Following the huge news last week that Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy had bought back his controlling stake in the company from Penn Entertainment, Barstool Sports is already making changes on the exec front. Barstool Sports has upped Barstool Sports New York founder Kevin Clancy, aka KFC, to GM of Comedy at the company.
With Portnoy only recently gaining back a controlling stake in the company, Clancy’s responsibilities (and even his title which was given to him prior to the sale) could be changing over time but going forward he will be focused on expanding the company’s footprint in the comedy world, specifically in the stand up comic scene, in a much more hands on way.
As part of this new position, he will also be helping several other podcasts, brands, and shows achieve the same level of success he and the other Barstool OGs have been lucky enough to see.
Clancy has been at Barstool Sports for almost 15 years now starting in 2009 when he launched Barstool New York, the first piece of the company to branch out of Boston, where it originated. In 2012, he launched Barstool’s first podcast, which he flippantly & regrettably named “KFC Radio.” In the decade+ since starting the podcast, he also created Answer The Internet (a successful YouTube series and adult party game), One Minute Man, a short form social media video series that has amassed over 1 billion views, and hosts Barstool Radio, which is currently a top 10 comedy podcast in the US. In 2016, he began going on the road with KFC Radio live, selling out comedy clubs and theaters from NYC to LA.
In recent years, Clancy along with his podcast KFC Radio have focused on the standup comedy scene and giving a platform to its current stars and up and comers.
“KFC radio has helped me in my career immensely” said comedian Chris Distefano. “Getting to be heard by the barstool audience is huge for a comedian. KFC radio has always had their doors open for new talent too which is always cool to see. I’m realizing now I don’t even know KFC or Feits real name and I don’t think anyone does.”
“KFC & Feitelberg were big supporters of Are You Garbage early on. Which was awesome. They we’re cool enough to invite us on KFC Radio and introduce us to their huge following. Always a blast with them, Over the last few years they’ve done a lot to showcase NYC comics. Great dudes,” said Kevin Ryan from the podcast Are you Garbage.“
While Clancy has big plans for where Barstool as a company can take the comedy scene, he still has high hopes for his own podcast, KFC Radio, which has grown year in and year out and has high hopes of it being on that same level as another popular podcast when it comes to putting comics on the map.
