Jay Larson
Treats minor social misunderstandings like high-stakes espionage.
3 specials · 2011–2026
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He uses rhythm and physical commitment to pull a room entirely into his point of view. Larson will grip an invisible steering wheel and bark out fragments—“Traffic. Phone rings. 917. New York.”—to drop you right in the passenger seat. He strips out traditional setup, favoring momentum. When he acts out a conversation, he commits fully to the bluff, reacting in real time to voices only he can hear.
Specials
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YouTube
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Unsportsmanlike Comedy with Rob Gronkowski with Rob Gronkowski, Juston McKinney & 3 more
An NFL star hosts a crew of veteran comedians.
Showtime · 67 min
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Practical advice for handling ringing pay phones and confusing bullies.
Comedy Central
On stage
He found a massive audience when his routine about stringing along a wrong number went viral. That bit became a blueprint for turning a simple anecdote into a multi-character drama. He spent years honing this conversational style co-hosting The CrabFeast podcast with Ryan Sickler, and releases his hours directly to YouTube, including Sounds Like Bruce.
He takes something minor—an unknown caller, a weird neighbor—and treats it with absolute gravity. He builds tension by leaning into the silence between lines of dialogue, making the room wait for the other shoe to drop. The risk of this format is that if a premise doesn’t hook the crowd immediately, the long runway required to tell the story can drag. But when they buy in, he functions less like a comic delivering jokes and more like a guy holding a barroom captive until the final reveal.
His ability to inhabit a scene led to a handful of acting roles, including a stint in the third season of Twin Peaks, but standup remains the primary outlet for his tension-building.
Turning points
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2012–2016
Viral Hit with 'Wrong Number' Routine
Larson's storytelling set 'Wrong Number' went viral on Reddit following a late-night television spot and was subsequently showcased by Ira Glass on 'This American Life'.
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2015–2017
Transition into Film and Twin Peaks
A prominent role in Karyn Kusama's thriller 'The Invitation' brought Larson critical acclaim, which led David Lynch to cast him in the third season of 'Twin Peaks'.
At a glance
Fans also like
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Ryan Sickler
Larson and Sickler shared a long-running comedic partnership as co-hosts of The CrabFeast, united by an affinity for long-form personal storytelling.
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Sean Patton
Larson co-hosted Esquire Network's Best Bars in America with Patton, displaying shared comedic chemistry and club-circuit sensibilities.
Podcasts
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The CrabFeast · co-host
Weekly comedy storytelling podcast co-hosted by Jay Larson and Ryan Sickler highlighting comedic narratives and personal life experiences.
Also on screen
- Best Bars in America
- The Invitation
- Twin Peaks
- Corporate
- Wine Country
A clip to start with
Jay Larson | Wrong Number | Stand-Up Comedy