The comedy industry has staples: Dave Chappelle skits are often quoted, Bill Burr pops up in all forms of media, and Sarah Silverman is a widely recognized face.
Outside of these mainstream acts is a pool of talent that runs wide and deep, many of which are on the precipice of becoming the next big thing.
Here are some comedy acts to look out for as they catch their rising star.
Iliza Shlesinger
This 2008 Last Comic Standing winner has five comedy specials on Netflix and premiered her sketch comedy show on the streaming platform in 2020.
She was the first female to win Last Comic Standing, breaking barriers and staying true to her powerful feminist persona on stage.
She has written two books, launched an at-home cooking show with her husband during the pandemic, and wrote and starred in the Netflix rom-com “Good On Paper”.
Josh Denny
Josh pulls from his experiences traveling the country to get a chuckle out of audiences. The Philadelphia native is now a west coaster who is also a foodie.
He imparts food tidbits and endorsements from his travels throughout his act. Josh can be seen on re-runs of the Ginormous Food series or heard on his Jenkum podcast.
Dusty Slay
Who doesn’t love a guy with a name like that? Dusty is a Nashville guy who can be seen on season three of “The Stand-Ups.”
He speaks on his country upbringing, growing up in a trailer park, and his decision to get sober.
He has been on Jimmy Kimmel and Nashville Squares, and has a new Netflix special available.
Tyler Gaca
Known as user ghosthoney on the wildly popular TikTok platform, Tyler made a name for himself producing off-beat videos that comment on Victorian dandies, multi-character sketches, and commentary on the Twilight movie franchise.
The artist’s whimsical videos have garnered him over 3 million followers.
Cy Amundson
Cy has appeared on Adam Devine’s House Party, Conan, and Comedy Central’s “This is Not Happening.” He’s also been on FOX’s “Family Guy” and “American Dad,” and continues to tour gigs all over the country.
Celina Meyers
Celina is another comedian who found TikTok fame as user celinaspookyboo, and who also has authorship cred under her belt.
She makes videos poking fun at her self-induced sleepwalking stints, tells horribly punny jokes to her husband, and speaks plainly to her audience about things that are troubling her and the world.
Celina is inclined towards the spooky and supernatural, as evidenced not only in her skits but her horror books.
Kris Collins
It’s hard to remember Kris is playing every single character on her social media accounts, as her added makeup, props, and accents truly differentiate them from each other.
Known as the user kallmekris, this Canadian social media influencer has conjured up several storylines that span a breadth of characters, from a tough-talking Russian mom to a toddler who goes about the day with her tiny plastic hands.
If you’ve got a family who makes you roll your eyes at every turn, you’ll relish Kris’s skits in which she relives interactions with her own mother and siblings.
