“I loved the exuberance and joy that seemed to lurk around every corner, and I loved that audiences were basically down for anything as long as it was entertaining.”
WHO: Jay Light
WHAT: “50% game show, 50% comedy show, 100% f*cked up! A celebration of dark humor, cancellable offenses, and questionable decisions that takes everything you know about game shows and turns it on its head. Each show, three of the world’s funniest comics go head-to-head-to-head to see who can earn the most made-up points, win the most prizes that we’ve rescued from the trash and ultimately be crowned the World’s Wrongest Comedian! Play your cards right, and you might win a prize from the audience! Hosted by Jay Light (Comedy Central, HBO).”
WHERE: Just the Tonic at The Caves – Just the Fancy Room (Venue 88)
WHEN: 23:30 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is not my first time at Edinburgh – I previously came in 2019 with a solo standup show. But it was my experience then that made it seem so obvious to bring WRONG! to Fringe as we began developing it two years ago. I loved the exuberance and joy that seemed to lurk around every corner, and I loved that audiences were basically down for anything as long as it was entertaining. Plus it’s great to hang out with the world’s greatest artists and comics!
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2023 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
The biggest lesson: make sure the audience is on the same page as I am. WRONG! may be a show that deals in dark, dirty comedy that walks right up to what most people would consider “the line,” but we are not trying to be edgy for the sake of being edgy. This show is a celebration, so discovering ways to make sure the audience is in a celebratory mood out of the gate has been vital to the continued success of the show. Other lessons I’ve taken to heart: allow yourself to look stupid, don’t try to be too clever, be precise, don’t let “the show” get in the way of the show.
Tell us about your show.
WRONG! is a game show that laughs in the face of “cancel culture”, a panel show where the players are forced to wriggle out of uncomfortable situations, and, above all, a celebration of dark comedy and the context necessary for it to work. The show, which is different every single night, is written and produced by me and my incredible team (Tyler Meznarich, Daisygreen Stenhouse, Melanie Meisner). Tyler and I began work on the show in May 2022 in our home of Los Angeles; Melanie and Daisygreen joined the producing team in 2023. Our home in the USA is at the world-famous Comedy Store in LA, where you can see it monthly. We have also brought it to audiences in New York City, Chicago, Austin, and San Diego.
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
We have three great comedians on the show every single night, so you should definitely see all of their solo shows that they’ve brought to the festival! Some of my favorite comics who we already have slated to be contestants include the following:
– Sid Singh: a politically savvy American ex-pat who is one of the smartest, sharpest joke writers out there. His 2023 Fringe show didn’t win a Comedian’s Choice Award for nothing, and his new show American Coloniser promises to be just as vital.
– Titi Lee: Titi’s a badass with an effervescent performance style that draws you in and keeps you hooked. The stories they tell in Good Girl Gone Baddie are more than entertaining; they’re relatable to anyone who has struggled to find their true self.
– Mike Eshaq: Mike’s one of my favorite comics to run into in Los Angeles. He’s brash with a soft side, sweet but savage, and his energy on stage and off is simply infectious. His show Sleeping With The Yemeni will leave you in stitches.
– Kyle Ayers: Kyle was already a force to be reckoned with in the L.A. comedy scene for his adept wordplay and quick wit, but his new show Hard To Say, which documents his struggle with trigeminal neuralgia (a.k.a. suicide disease) is truly masterful work. A singular show from an exceptional writer and performer.
– Erika Ehler: I met Erika at my last Fringe in 2019 and fell in love with this Canadian’s dry demeanor and jokes that pulled no punches. Since then, the industry has begun to take notice, and I personally can’t wait to see a full hour from her this year.
– Katharyn Henson: Another 2019 Fringe pal, this ex-New Yorker turned a lifetime of dark, dirty stories into the hyper-compelling show Ew Girl You Nasty. She stayed on the international circuit, bouncing between the U.K. and Australia, and her legend has only grown since then. Go see her solo show, or either of the acclaimed compilation shows she runs!
– André de Freitas: I met André a few years ago when I did comedy in Lisbon while waiting to go to a wedding. His exuberant style, deeply layered jokes, and inspired self-deprecation from a Portuguese P.O.V. immediately won me over then, and from the looks of his social media, they’ve been winning over plenty of other audience members worldwide too. He’s truly one-of-a-kind, and is another comic who I can’t wait to watch for a full hour to see what he’s been working on lately.
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