Permission To Laugh (with Drew Landry)

·56 min·5 clips

Comedian Drew Landry finally joins the show on the day his new stand-up special drops.

Host Rory James opens the episode by emphasizing the long-awaited appearance of guest Drew Landry, coinciding with the release of Landry's new comedy special '10 Things I Hate About Drew' on Apple TV and other platforms. Landry describes a mixed feeling of excitement and emptiness after the special's release, comparing it to the post-show crash actors experience. The conversation shifts to Landry's first special, 'All My Friends Are Dead', which was a themed project about friends who passed away, particularly a best friend who died in late 2021. They explore the challenge of performing dark, personal material and the need to give audiences permission to laugh, referencing comedian Laurie Kilmartin's advice. Rory and Drew recount their parallel experiences preparing and taping their specials in the summer of the previous year, including writing sessions and attending each other's tapings. They discuss memorable bad shows, including one where Landry had to host a disastrous event with a withholding audience. Landry shares a story about a last-minute shirt crisis before his special taping, resolved by his partner Candace's emergency trip to Target. The episode touches on the importance of warming up rooms before specials, with Rory explaining why he chose Landry as one of his warm-up comics. Landry reveals his special will air on cable TV next year, a milestone he's proud of. The conversation concludes with Landry promoting his special and social media, and Rory praising Landry's talent and lack of ego.

As heard by us

A long-awaited comic friendship turns special-building and a rough hosting gig into loose, specific banter.

Rory James finally gets Drew Landry on the show, and the long-delayed visit plays like two comics slipping back into an easy, familiar rhythm.

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Why you'd press play

You get a loose hang with two comic friends as they talk up a brand-new first special, years of material, and one truly cursed night hosting a show.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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