On June 3rd, acclaimed comedian Carmen Lynch (“Last Comic Standing”) sat down and chatted with this journalist prior to her headlining comedic set at Governor’s Comedy Club on Long Island.
She opened up about her success as a working comedian, and about being a comedian in the digital age.
On performing at Governor’s, she said, “This is very exciting, this is my first time headlining. I haven’t been here in so many years. I’ve been a feature act for many headliners but it’s so fun and so close to New York City.”
Appearances on national TV
Lynch has been taking the contemporary comedy scene by storm. She has appeared on a string of late-night TV shows including “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and “Conan.”
She has also appeared on “Inside Amy Schumer,” “That Damn Michael Che,” “Life & Beth,” and the documentary “Hysterical.” “These are all goals that you have as a comedian in your mental resume of late night sets,” she said about all of these television performances.
“Having so many of these moments is something that never gets old, and never goes away,” she said.
Lynch also tours doing stand-up in Spanish, has a podcast on SiriusXM called T”he Human CentiPOD” in English, and another podcast in Spanish titled “Podria Ser Peor.”
The digital age
On being a comedian in the digital age, Lynch said, “It’s definitely different from when I started. There is more work, it’s a different kind of work. Now, you have your own presence and you need to keep it up and keep doing it yourself. You never know who is going to see you. You can post your own standup and your own videos, and there is so much flexibility. The creative opportunities are endless. It’s pretty insane.”
Upcoming comedy specials
Lynch is taping her English comedy special on Monday, June 26 at the Comedy Cellar in Manhattan, and a Spanish special in Barcelona on July 15.
“We will have two shows at the Comedy Cellar and I am super excited. Even though I’ve done two albums, this is my first official time recording a special. It has nothing from my late night sets. It has a lot of dark and inappropriate material that I love doing,” she said.
“On July 15, I will be doing a special in Barcelona and it’s in the exact bar, the Jamboree, where my parents met years ago,” she revealed.
“I wanted to put out two specials at the same time, one in English and one in Spanish,” she added.
On the title of the current chapter of her life, Lynch said, “New Beginnings.”
Advice for young and aspiring comics
For young and aspiring comics, she said, “Keep getting up there, it takes a while to find your persona, to get your timing and the jokes right. Now, it’s about staying present on social media, and collaborating. Find people like you or people that inspire you, and people that help you stay positive because it can be a tough business and it can get pretty crazy.”
Success
On her definition of the word success, Lynch said, “Staying happy with what you are doing. Not doing it for the money or the fame. Doing it because it’s fulfilling creatively and you are constantly learning. COVID flattened us all out a little bit but I feel inspired again.”
“I am starting new projects and I am talking to other comedians that inspire me, and that has been very helpful,” she added.
Fans
For her comedy fans, Lynch concluded, “Keep coming. I am getting darker, weirder, new things are coming and I love writing new jokes so there is always a new hour that is coming out by the end of the year. I already have so much new material for the next comedy hour.”
To learn more about comedy sensation Carmen Lynch, check out her official website, and follow her on Instagram.
