Comedian of the Day (5/10/21): Stewart Fullerton

Her career in entertainment began with aspirations of becoming an Academy Award-winning actress, but when she realized that her best role was being a talented real-life waitress, she figured why not give stand-up comedy a try. Now she’s a constant performer at comedy festivals all over America and enjoys a successful podcast where she gets to roast various celebrities that she eventually will consider friends once she’s famous. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs while getting to know comedian Stewart Fullerton. The Little Rock, AR native shares with us some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and why she owns the laughs.

Name: Stewart Fullerton
Hometown: Little Rock, AR/New York City, NY
Instagram: @stewartandchill Twitter: @stewartful
Years in Comedy: 4
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: You can catch me weekly on my podcast Staying Humble with Stew! Once the world opens up again you can find me anywhere, but home.
Comedic Influences: Joan Rivers, Natasha Leggero, Tiffany Haddish, Sarah Colonna, Lisa Kudrow & of course Lucille Ball!
Favorite Comedy Album: Dave Attell “Skanks for the Memories”
Favorite Comedy Special: Chelsea Peretti “One of the Greats”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Airplane!
Favorite Comedy TV Show: The Comeback
Favorite Comedic Character: The entire cast of The Real Housewives of Potomac
Favorite City to Perform: New York
Favorite Topics to Joke About: My mom being crazy and me being slutty … not necessarily in that order.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: A drunk one
Favorite Comedy Club: Vermont Comedy Club!

How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I had an *interesting* childhood and always tried to diffuse it with humor. I grew up doing theatre but never cared about the show I was in I was more concerned with making people laugh in the dressing rooms. Once I moved to NYC I had to try out stand-up and have been doing it ever since.

What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I made my roommate sit on the couch and listen to my 4 minutes a million times that day and then afterward we completely blacked out on vodka sodas.

How would you describe your comedic style:
Self-deprecating storytelling with some good good punchlines.

Describe your process for comedic writing:
I pretend to write every single day, but my best stuff comes from me telling my friends a funny story and them saying “That was funny you should put it in your stand-up.”

Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Hard because everyone is so funny and I want to be the only funny person.

How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
Not having to have a day job that is the DREAM.

Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
There are TOO many to name. Maddy Smith is number 1. Also obsessed with Ginny Hogan, Hannah Dickinson, Caitlin Peluffo & Napoleon Emil.

What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
I got to do an hour for an arts festival in my hometown! The audience was mostly my mom’s friends and I talked about blowjobs the whole time! Best night of my life.

What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
To just put blinders on and keep moving forward. Also, to never mention the Dallas Cowboys when performing in Philadelphia.

How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
They ask me to tell them a joke and I say only if you pay me!

Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
Finding your voice is really hard and there are so many mistakes in the beginning. You really have to be fearless and willing to look like an idiot until people start to like you. No one will hand anything to you so it’s a lot of hard work… here’s hoping it’ll pay off.

If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
More women.

Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Just be funny that’s all it’s about. Also, Natasha Leggero says to be funny before you even start
your set… still working on that one.

If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Little Rock Bottom (I’m from Little Rock and hit Rock Bottom weekly)

Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I used to work at an upscale gym that had a smoothie bar. One day Paris Hilton came in to buy a smoothie and I fully freaked out and then asked her why she’s so short. She said she always wears heels and then looked me up and down and said I should probably start wearing heels more. Then she tipped me $10 and left.

Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any forms of comedy:
A tiny hoagie shop.

A Stewart Fullerton Fun Fact:
My dad was my middle school principal. If that doesn’t make you a comedian, I don’t know what will.

Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I want to do it all. Act, write, perform, direct and produce.

What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Work hard and don’t listen to the negativity or compare yourself to others.

What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
Comedy & NYC is not dead. Comedy will be back soon… there is nothing like a live performance and laughing with a group of random strangers in a tiny darkroom. I loved all the outdoor shows the pandemic has brought… I hope those stay around in the summers.

If you could write one episode for one classic TV sitcom which show would be and give a brief detailed sentence on the episode:
I would love to write an episode of Schitt’s Creek where they put on a community theatre production of Hair and Moira plays all the roles.

If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Let’s go Dallas Comedy Club with my BFF Maddy Smith, my boyfriend Drew Drevyanko, and throw Dave Attell in there to tell us we are young and not funny but drink with us after.

What’s next for you:
Get the vaccine and get better at Tik-Tok!

Why should a person always laugh at life:
If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that nothing is guaranteed. Let’s all laugh and have fun.

Watch Stewart Fullerton at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank, CA

Follow Stewart Fullerton on all forms of social media:
Instagram: @stewartandchill Twitter: @stewartful
Personal Website: www.stewartfullerton.com