Variety recently listed 10 comics to watch in 2021 featuring stand-up comedians, writers, and content creators who’ve managed to spread lightness and laughter despite all the challenges the world has endured the past 15 months. Here are five of those rising stars and the projects they’re currently working on. These talents will be featured during a virtual panel on July 27 at 2021 Just for Laughs Festival.
Quinta Brunson
Quinta Brunson got her start when her self-produced video series called The Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date went viral on Instagram. The 31-year-old also appeared in the first season of HBO’s narrative series A Black Lady Sketch Show. However, she doesn’t need to be on video to be funny. The Philadelphia native recently released her book She Memes Well, a hilarious collection of essays about trying to make it when you’re struggling. Most recently, she created and is set to star in the upcoming ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary.
Hannah Einbinder
Vulture described Hannah Einbinder as having a “refreshingly absurdist charm (with a bit of Billie Eilish-ish flair.” She co-starred as the young internet star Ava Daniels opposite Jean Smart who plays the fading comedian Deborah Vance in the HBO Max series Hacks. Hacks, by the way, has a 100-percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the acclaimed show has been picked up for another season. Einbinder performed stand-up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for her TV debut last year. She is also the daughter of the Saturday Night Live original cast member Laraine Newman.
Matt Rogers
Matt Rogers is the host of HBO Max’s dog-grooming competition series Haute Dog, and he co-hosts the Las Culturistas podcast along with Bown Yang. Rogers is also a series regular on Vanessa Bayer’s Showtime comedy I Love This for You playing Darcy, the right-hand man to the CEO of a home-shopping network. His credits include Shrill, Our Cartoon President, Search Party, and Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, along with the feature film The After Party and upcoming animated series Q-Force, on which he also was a staff writer.
Benito Skinner
Benito Skinner is a writer and performer with quite a following on his self-titled YouTube channel which features his sketch comedy, characters, and parodies. On Instagram, he creates one-minute comedy videos and has amassed over 1.3 million followers including Jennifer Aniston, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, and the Kardashians. The Idaho native started vlogging in 2016, and his creative outlet has led to a guest spot in the recent season of HBO Max’s Search Party, and he’s achieved international success with his The Overcompensating Tour. Skinner hosts the Spotify podcast Obsessed.
Kountry Wayne
Kountry Wayne is a stand-up comedian whose videos went viral on social media in 2014. A father of ten kids from five or so different women, Wayne has a steady flow of real-life stories to inspire his gigs. The Georgia native has over four million followers on Facebook and Instagram combined. Wayne is in the process of developing a scripted series based on his work on social media with Lil Rel Howery serving as producer. In 2017, the charismatic comic started his Child Support Tour. He continues to perform stand-up, selling out clubs and theaters across the nation.
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