on Instagram.
Fahim Anwar
Who is he?
The 36-year-old LA comic’s DIY quarantine sketches—mocking Zoom calls and viral dance classes—strike a chord. “There’s a charm to not being Dunkirk,” he says of his lo-fi style.
Pandemic Hit
“Genesis of Corona” hilariously escalates from piano-playing optimism to conspiracy theories in under a minute.
Where to Find Him
Follow @fahimanwar on Instagram and Twitter, and watch his stand-up special There’s No Business Like Show Business on YouTube.
Jordan Firstman
Who is he?
The 28-year-old writer (Big Mouth) became quarantine’s “color commentator” with dead-on impressions, like a tone-deaf actress advising viewers to “vacation” in unused house wings.
Pandemic Hit
His viral “banana bread’s publicist” rant celebrates the pandemic’s baking obsession: “We got them a bunch of rotten bananas, and they went off!”
Where to Find Him
Instagram (@jtfirstman) is his main platform—he avoids Twitter (“it’s hell”) and was banned from TikTok after a Dr. Bronner’s parody.
Ahri Findling
Who is he?
The 33-year-old new dad turned parenting struggles into comedy gold while stranded in Jersey City. “Daycare shut down, so I started incorporating my baby into bits,” he says. “She liked it—I swear!”
Pandemic Hit
His “Quarantine With Kids vs. Without” video skewers coastal disparities, inspired by his brother complaining poolside while Findling battled apartment fever.
Where to Find Him
Follow @theycallmeahri on Instagram or watch his stand-up special Live from Stand Up NY on YouTube.