UTA’s Blair Kohan and Jason Heyman on Comedy’s Evolution
The work of being a comedian and doing comedy projects hasn’t been the same since the pandemic – in good ways and not so good.
That’s one of many insights from a deep conversation about comedy with Blair Kohan and Jason Heyman, UTA board members and partners, featured on the latest episode of Variety‘Strictly Business’ podcast. Kohan and Heyman are old colleagues who have been in the trenches together and know each other’s rhythms and strengths, like any good buddy act.
The two discuss the challenges that traditional adult comedies have faced at the box office in recent years, and the fact that sitcoms are rarely seen on network television these days. And yet, the two point out, there is more talent coming from all corners and more opportunities to express comedy than ever before.
“I think people want to laugh in the community. I think what’s driving this live experience [boom] is being in a room together and laughing together,” says Kohan. “When we talk about all these great movies, these great comedies from the last 25 to 50 years, it was about going to the theater and laughing together. And I think we miss that.”
Heyman sees opportunity in the disruption surrounding the network TV system that was once crucial to building the careers of comedy stars.
“Can there be a ‘modern family’ again? Can there be an ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ again? That’s a very good question,” Heyman asks. “The good side of it is that schedule, that routine that we all grew up with – pilot season and prep and fall schedule and all that – that’s all gone. So you have a little more flexibility and the talent can go do other things and come back when they’re feeling creatively inspired,” Hayman says.
Kohan notes that stars who emerge from social media platforms can often have more control over their material when working with mainstream Hollywood, citing Rachel Sennott and her new HBO series “I Love LA” as an example. Kohan calls it a ‘reverse incubation effect’.
“We always talk about the heyday of Comedy Central and Funny or Die and those incubators. ‘SNL,’ which is still there and still incubating, identifying and discovering. We miss those days because that’s where we could launch talent. That’s where we discovered talent,” she says. “With social media, we have comedians like Matt Rife. Nate Bargatze Leanne Morgan and Ali Wong, who are developing their audiences directly, and so we have this reverse incubation thing where the Netflixs, the Amazons and HBOs attach themselves to them after they’ve already created this platform for themselves. So they have a little more control and understanding of what their audience is looking for. The loss of Comedy Central and, Funny or Die has been replaced by Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.”
Heyman, who has had a long association with Will Ferrell and other comedians with many breaks, says the low number of comedy films reaching the box office is concerning.
“If you don’t build it, they won’t come. So at some point someone has to take the shot,” Heyman says. “Because if you don’t build it, I can guarantee you they won’t come. People now, for the most part, don’t even think about going to the theater to see an R-rated comedy. If you’re a 20-year-old kid going out with your friends, that’s not something you even consider doing.”
(Photo: Blair Kohan and Jason Heyman outside UTA headquarters in Beverly Hills)
‘Strictly business’, yes Variety’s weekly podcast featuring conversations with industry leaders about media and entertainment. (Click here to subscribe to our free newsletter.) New episodes drop every Wednesday for download via Apple Podcasts, iHeartMedia, Amazon Music, Spotify and more.
