July 19, 2024 • 2hr 47min

#2178 - Sam Morril

The Joe Rogan Experience

Joe Rogan welcomes comedian Sam Morril to the podcast. Morril is a stand-up comic, writer, and actor known for his sharp wit and observational humor. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to comedy, media, politics, and culture.

#2178 - Sam Morril

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Key Takeaways

Comedy clubs and the business of comedy: Rogan and Morril discuss the dynamics of comedy clubs, with Rogan sharing his philosophy behind owning a club that prioritizes comedians over profits. They contrast this with other clubs that focus more on drink sales.
The evolution of stand-up comedy: They talk about how stand-up has changed over the years, especially with the rise of social media and podcasts giving comedians more direct access to audiences.
Political correctness and comedy: Both express concerns about increasing censorship and political correctness impacting comedy, while acknowledging the need for some boundaries.
Media bias and misinformation: Rogan criticizes mainstream media for pushing narratives and spreading misinformation, citing examples like Russiagate and coverage of COVID-19 treatments.
Social media censorship: They discuss issues around content moderation and censorship on social media platforms, with Rogan praising Elon Musk's approach to free speech on Twitter.
The craft of comedy: Morril and Rogan share insights into joke writing, performing, and developing as a comedian over time.

Introduction

Joe Rogan welcomes comedian Sam Morril to the podcast. Morril is a stand-up comic, writer, and actor known for his sharp wit and observational humor. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to comedy, media, politics, and culture.

Topics Discussed

Comedy Clubs and the Business of Comedy (1:13:15)

Rogan discusses his philosophy behind owning a comedy club, emphasizing that it's not primarily a money-making venture:

The club is set up to break even financially while prioritizing comedians
Most of the money goes to comedians, with enough left for bar/staff
Contrasts this with other clubs that focus more on drink sales

Morril shares some of his experiences with different clubs:

Praises clubs like Comedy Works in Denver and Hilarities in Cleveland
Recounts getting banned from a club for making jokes about it on stage

"This club is set up for comedians. It was never set up to make any money. The whole concept about it was, I just want to make something where I don't lose money." - Joe Rogan

The Evolution of Stand-Up Comedy (1:14:49)

They discuss how stand-up has changed over the years:

Rise of social media and podcasts giving comedians more direct access to audiences
Importance of touring and performing in different cities to refine material
How TV sitcoms used to be seen as the ultimate goal for comedians in the past

Rogan shares his experience balancing stand-up with his sitcom career:

Realized he could make similar money doing stand-up as he did on the sitcom
Found stand-up more creatively fulfilling than TV work

Political Correctness and Comedy (1:20:00)

Both express concerns about increasing censorship and political correctness impacting comedy:

Discuss examples of comedians facing backlash for jokes
Morril recounts controversy over rape jokes early in his career
Talk about the importance of context in comedy

They also acknowledge the need for some boundaries:

Recognize that truly hateful speech shouldn't be protected
Discuss the challenge of determining where to draw the line

"I don't like the calling for people's heads either." - Sam Morril

Media Bias and Misinformation (1:22:12)

Rogan criticizes mainstream media for pushing narratives and spreading misinformation:

Cites Russiagate as an example of media pushing a false narrative for years
Discusses media coverage of COVID-19 treatments, including ivermectin
Argues that podcasts have become more influential than traditional media

"Their whole game, up until social media and up until podcasts was they were the only ones talking so they could set a narrative and no one could do anything about it." - Joe Rogan

Social Media Censorship (2:30:16)

They discuss issues around content moderation and censorship on social media platforms:

Rogan praises Elon Musk's approach to free speech on Twitter
Criticize other platforms for unclear guidelines and arbitrary enforcement
Discuss the impact on comedians trying to promote their work online

"Twitter's actually the only place left, if you think about it, which is really f**king weird." - Sam Morril

The Craft of Comedy (2:34:06)

Morril and Rogan share insights into joke writing, performing, and developing as a comedian:

Discuss the process of coming up with new material and refining jokes
Talk about the value of bombing and learning from bad sets
Share stories about influential comedians like Dave Attell

They emphasize the importance of constantly working on new material:

Rogan talks about adding new tags to existing bits
Morril discusses the challenge of building a new hour after recording a special

"New stuff is a golden gift from the cosmos. New stuff's amazing." - Joe Rogan

Conclusion

The conversation between Joe Rogan and Sam Morril offers a deep dive into the world of stand-up comedy, touching on both the creative and business aspects of the profession. They share valuable insights into the craft of comedy while also addressing broader cultural issues around free speech, media, and technology. The discussion highlights the evolving landscape of entertainment and the challenges faced by comedians in navigating changing societal norms and platforms.