The Half Hour: Rory Scovel

Rory Scovel built a reputation on total unpredictability, often performing entire shows in fake accents or doing crowd work from the theater rafters. His 2012 Comedy Central set is a rare look at his actual writing. He uses a laid-back delivery to escalate absurd premises. The best of these involves the strange comfort he finds in the drawl of Southern airline pilots. He also details the quiet tension of browsing a sex shop and outlines a practical approach to stealing old people.

Taped at the Royale in Boston, this 21-minute performance served as the premiere episode for Comedy Central’s The Half Hour. It aired in May 2012. That same year, Variety named Scovel one of their 10 Comics to Watch. The set was widely praised by other stand-ups, leading to a quick succession of late-night television appearances.