Jackie Fabulous, Rachel Feinstein & Ralph Barbosa.
Every year, Variety puts together its annual list of 10 comics to watch: more specifically, standups, content creators and comedians who are making an impact with their craft across the entertainment industry. This year's recognition will look different than year's past given the current state of Just For Laughs, its storied comedy festival was canceled earlier this year due to its financial strains & then it sold off its stand-up catalog due to its bankruptcy filing. To celebrate accordingly this year, Variety will be hosting its special event tonight at the Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles.
Since publishing its first list in 2000, Variety has proven to have a consistent track record with the comedians its recognized in years past. Notable alum who've made this list include Tiffany Haddish, Kumail Nanjiani, Amy Schumer, Patton Oswalt, Taylor Tomlinson, Quinta Brunson, Sam Jay, Hasan Minhaj, Nate Bargatze, Pete Davidson, & Roy Wood Jr.
Check out the class of 2024 below.
Variety's Comics to Watch for 2024
Asif Ali: Ali has been making his rounds in the acting space for some time from appearing on shows like WandaVision, The Mandalorian & Bojack Horseman to being a part of some major Hollywood productions including Don't Worry Darling. He'll soon be seen starring in the upcoming Hulu comedy series "Deli Boys" where he leads a all-South Asian-led show. He's a member of the sketch group "Goat Face" alongside Fahim Anwar, Aristotle Athari & Hasan Minhaj. Be on the lookout for his first stand-up special & more new TV shows on the way!
Ralph Barbosa: While Barbosa may have originally dreamed of being a comedic actor in the vein of Will Ferrell, he recalled growing up in Dallas how he was sent to his first open mic night by his theater teacher in community college and then immediately fell in love with stand-up (so "obsessed" he didn't even finish the theater course). All that hard work lead him to landing his first late night set on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon & then nabbing his first Netflix special, Cowabunga, in 2023 (both of which happened in the same year). Be on the lookout for Barbosa soon to appear in more acting roles!
Jackie Fabulous: Fabulous has been hustling in the comedy game since realizing her law gig at Caltech wasn't doing it for her anymore at 35 & her ultimate calling was stand-up comedy. Her nights spent taking Carter's Comedy Workshop & gigging at the Hollywood Improv paid off when she got her coveted spot on America's Got Talent in 2019. Be on the lookout for Fabulous as she's performing her headlining "I'm Coming America" tour & her own sitcom!
Rachel Feinstein: Feinstein's latest special on Netflix, Big Guy, showcases her unique & hilarious perspective being married to her firefighter husband via her dialed in storytelling approach. Before stand-up was in the picture, she got her start appearing in films such as Trainwreck & I Feel Pretty as well as appearing on episodic television including Crashing & Inside Amy Schumer. Be on the lookout for more writing & acting from Feinstein, but don't expect her stand-up to slow down anytime soon!
Tina Friml: Friml's entry into a stand-up is a unique one. She originally attended college to study journalism and in crisis mode after school, she decided to sign up for a stand-up comedy class at the Vermont Comedy Club in Burlington. Then on she spent years working on her craft & since she discovered that her disability was a strength on stage, realizing it wouldn't make people so uncomfortable, it was off to the races opening for touring comics, playing Just For Laughs, and landing a coveted late night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Be on the look out for more stand-up & a special soon from Friml!
Troy Iwata: Iwata is one of the latest additions to The Daily Show News Team beginning earlier this year. But what most people may not know is he taped his first segment shortly before last year's writer's & actor's strikes, which later debuted in October of 2023. Before landing he correspondent gig, he became a trained singer & actor via his chop on Be More Chill on broadway & the Netflix series Dash & Lily. Be on the look out for more comedic acting from Iwata & more of his hilarious correspondent spots on The Daily Show!
Preacher Lawson: Lawson first broke out in the comedy scene from his success on America's Got Talent in 2017. Now year's later, he's got a hosting gig with "America's Got Talent Live" in Las Vegas, he put out his first comedy special, Get To Know Me, on BET & earlier this year premiered his newest special, My Name Is Preacher, on YouTube (where he boasts more than 640K subscribers as of writing). Be on the look out for more stand-up from Lawson & his further comedy rise!
Leslie Liao: Here's a story you hardly hear about working your way up in comedy: Liao went from working in human resources at Netflix to appearing on the streamer's Verified Stand-Up this past year. Originally wanting to be the "corporate superstar running Hollywood," it wasn't until she worked on a comedy production where she was so unimpressed by the performers that she decided to try performing comedy herself. Years later after putting in the work at writing classes & open mic nights living a so called double life working a day job at Netflix & pursuing stand-up, she left her job earlier this year when her bosses saw her doing stand-up...on Netflix. And of course, she's pursing it full time & crushing it. Be on the look out for more stand-up & hopefully a special soon!
Nathan MacIntosh: MacIntosh has been a working comic in the New York comedy scene for some years now. His road to stand-up wasn't an overnight success story though, as he detailed how it took him nearly 10 years to brave it out with his first open mic night. After working to earn a spot on the actual show versus the unofficial show at his local sandwich joint in Halifax, Nova Scotia, it was this memory that led him years later to his critically acclaimed specials "I Wasn't Talking" & "Down With Tech" (both on YouTube). Be on the lookout for more stand-up from MacIntosh, where we just might find his next hour at one of the streamers (deservedly so)!
Saul Trujillo: Trujillo first realized his comedic sensibilities when his classmates at culinary school told him his future was not in the kitchen. The comic first started his chops & discovering his comedy voice in 2010. He's most recently appeared on Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents & has an hour-long special in the can he's working to find a home for.
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