His videos have been viewed over 80 million times on social media and featured on Comedy Central, The Guardian, and Vulture. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Harris Alterman. The Brooklyn, NY native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Harris Alterman
Hometown: Denver, CO/Brooklyn, NY
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @theharrisalterman
Years in Comedy: 10
Comedic Influences: Brian Regan, Eric Andre, Clickhole, Eddie Pepitone, & Rory Scovel
Favorite Comedy Album: Casey James Salengo “Wild Country Phoenix”
Favorite Comedy Special: David Drake “That’s It”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Borat
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Nathan For You
Favorite Comedic Character: Nathan Fielder
Favorite City to Perform In: Denver
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Topics
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Old. Somalian.
Favorite Comedy Club: Denver Comedy Works
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I watched Brian Regan’s special “I Walked on the Moon” and it blew my dick off.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I think I blacked it out.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Absurdist. Silly. Loud. Jew.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
If I say something funny in real life I write it down.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
NYC. It’s a little town with not a lot of comedians.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
Whether you like the stuff you’re making. External success will never bring you happiness. Well….most of the time.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
David Drake. Dave Ross. Sam Evans. Connor O’Malley.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Sacha Baron Cohen hit me up and said he liked one of my sketches. Pretty cool.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Don’t take failure too hard, it’s part of the process.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
They laugh.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
AHHHHHH FUCKKKKKK! Yep.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Make it a meritocracy. Some many funny comics no one has ever heard of.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Don’t let them see you sweat.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Scroll Hole”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I photobombed Reggie Miller at a Nuggets game.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
A urologist convention. They hired me to roast them. Bombed my ass off.
A Harris Alterman Fun Fact:
I’m obsessed with spikeball.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
My own sketch show. Adult Swim would be cool.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
I would say “own the laughs? What the fuck does that mean? Stop saying sentences like that and just perform a lot.”
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
Social media is making it worse. But people will get sick of this short-form low-hanging fruit BS and from it new brilliant comedy will arise.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
Seinfeld. George is dating a girl and everything about her is perfect except….she’s in Hamas! Jerry she’s in Hamas!
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Denver Comedy Works. Give me three of my friends, Max Fine, Terenace Hartnett, & Bryan Yang.
What’s next for you:
Prison
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because it’s the better way to live. Being upset about little things isn’t the way to go through life. You have to laugh at it or you’ll be suffering all the time.
Follow Harris Alterman’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Harris Alterman
Youtube: Harris Alterman
Personal Website: Harris Alterman
