The lengths comedians will go — and the locations they’ll carry out — in hopes of an enormous break must be the topic of a scientific research someday. It’s the kind of dedication solely realized by numerous hours onstage. And but, some stand-ups nonetheless really feel success must be given to them, whereas others do the work, discover their individuals inside the neighborhood and take it.
Jeremiah Watkins is a reputation many comedy followers — particularly these in L.A. — ought to acknowledge. As soon as the band chief for the podcast “Kill Tony,” Watkins retains audiences on their toes, leaving followers questioning what he wouldn’t do for his craft. Quick-forward previous two stand-up specials and too many gigs to depend to 2024, when Watkins killed the group by participating in “stage sex” with “American Pie” star Jason Biggs, whereas sporting a pie costume, throughout an episode of the parody collection “Dr. Phil LIVE!” Few issues may have proven extra precisely his fearlessness in relation to bodily comedy.
When Avery Pearson introduced his musical comedy to L.A. in 2011, he was ready to place within the work. Numerous mics and internet hosting gigs led to collaborations with business heavy hitters like Jeff Ross, Kevin Hart and Iliza Shlesinger; co-writing and co-directing the track and music video “Christmas Magic” for Comedy Offers Again; and his personal enterprise, Comic Rhapsody (previously the 88 Present), which has offered out on the Hollywood Improv for years.
Destiny and an open mic introduced Watkins and Pearson collectively, and fairly actually from that second, ignited their dedication to doing one thing completely different within the funniest means attainable. Enter their new three way partnership: Thousand %, which produces video and audio content material and simply shot a ridiculously humorous business for Einstein Bros. Bagels. Sure, bagels may be humorous. What’s subsequent for these two? The probabilities appear infinite.
Can I get a little bit backstory in your friendship, and did comedy deliver you collectively or was it music?
Avery Pearson: It was kismet. We have been each internet hosting an open mic on the Hollywood Improv. I performed piano, and so they had requested us to host collectively, so I used to be actually simply taking part in piano.
Jeremiah Watkins: They informed me that I used to be internet hosting the open mic, and I didn’t know Avery was gonna be there, however they have been like, “Is it cool?” I mentioned sure, and we simply began riffing throughout my set and in between all of the comics. On the finish of the mic, a number of individuals got here as much as us and mentioned it was unbelievable, and so they have been asking how lengthy we’d recognized one another, however we didn’t. We met proper earlier than the open mic. We sort of knew that we had one thing particular immediately as a result of individuals thought there was chemistry, and it had solely been a pair hours.
Pearson: After we have been internet hosting open mics on the Improv, they gave us this loopy spot at midnight after the second present. The present was referred to as “Midnight Snack,” and we might come out, however the individuals within the viewers didn’t comprehend it was taking place.
Watkins: So, in the event that they have been seeing a ten p.m. present, they thought they have been going dwelling at round 11:30 or midnight. We might storm the stage at midnight, unannounced, so individuals could be like, “What is going on?” We’d be like, “The show’s still going! You have to stay in your seats! Stay here!”
Pearson: I’d be taking part in piano, and Jeremiah could be strolling in, taking part in a saxophone up within the air. One in all our greatest mates, Josh Adam Meyers, would sort of be the frontman, so it was like this band of mates. We did it for 2 years each Saturday night time, beginning at midnight, and went till round 2 a.m. We obtained actually good and larger comedians began working with us, and we’re doing comedy with our mates having a lot enjoyable — all whereas individuals wished to depart. It’s not that we have been dangerous, they have been simply drained. The present would begin with round 200 individuals there, and our purpose was to see how lengthy we may maintain the best quantity. One night time we did it, however as a rule, it’d finish with about 50 individuals in there. Essentially the most comedy-driven followers ever.
Watkins: It pressured us to get good actually rapidly, as a result of if we didn’t, we’d see it in real-time exiting proper in entrance of our eyes.
What a psychological sport to play with your self!
Pearson: That’s precisely what it was, however there was stage time too. We have been slicing our enamel and getting higher.
Watkins: Neither of us have been out on the street headlining exhibits but, so a Saturday night time spot in Hollywood that we had devoted each Saturday at midnight, we have been like, “We don’t care if there’s five people here. We’re doing a show, we get a couple hours onstage, and it’s at the Hollywood Improv.” We have been offered. They get perhaps six extra drinks out of it, they’re joyful.
Pearson: That was a purpose too. To get them to have one other spherical of drinks. We realized rapidly learn how to make individuals snicker and promote a drink.
I’ve to imagine you two gravitated to one another due to your work ethics? Each of you appear to simply smash the pedal to the ground regardless.
Watkins: That’s undoubtedly one thing that drew me to Avery on a friendship stage but in addition then on the enterprise facet. I admired how he labored properly beneath strain. I knew I may depend on him if we have been to do these situations of exhibits that weren’t probably the most ideally suited. I knew he was going to have my again, and he did it actually a whole lot and a whole lot of occasions onstage to the purpose the place I’m like, “I trust this guy with my family and my life. Business? That’s easy at this point!”
Pearson: Once I got here in, I used to be newer and was tremendous inexperienced at that time. Jeremiah and I have been buddies from the open mic, and as I got here up in comedy, it was actually useful that I may ask him questions like, “What do I do here? Is this the right move?” Additionally onstage, like Jeremiah mentioned, it was nice that I had somebody there with me that I may belief whatever the scenario.
You guys actually do make an awesome staff. Let’s speak about this Einstein Bros. Bagels business. I used to be under no circumstances ready for the sausage gravy pour.
Watkins: I needed to struggle for that shot! That was one the place we had the shoppers there, and so they have been actually hesitant. I’m about giving individuals their means, however I used to be like, “You’ll get your way for sure but let’s just maybe try this other shot at the very end of the day.” It ended up making the minimize, and I used to be very joyful.
I feel it was my favourite a part of the video.
Watkins: Heck yeah! The most effective half about that shot is that Avery is a vegetarian.
What you’ll do for artwork…
Pearson: I don’t know if something was harmed within the making of that gravy, however I’m all in regards to the bagels. Once they informed us they wished to make a comedy about bagels I used to be like, achieved! That is every part I’ve been working for! I obtained prediabetes for this!
How did this collab even occur? And did Thousand % produce this business?
Pearson: Yeah! That’s a Thousand % manufacturing. That’s all us! We have been linked by Proof PR, who was linked with Einstein Bros. Bagels, and so they pitched them a bunch of concepts to advertise. We’re linked within the comedy business, however exterior of that, they’ve been actually useful with connecting us to exterior firms. Out of the entire concepts, they selected our pitch, which was to do a bagel music video. They’ve been so cool to work with. They actually respect our course of, what we do and our expertise with comedy. The business exists in several lengths on social media, however it should additionally run in 30-second advertisements that’ll pop up on Netflix, so individuals will be capable to watch it there too.
Seeing comedians in commercials, tapped into markets they haven’t been in, on so many platforms, appears like such a win. What else is within the works over at Thousand % for 2025?
Watkins: We now have two comedians we’re working with, who’re mates of ours, and we actually take pleasure in what they do. We’re taking pictures Jack Jr.’s particular on the Alex Theatre in Glendale in Could, after which Josh Wolf, we’re taking pictures him in Nashville in April. We’ll do a pair tapings, after which in fact the purpose is to buy it round. Later in the summertime and fall, we’re speaking to a few different comics that we’re enthusiastic about, so hopefully we’ll lock extra particulars down quickly. In my collection Stand-Up On The Spot, they’re all six digicam shoots that I’ve been directing on the Comedy Retailer. I’ve additionally shot the present throughout on the street and at festivals, and that has actually prepped me to shoot different individuals’s visions.
I’ve over 60 episodes which might be like mini-specials for stand-up, and it’s been an enormous enterprise, however I’m actually pleased with the product, and I’m prepared to point out people who I could make their stuff look good too. And Avery is such a very good author and performer but in addition an awesome producer. Avery helped make this business come collectively, and as a director, it’s a dream come true to be like, “Let’s create a vision together, execute it and then not have to be worried about the little things that need to get done behind the scenes.” Avery simply knocks it out of the park.
Pearson: I’ll pump some tires as properly, as a result of Jeremiah is an unbelievable director. I come from an appearing background, and he’s directed me in different situations, however on this particular expertise, he’s really an actor’s director. The messaging is obvious and really comprehensible, and oftentimes in comedy, somebody will let you know, “All right, just go be funny.” He offers reliable causes to get there. Realizing your greatest pal has that talent is absolutely cool, and he’s an superior director. Main as much as this, I shot a particular that we’re on the verge of getting out, and it was actually nice to have Jeremiah there to stroll me by the method of getting it collectively. It was loads of enjoyable.
Pearson, entrance, and Watkins on the set of the “Forkin’ Around” business for Einstein Bros. Bagels
(Matt Misisco)
Watkins: Nobody has ever achieved that as a result of each comic could be like, “OK, you take the set up and I’ll take the punchline.”
Pearson: Precisely. Jeremiah has these nice characters and we’re sort of growing a particular for his characters, the place I’m concerned, interacting with them. Then doubtlessly, we may shoot it at one of many golf equipment. I feel, for each of us, we love doing issues along with performing and in enterprise, however we additionally undoubtedly like to shine.
