He has been featured on season 2 of HBO’s “Sweet Life: Los Angeles”, Pop TV’s “Hollywood Darlings”, E! drama series “The Arrangement” and runs a highly successful live event inside The Ice House Comedy Club. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Sean Porter. The Los Angeles, CA native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Sean Porter
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @iamseanporter
Years in Comedy: 7
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Sweet Life: Los Angeles, Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Radio, Quake’s House, E! Network, & Pop TV
Comedic Influences: Ricard Pryor, George Carlin, Redd Foxx, Joan Rivers, Conan O’ Brien, Dave Chappelle, Mike Epps, Patton Oswalt, Bill Burr, Ali Wong, Carol Burnette, Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Einstein, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, & Dave Attell
Favorite Comedy Album: Three-way tie between George Carlin’s “You Are All Diseased”, Patton Oswalt’s “Werewolves and Lollipops” and Mike Epps “Under Rated… Never Faded & X-Rated”
Favorite Comedy Special: Eddie Murphy “Delirious”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Two-way tie between “Coming to America” and “Old School”
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Simpsons
Favorite Comedic Character: Fred Sanford
Favorite City to Perform In: My hometown of Los Angeles
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Myself, my multi-racial background, my family, these racists, dating in LA, & strip clubs
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Diverse
Favorite Comedy Club: The Comedy Store & The Ice House Comedy Club
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
Growing up I would watch old re-runs of The Carol Burnette Show with my Mom. Carol Burnette was her all time favorite and that show is how my mom and I bonded. I would also listen to old Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor albums with my Uncles and older cousins. I was the youngest so everything I was exposed to was taboo for a kid but I gravitated towards it. I always considered myself an old soul – like the first time I listened to Jazz at 5 years old I was hooked; the first time I heard a setup/punchline, I fell in love with the art form.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I performed my first time on a dare. I have always been a shit-talker and fan of all things comedy, but I was in a whole other part of the entertainment industry working behind the camera. I had a few friends who were comedians and comedy writers who kept telling me to “take my stuff on stage”. One of my best friends who is TV producer kept egging me on to do an open mic for over a year before I gave in.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Adult, but silly. Whatever topic I’m writing/joking about, my mission statement has always been “make the complexed simple, and the simple complexed.” Every comic has a dick joke. My goal is “how can I write the *smartest dick joke possible.”
Describe your process for comedic writing:
They say “write what you know” which is a good place to start. I’m always writing whether it be musings in my head, punching up old material, remixing old material and finding new tags to jotting down notes in my phone to expand on later. But I have comedy on my mind 24/7.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
It’s Los Angeles. It’s the major leagues which can be a turn off to a lot of comedians because the stage time here, like real estate in CA, is precious, hard to come by, and dominated by the rich and famous (A-list comics). It’s a tough market to break into but I’m from LA, this is my backyard so I approach it the way I approach everything in life: be a kind person and work your ass off! All of your sweat equity will pay off so enjoy the journey while you’re on it.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I think success is subjective. It’s what you as comic set out to accomplish and if you achieved those goals, then you are a success however small or large. Being respected amongst my peers and the accomplished comedians that came before me is another way I judge success for myself. Being known as a “comic’s comic” is in my opinion, one of the best compliments you can ever receive as a comedian.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
I am a fan of so many of my peers it’s hard to single just a few out. I love watching my friends work their asses off night after night while expanding and evolving their comedy like I do. I am my friends biggest fans.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Getting to host a comedy show for Issa Rae’s HBO show Sweet Life: Los Angeles. I think I’m only on screen for like 60 seconds but that day was amazing! The executive producer let me run the show the way I wanted to, and I received no notes from the producers what so ever. They were extremely happy with how the show went. Also, getting to open for Damon Wayans Sr. and being invited to do panel on Earthquake’s Sirius XM show as “a comic to keep your eye on” was pretty damn cool.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
That comedy is mostly failing anyway so regardless of how bad you think your set went, dust yourself off and get your ass back on that stage the next day! Every comedian bombs. Not every audience is going to go bananas over your set but you keep putting in the work. No one performance is going to make or break you. I remind myself of how awesome it is that if I didn’t do so well tonight, I get to live to fight another day and get back on stage the next night. I’m so grateful I get to keep getting on stage to hone my craft. This is baseball, it’s 162 games, it’s a marathon so keep swinging that bat and work towards becoming an all-star.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
A lot nicer I hope.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
Work begets work. Stack those days. If you stay out in these streets putting in the sweat equity and getting the stage reps necessary, then you can make a career of it. Stand-up may not be the only artist avenue a performer may want but being a good and accomplished stand-up can spring board you into other artistic ventures. Also, we all start out working other jobs to pay the bills while while we chase our dreams. I think having a career in stand-up is finally being able to make a living doing this. You can also add that to the “success” notch on your belt. I can make a living doing this!
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Unfortunately, there are politics in comedy as with every other industry or profession. We still have to navigate through this and “play the game” as they say.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
“Try not to make your entire day about your set” and when performing, “try not to try”. It’s usually those gigs where you don’t care as much where you’re at your most funny.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“L.A. Confidential”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Before I became a comedian, I once asked Bill Burr to settle a sports debate between my friend & I while drunk at a bar. He thought we wanted an autograph as we approached and I said “no, we don’t need no autograph, settle this debate…” He was lowkey sad we didn’t want one.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
My Aunt’s house (rowdiest crowd ever).
A Sean Porter Fun Fact:
From 0 to 25 years old I never smoked weed. I was an athlete my entire life so marijuana was something I consider taboo. Now I act like I’m Nate Dogg: “yay yay yay yay… smoke weed everyday!”
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
Make the wall of the Comedy Store. Maybe record a special or two and go on a nation wide tour with some of my closest comedy pals.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Write what you feel the most passionate about and be yourself up there. If you’re passionate about something, the success will follow. Audiences love authenticity. Your passion will shine through if you believe in what you’re writing about.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
Oh man. Definitely more avenues for younger comics to gain exposure but there is still a need for comedy clubs and earning it the old fashion way by putting in the work and constantly honing your craft. As society evolves, comedy evolves with it. What was funny 20 years ago may be hack now but it’s not the end of the world. “Cancel Culture” is overblown. Successful comedians find the funny regardless.
If you could write ONE episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be and give a brief detailed sentence on the episode:
I’d write an episode of The Simpsons where Homer takes Lisa to her first Jazz Festival and realizes he can make money selling knock-off Bleeding Gums Murphy merchandise. Meanwhile, Krusty the Klown changes his name to Krusty the Konstruction Guy and becomes an anti-woke anti-cancel culture stand-up comedian to increase his ratings and pay-off his gambling debts.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
The Comedy Store (Original Room), and I’d have Redd Foxx, Joan Rivers, and George Carlin on my lineup.
What’s next for you:
More gigs!
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because what’s the point if you can’t laugh at life or yourself? Show me someone who can’t laugh at themselves and I’ll show you a miserable person. Or a dictator.
Follow Sean Porter’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Sean Porter
Youtube: Sean Porter
Personal Website: Sean Porter
