Juston McKinney
Bewildered, wide-eyed dispatches on the frustrations of New England life.
1 special · 2018
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Juston McKinney performs with the persistent, wide-eyed exasperation of a guy standing in line at the hardware store who just needs to know why everything has to be so difficult. He uses a tight setup-punch rhythm, building tension through a bewildered, slightly bellowing delivery. When he talks about the cost of a long winter or his wife’s selective hearing, he isn’t whining so much as inviting the room to share his disbelief. He acts like a man constantly caught off guard by his own middle-class life.
Specials
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Unsportsmanlike Comedy with Rob Gronkowski with Rob Gronkowski, Finesse Mitchell & 3 more
An NFL star hosts a crew of veteran comedians.
Showtime · 67 min
On stage
He holds a specific position in the comedy ecosystem. After putting in the required years in New York clubs and logging late-night appearances and cable hours, he moved back north. Now, he routinely sells out mid-sized opera houses across New Hampshire and Maine. He built a touring footprint that sustains itself entirely outside the traditional industry hubs.
His material leans heavily on regional friction, cataloging the quirks of plow guys, the futility of owning a patio table, and the bizarre specifics of New Hampshire state law. He weaves these observations into broader domestic bits about aging and marriage. He still paces his hour like a club comic, stacking punches quickly even when he has the breathing room of a large theater. The targets are usually himself and the weather. He prefers to play the overwhelmed dad just trying to break even on his heating bill.
Before moving to New York in the late nineties, McKinney spent seven years as a rural county deputy sheriff in Maine. That past life occasionally surfaces on stage, usually in stories about how entirely unequipped he was to handle the rugged expectations of the badge.
Turning points
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From York County Deputy to Standup Comedian
While working in law enforcement with the York County Sheriff's Department, McKinney did his first open mic at Stitches in Boston, eventually quitting the force to pursue comedy full time.
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Comedy Central One-Hour Special Premiere
Comedy Central premiered his hour-long standup special 'Juston McKinney: A Middle-Class Hole,' filmed in front of a sold-out theater crowd in Spokane, Washington.
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YouTube Special On the Bright Side Sparks Touring Surge
The independent release of his YouTube comedy special 'On the Bright Side' sparked widespread momentum and sellout theater runs throughout New England.
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Network Development Deals and The Finest Pilot
After relocating to New York City, McKinney signed development deals with Warner Bros. and CBS, co-developing the cop-themed sitcom pilot The Finest with John DiResta.
At a glance
Fans also like
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Bob Marley
Both comedians focus heavily on authentic Northern New England sensibilities, drawing widely from regional life, local color, and blue-collar family stories.
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Lenny Clarke
A veteran Boston standup icon who shared the lineup with McKinney on the Showtime special Unsportsmanlike Comedy with Rob Gronkowski.
Also on screen
- Rocketship
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- The King of Queens
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- 100 Centre Street
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- Zookeeper
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- Here Comes the Boom
A clip to start with
New Hampshire: Live Free or Die!