Premium Blend: David Alan Grier (S5E7)

David Alan Grier leans into his theatrical chops to anchor this 2001 installment of Premium Blend, acting as the charismatic bridge between four emerging club comedians. As the emcee, his job is less about laying out his own sprawling premises and more about keeping the room warm before handing over the stage. The episode operates as a sampler of early-2000s stand-up, dedicating short sets to Craig Baldo, Charlie Viracola, and Chris Regan. The back half features an early television appearance by Jim Norton, who was steadily building his reputation as an unapologetic fixture of the comedy circuit by squeezing a thoroughly cynical worldview into a brief late-night window.