Maybe it’s the unfunny state of the world or the emergence of global star-making platforms like Netflix, but audiences are devouring comedy these days. Attendance at comedy clubs in the U.S. is up 20 percent since a decade ago, and top touring acts can pull in up to eight figures. In its first comedy power list, The Hollywood Reporter singles out the people who are charting not just the creative culture of comedy but its booming business.
Profiles written by Seth Abramovitch, Marisa Guthrie, Natalie Jarvey, Andy Lewis, Michael O'Connell, Patrick Shanley, Rebecca Sun and Bryn Elise Sandberg.