Sam Morril
A joke-writing traditionalist who delivers dark misdirection at an exhausted crawl.
8 specials · 2015–2026
Start with I Got This, the breakout (2020 · YouTube)
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Sam Morril stands perfectly still. He holds a drink, speaks in a thick, gravelly rasp, and barely alters his inflection whether he is complaining about a bad date or pitching a dark hypothetical. The structure is strict but the pace is a crawl. He works in pure setup and punchline, relying heavily on misdirection. He will lead a crowd down a familiar path about New York sports or a petty relationship grievance, then sharply detour into something grim. He waits patiently through the groans, letting the room squirm before delivering a secondary punchline that breaks the tension.
Specials
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Netflix
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Low-key, cynical joke construction from a New York club veteran.
Netflix · 44 min
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YouTube · 46 min
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Comedy Central · 60 min
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Deadpan club jokes and bleak relationship confessions recorded in Greenwich Village.
Comedy Central Records · Album · 50 min
On stage
He occupies a specific lane as a modern traditionalist, a comedian’s comedian who releases new hours constantly. By self-publishing specials on YouTube alongside theater tapings for streaming platforms, and by trading shop talk weekly on his podcast We Might Be Drunk with Mark Normand, he has become a central figure for fans who care about the mechanics of joke construction.
His material rarely strays from his immediate perspective. He talks about drinking, dating, and his family, mining ordinary frustrations to build jokes that lock together cleanly. Because he does not act out his bits or rely on physicality, the writing carries the entire load. When a premise is thin, the low-energy delivery makes the set feel like a dry recitation of a notebook. But when the writing connects, the contrast between his exhausted demeanor and the sharp misdirection pays off.
A lifelong Manhattan resident, his comedy carries the cynical, observational tone of a classic New York club comic, a rhythm built through years of late-night spots at the Comedy Cellar.
Turning points
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Viral Release of I Got This on YouTube
Morril released his full-length special for free on Comedy Central's YouTube channel, amassing over 1.5 million views in two weeks and surpassing 11 million views.
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Filming Up on the Roof During Pandemic
Faced with closed indoor venues during COVID-19 lockdowns, Morril performed stand-up sets across New York City rooftops, compiling them into a self-released YouTube special.
At a glance
- Born
- , Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City
- On stage
- since 2005
- Style
- observational, dark comedy, satire
- Breakout
- I Got This
- Influences
- Dave Attell
- Topics
- Elsewhere
- Website, Wikipedia
Fans also like
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Mark NormandMorril's longtime friend, podcast co-host, and NYC club peer who shares an uncompromising, rapid punchline-first joke writing style.
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Dave Attell
Attell is an acknowledged comedic idol and club stage peer whose gritty New York club sensibilities and sharp, dark joke mechanics closely align with Morril's craft.
Podcasts
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We Might Be Drunk · co-host
Weekly comedy talk show hosted alongside Mark Normand over drinks with fellow comedian guests.
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This Is Important to Me · co-host
Podcast created and hosted together during their relationship and quarantine.
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Games With Names · co-host
Sports-themed podcast hosted alongside former Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman.
Also on screen
- 2014–2015
- Inside Amy Schumer
- Joker
- Billions
- Full Capacity
- Life & Beth
A clip to start with
Sam Morril - The Alligator Story - Comedy Central Stand-Up