Out of the bar basement and into the quarantine! Now that you’ve exhausted every corner of Netflix, and live streamed to the point that a new platform is all of a sudden a new hub for debauchery, it’s time for something fresh. Mondays on YouTube, the weekly streaming series VELVET VARIETY brings you a “refreshing blend of curated clips queer comedians have been creating in quarantine alongside performance footage collected from performers’ archives of festival submissions and personal tapes.” Innovation is the name of the game, and this series is bringing it en masse.
The series was created by hosts Drew Tessier (Drew and Peter Comedy, YAAAS! Fest) and Bobby Hankinson (Kweendom), alongside comedian Anton Damianos. The two first episodes feature clips from the Yaaas! Fest Queer Comedy Competition, held annually at Broadway Comedy Club, and highlights of up-and-coming comedians in an iconic setting. You will be treated to performances from comics like Jaye McBride (Comedy Central), Gus Constantellis (Caroline’s), Veronica Garza (MTV), PLUS drag performances by Nancy No Good, Sylvia (Robert Ima) and RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Shea Coulee. It’s time to break out of the doldrum mindset and discover new comedy horizons! Watch the first episodes above and below!
Mentions: A NEW episodes premieres Monday 4.13 at 7:30 p.m ft Eastern on YouTube featuringRita Brent (TruTV), Nikki Palumbo (YAAAS! Fest finalist), and an America’s Next Top Joe Exoitc pageant. Be sure to follow the artists’ social media handles displayed in the videos, as well as offer up any shiny currencies you can spare to their Venmo accounts. More info on Facebook.