Comedian, actor, and impressionist James Adomian talks to Jesse about a joke from his first album Low Hangin Fruit about the gay villain archetype portrayed in Disney films, and many other forms of media. James recounts how the joke snowballed from one impression to many, and eventually became his closer. James also reflects on gay comedy and where it stands today, and how he balances gay material within the context of his entire set. Listen to James on his podcast The Underculture. Learn more a...
Jul 15, 2019•1 hr 21 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Amanda Seales does a lot. Besides being an actress, poet, musician, DJ, lecturer and activist, she's also a great comedian. Jesse and Amanda talk about her natural progression into comedy after being a prominent figure in all other forms of media, and a joke about catcalling from her 2019 HBO special I Be Knowin'. While the joke itself stems directly from Amanda's experience, it took shape after her appearance on a CNN panel in which a white male panelist asserted that catcalling is a compliment...
Jul 08, 2019•58 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Join Jesse as he interviews Anthony Jeselnik in front of an audience at Clusterfest in San Francisco. While the interview is based around a specific joke from Anthony's latest special Fire in the Maternity Ward, Jesse walks Anthony through his past jokes that deal with the same subject matter. The two also touch on Anthony's persona and regard (or disregard) for his audience, as well as the unanticipated changes he's made to his act due to current events. Also included: a very large audience app...
Jul 01, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Daniel "Desus Nice" Baker and Joel "The Kid Mero" Martinez make up the Bronx-born comedy duo Deus & Mero. The two met in high school and reconnected on Twitter. From 2013-2014 they cohosted their podcast Desus vs Mero, then went on to appear on MTV's Guy Code in 2015. Around the same time they launched their current podcast Bodega Boys, which propelled them towards their own TV show, first on VICE and most recently on Showtime. Jesse charts their careers to understand what sets them apart fr...
Jun 24, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Jesse talks to a panel of writers from NYC's Late Night TV shows. Recorded in front of an audience in conjunction with 92Y Talks, the guests guide Jesse through a day in the life of a Late Night TV writer. The group shares how they got started, their career landmarks, and advice for aspiring comedy writers. Also included: what Late Night writers eat for lunch. The panel includes:Ziwe Fumudoh (Desus & Mero, The Rundown with Robin Thede)Josh Gondelman (Desus & Mero, Last Week Tonight with ...
Jun 17, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Season 6Ep. 5
Comedian Joel Kim Booster talks to Jesse about the evolution of his late night sets and career, focusing in partiuclar on his January 2019 performance on The Late Late Show with James Corden. Joel addresses Asian and gay stereotypes as they've appeared in comedy, as well as why he adopts a "hot idiot" persona onstage despite only being one of those two things. (He's hot, not an idiot.) Follow Joel Kim Booster on Twitter and watch Joel on NBC's Sunnyside, Thursday nights this fall. Learn more abo...
Jun 10, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Akiva Schaffer and Andy Samberg of The Lonely Island talk to Jesse about a track off of their newest release, The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience, a "visual poem" about the imagined rap careers of former Oakland Athletics sluggers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco. The two frappers talk writing lyrics and music, the work they're producing now, and the difference between being dumb and being dumb on purpose. Also included: Andy's Beetlejuice impression. Get tickets for The Lonely Island's summe...
Jun 06, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Season 6Ep. 3
James Corden is the host of The Late Late Show on CBS. He and Jesse walk through the history of one of the show's recurring segments, Crosswalk the Musical which is...well...a musical in a crosswalk. Initially a performance of Grease in front of The Late Late Show's Los Angeles studios, the segment spread to the streets of London and New York City and featured hit musicals like The Sound of Music, Hair, and Beauty and the Beast, to name a few. James recounts some behind the scenes stories and ta...
Jun 03, 2019•1 hr 40 min•Season 6Ep. 2
In Good One's Season 6 premiere, comedian Beth Stelling breaks down a joke from her first album Sweet Beth. The joke is about a trip Beth took to the Florida water park Wet 'n Wild with her father and siblings. Beth points out what she likes and doesn't like about the joke, and how her performance of it changed since recording the album. Beth talks about the specificity of her worda and the shorthand on her set-lists. Also included: Beth sings. Catch Beth live by checking out the dates on her we...
May 27, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 6Ep. 1
What miracle is this? Audio once forgotten and buried within the darkest recesses of Vulture's dungeons has found its way back to the light. Jesse hosts a live panel with the stars and creators of the cult-classic TV show Happy Endings. Recorded live at the 2016 Brooklyn Vulturefest, this panel features creator David Caspe and showrunner Jonathan Groff, along with the cast members:Eliza Coupe (Jane)Elisha Cuthbert (Alex)Zachary Knighton (Dave)Adam Pally (Max)Damon Wayans Jr. (Brad)Casey Wilson (...
May 20, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Season 5Ep. 16
Jesse leads a live panel discussion with the cast and creators of the cult-classic MTV animated series Clone High. The show itself, co-created by Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Bill Lawrence, was about a high school filled with clones of famous historical figures. Despite its cancelation after only one season, the show had a cast list full of up-and-comers and established stars of its time, including Will Forte, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Michael MacDonald, Christa Miller, Nicole Sullivan, Donald Fa...
May 13, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 15
Here's another bonus episode as we lead up to our Season 6 premiere! Jesse interviews comedian Catherine Cohen live at Union Hall in Brooklyn, following a musical tribute to her totally normal and not-at-all-bizarre dreams. Follow Catherine on Twitter. Listen to Catherine on the Seek Treatment podcast, and catch her solo show at Joe's Pub in NYC on May 15th, June 17th and July 11th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
May 06, 2019•18 min•Season 5Ep. 14
This week we're going back to the 2018 Brooklyn Podcast Festival for a short interview Jesse did with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, AKA Las Culturistas. Matt and Bowen each demonstrate an "I Don't Think So, Honey!" or their cathartic, one-minute cultural rant turned art form. Listen to Las Culturistas wherever you get podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 15, 2019•19 min•Season 5Ep. 13
Good One Season 5 comes to a close with another superstar comedian, Kevin Hart. Jesse takes a trip to Atlanta to speak with Kevin just before the release of his newest stand-up special Irresponsible. They discuss the show's opener, a story about when Kevin's kids caught him having sex. Kevin explains how his jokes go from from small clubs to arenas. The conversation also touches on some of the controversy surrounding his comedy, as well as the high expectations he's striving to execute at his le...
Apr 01, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Season 5Ep. 12
Jesse finally sits down with Gary Gulman to talk about a joke from his 2016 special It’s About Time. The joke is about an experience Gary had at Trader Joe’s, but it’s way, waaaaaaaay bigger than that. Gary takes his audience through TJ’s snack selection and into Narnia, making companions of old women on the Upper West Side, finally culminating in a rumination on the nature of New Yorkers and taking a stand when injustice rears its ugly head. Jesse and Gary dissect this joke from start to finish...
Mar 25, 2019•1 hr 55 min•Season 5Ep. 11
In Fall 2018, we recorded a live panel discussion with the writers of The Good Place at Vulturefest LA. Moderated by Marc Evan Jackson, the panel guests reveal what comedy inspired them, how their writers room was formed, and offer advice to aspiring writers. Watch The Good Place on NBC, Hulu, Netflix, or a bunch of other places on the internet. Listen to The Good Place: The Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow [most of] the panel on Twitter:Marc Evan JacksonMike SchurMegan AmramJen S...
Mar 18, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Jesse speaks to standup comic, actor, and writer Rhea Butcher about two versions of their joke about being misgendered. The first iteration comes from Rhea's album Butcher, and the second was performed on one of Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson's 2 Dope Queens HBO specials. Rhea goes over the similarities and differences between each telling, along with how their identity and experiences shaped the joke's evolution. Follow Rhea on Twitter Listen to Rhea's podcasts Three Swings and Put Your H...
Mar 11, 2019•1 hr 30 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Jesse speaks with actor, comedian, writer and producer Lil Rel Howery live at Vulturefest in October 2018. The conversation centers around a joke Rel told on Martin Lawrence's 1st Amendment Stand Up in 2010, and ties into material from his 2015 stand-up special RELevent. Rel discusses family, his hometown Chicago, and the comedians that shaped him, like Bernie Mac and Robin Harris. Watch Rel in Rel on FOX. Follow Rel on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice...
Mar 04, 2019•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 8
Kenny and Keith Lucas, aka comedy duo The Lucas Brothers, sit down with Jesse to discuss a joke-in-progress about Bertrand Russell's A History of Western Philosophy. The two reflect on their relationship as brothers, identical twins, writing partners, travel companions, and performers while musing on the intersection of comedy and philosophy. Watch the Lucas Brothers' special on Netflix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Feb 25, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Jesse’s back in the Late Night with Seth Meyers conference room with—wait for it—Seth Meyers! While there's plenty to talk about, the conversation centers around Seth writing the Documentary Now! episode Juan Likes Rice and Chicken. The two touch on Seth's parodies from when he was Head Writer at Saturday Night Live, along with his semi-autobiographical ties to Juan and Arturo. Also included: Seth is unable to make Jesse’s tweets any better than they already are. Season 3 of Documentary Now! sta...
Feb 18, 2019•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 6
Ray Romano sits down with Jesse to talk about his new Netflix special, Right Here, Around the Corner. The two go over Ray’s jokes about his son Joe, why he continues to see his family as a source of new material, and what made the Comedy Cellar the right place to tape his new special. Also, Ray does an impression of an impression of Ray Romano. Watch Ray’s new special on Netflix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Feb 11, 2019•52 min•Season 5Ep. 5
It’s sequel time! Sort of. On a Good One episode from way back in the year 2018, Jesse asked Vanessa Bayer about Saturday Night Live's series of ad parodies for Totino’s pizza rolls. What started as a take on gender stereotypes in advertising evolved over the next two years into a surreal X-Files promo, and ultimately a triumphant, French romance film trailer. Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider are the former SNL head writers behind the Totino’s Trilogy. Jesse talks to them about the evolution of V...
Feb 04, 2019•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 4
Jesse talks to actor, comedian, writer, and friend Julie Klausner about a seemingly random joke from her Hulu series Difficult People. Recorded live at Union Hall in Brooklyn, the two talk about equal treatment of male and female genitalia in comedy, Julie’s writing process on Difficult People, and much, much, much more. ALSO: a super secret surprise guest. ALSO ALSO: get ready to find out if your favorite sketch comedians are dogs or cats. Watch Difficult People on Hulu.Follow Julie on Twitter ...
Jan 28, 2019•56 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Jesse talks to comedian Sebastian Maniscalco about the creation of one of his most well-known jokes, “Doorbell”. Not only does Sebastian have a new Netflix special out, but at the time of the interview he was days away from headlining a weekend of stand-up shows at Madison Square Garden. Listen to how Sebastian refined his act-outs, and how nostalgia and disbelief came to shape his comedy. Watch Sebastian’s act outs to get a full picture of "Doorbell".Check out the interior of Sebastian and wife...
Jan 21, 2019•55 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Welcome back to Good One. We missed you dearly. For our Season 5 premiere, comedian, actress, and improviser Nicole Byer invited Jesse over to talk about the opening jokes of her new Netflix special, Aggressively Adorable. For more Nicole check out Comedians of the World and Nailed It! on Netflix and listen to her on What the Tuck? A RuPaul's Drag Race Podcast and Why Won't You Date Me? wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jan 14, 2019•58 min•Season 5Ep. 1
With all of his standup specials, records, and multiple roles in TV and film, Sinbad has no shortage of material to dissect. But when Jesse reached out to to ask what joke Sinbad wanted to discuss on the podcast, Sinbad didn’t want to pick one. Why? Because he doesn’t write his act in the way that most other comedians do. Sinbad will build an entire routine from a fleeting thought in the moment while he’s on-stage—and it will change the course of the performance in an instant. Jesse and Sinbad t...
Dec 10, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Years before creating and starring in the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rachel Bloom wrote and performed a musical sketch about a young actress’s obsession with Space Jam, the 1996 animated and live-action crossover starring Michael Jordan and a bunch of Looney Tunes. Jesse and Rachel talk about the compromise she made between musical theater and sketch comedy. Along the way they discuss the importance of nailing down a premise when writing, how rhyming can ruin a joke’s potential, and most importan...
Dec 03, 2018•41 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Laurie Kilmartin is a stand-up comedian and writer for Conan. She's also cohost of the podcast The Jackie and Laurie Show along with comedian Jackie Kashian. Laurie discusses the formation of her 2017 Conan set, finding a new muse 20-years into her career, and how to know when to inform the audience that “Domingo” is Spanish for “Sunday”. Read Laurie’s tweet about joke transitions here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 26, 2018•59 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Mike Birbiglia cemented his style of comedic storytelling in specials like Sleepwalk With Me, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, and Thank God For Jokes. He’s also the writer and director of Don’t Think Twice and the movie adaptation of Sleepwalk With Me. Now, his latest show, The New One, is running on Broadway. In this episode, we’re talking about an earlier one of Mike’s jokes—his Celebrity Golf story, from the album My Secret Public Journal Live. Mike describes how he identifies moments from his lif...
Nov 19, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Kenan Thompson and collaborator Bryan Tucker have been working on SNL together for years. In August 2017, they debuted Kenan’s take on NBA personality Lavar Ball. It went over so well that the impression returned for three additional Weekend Updates. Jesse asks Kenan and Bryan about how they come up with their best work that spans 16 seasons of SNL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 12, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Season 4Ep. 6
