@lucaszelnick/Instagram
Gen Z or Gen Zelnick? The internet’s newest stand-up sweetheart, Lucas Zelnick, sold out D.C. Improv on Sept. 6th. The New York native’s crowd-work clips bantering with audience members have amassed over 40 million views and 160,000 social media followers. Zelnick is known for his edgy style: He’ll dip his toe over the line and then retract back, always keeping the audience on their toes and wondering if he will get himself in trouble — but he never seems to go overboard. He has mastered the art of saying what everyone’s thinking, hilariously pointing out our subconscious biases along the way. His straight-up style along with his honesty about his cushy upbringing has won over TikTok.
The Washington, D.C.-based comedian Jenny Questell hosted the show, opening with a short and hilarious set on her peculiar habit of dating gay men. Questell referred to herself as the “revolving door” that men walk through to come out of the closet.
Jamie Wolf, a stand-up often showcased in Zelnick’s videos, was, fittingly, the featured opener. One of Wolf’s best bits featured frankly luscious hair, as he shook his head violently to reenact his greatest fear: making conversation as you skydive with the instructor attached to you. Wolf does, however, admit that this is a first-world problem: Nobody looking for their next meal, he said, is worried about their next social interaction.
After the show, your enterprising reporter got a chance to ask Wolf about his stand-up career and, of course, Dave Chappelle.
“Chappelle discovered me at an open mic but I don’t even like Chappelle!” Wolf told The Hoya.
Of course, when your reporter probed him later about the most famous individuals he’s met, he replied, “Chappelle!” I couldn’t help but take it as a joke, but this time Wolf was earnest.
Lucas Zelnick followed Wolf’s set with one of his own — spotlighting his sister, a seemingly endless fountain of hilarious moments. For one class project, her response to “America is…?” was “horses.” “America is Horses” t-shirts now cover Zelnick’s merch table. Zelnick proudly told The Hoya that the funniest person he knows is “my sister.”
Throughout the show, Zelnick attempted to do crowd work with Joe, a psychologist in the audience. Zelnick only came to know Joe’s name after the audience confirmed Joe was lying when he introduced himself with a “Tibetan name.” Of course, I had to ask Zelnick whether he’d connect with Joe after the show — to which Zelnick joked, “He’s my enemy.”
While Joe may not hear from Zelnick, there was one lucky fan in the crowd who asked if Zelnick could tag him and give him tips for getting into comedy. Zelnick was more than happy to help, since at least this audience member gave his real name.
Although Zelnick is on the more successful side of stand-up, the gigs don’t always pay enough — commercials and social media marketing are where the money’s at. Zelnick was even sporting a Monster t-shirt and sipping on a Monster energy drink as he walked up to the stage for his 7:30 p.m. set. He told audiences about a comedian’s worst nightmare: being publicly heckled for all to see. For brand content, one company planted influencers at Zelnick’s show to act as hecklers without telling him.
During the show, Zelnick, who was raised Jewish but does not practice, discussed the interactions between his cultural background and his views on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, criticizing family members for their support of Israeli military action.
Although laughter can sometimes heal divided audiences, sometimes it can spur further conflict — yet Zelnick remained open about his opinion throughout.
How do you balance the paying audience’s desires with your own beliefs? Zelnick said he always aims to stay true to his beliefs even as he toes the line between humor and discomfort.
“It’s a combo of things, either when it’s something I don’t believe or if it loses the audience, then I will stop,” Zelnick said.
Where to next? Well, Zelnick is a fan of the theaters — the historic, ornate, gold-plated buildings that congregate in older East Coast metropolises. The next time we see him in the District, he’s hoping it’ll be at the historic Lincoln Theatre.