Andrew Schulz: ‘The Future is Ownership, Not Censorship’ – Hollywood in Toto

A comedians fortunes could change overnight with a spot on NBCs The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Even better? If Carson summoned the comic over to his iconic couch.

Late-night TV no longer transforms a comedians career in the same way. Now, its snagging a Netflix comedy special or streaming deal, with a few stars landing talk shows to call their own.

Andrew Schulz suggests that era may be waning, too, at least for stand-ups who wont play by the woke rules.

Schulz, the freewheeling comic known for hilarious YouTube videos and podcasts like Flagrant, is part of the new comedy revolution. Its not exactly by choice, but he suspects its the best path forward for stand-ups who loathe censorship.

Call it DIY Show Business.

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Schulz opened up to Megyn Kelly about his new comedy special, Infamous, and why he decided to share the special independently. He originally teamed with an unnamed streaming outlet but the platform demanded he remove select jokes.

He refused, deciding to buy back the special and produce it independently. So far, so good, according to TMZ, but it remains to be seen if hell get a return on his sizable investment.

Im not gonna edit my jokes anymore because I built my career without the streamers and I was able to build this career doing the jokes the exact way I wanted to I amassed this following and was able to tour around the world, he told Kelly.

I never felt like I needed the streamer the people validate me more than anything, he added.

His solo venture isnt the first attempt at avoiding comedy gatekeepers. Other stars like Nick Di Paolo, Jim Breuer, Louis C.K. and Steve Mudflap McGrew have tried that DIY approach.

The big test? Can comedians without that streamer cash and cachet?

If we prove you can make more money, or as much money doing it on your own than doing it with a streamer, then theres no point to go with a streamer and get notes, Schulz said. How do you make comedy the most pure?

Kelly agreed, noting how her career blossomed after NBC unceremoniously fired her on dubious charges. She went rogue, creating a powerful podcast and teaming with SiriusXM while retaining full control of the content.

I can work around the system where Im beholden to no one and my product will rise or fail entirely on its own merit, Kelly said of Schulzs approach, one that mirrors her own.

The future is ownership, not censorship, Schulz said. The companies that get that are starting to succeed. The creators who get that are succeeding.

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Earlier in the chat, Schulz broke down why the culture is suddenly so sensitive to edgy jokes. During the 1980s and 90s comedians like Howard Stern, Sam Kinison and Andrew Dice Clay challenged the status quo with gags that many found offensive.

They faced little punishment for telling them, though. Thats no longer the case, and Schulz thinks he knows why.

[Jokes] arent true, but the feelings are true. We have these feelings that are messed up thats whats relatable about jokes, he said. Even the old Borscht Belt comics, the Take my wife, please [material]. You dont really want someone to take your wife, but sometimes you have this feeling where, yeah, if somebody took herand thats funny to you.

How can this paradox exist within me? Thats humor.

Schulz credits Jon Stewart of The Daily Show fame for the shift.

He set an expectation for comedy to be true. And a whole bunch of kids grew up watching it, going, oh, thats what comedy is supposed to be, its supposed to be true, to speak truth to power.'

He also explained why the new wave of progressive humor often is reduced to clapter, not laughs.

Victimless comedy doesnt even exist, thats why its so hard to be funny and woke because nobodys a victim, then what are we gonna make fun of? he said.

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Andrew Schulz: 'The Future is Ownership, Not Censorship' - Hollywood in Toto