David Jolly is a bold and authentic comedian known for his sharp wit and fearless approach to provocative topics. He shared his transformative journey from a struggling alcoholic to a dedicated comedian. With appearances on "Kill Tony" and a viral catchphrase, David's unique style has made a lasting impact. Touring widely and collaborating with talents like Cam Patterson, he exemplifies persistence and originality, using humor to tackle societal issues and inspire others. David shares valuable insights for anyone navigating the creative industry. Tune in as he discusses his experiences on the live podcast "Kill Tony," the importance of maintaining genuine relationships, and his role as a mentor to emerging comedians. Takeaways: Self-promotion and originality is important Build a brand Embrace diverse perspectives. Sound Bites: “Don't major in minors; take action rather than waiting for perfection.” “In today’s world, we’re all becoming brands, and cameras are everywhere.” Connect and Discover https://www.instagram.com/mrdjolly/?hl=en https://americasunclejolly.com/ 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mickunplugged/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIPaMel-Fb4zQmCSZDPHu4A LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickhunt/ Website: https://www.mickhuntofficial.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapter 1: What ignited David Jolly's journey into comedy?
But in the back of my mind, subliminally, I was like, I mean, subconsciously, I was like, All right, you know you can't drink. And then my everyday process is, okay, let me get a drink. So I would have to say, no, what are you doing? You know what I mean? Because subconsciously, that's just what I did.
Yeah, yeah. And what I'm hearing, David, is you saying you also realized you were becoming a brand, right? A lot of people think that a brand is a logo, right? No, no, no, no. In 2024, 2025, you are a brand. And everything around your brand, especially, again, your own national stages, right? Cameras everywhere. Everybody in the audience has a cell phone now.
Everybody on the sidewalk has a cell phone. People in the car beside you got a phone. That phone is 24-7 live media now. People, you got to realize you are a brand, and you have mastered that. David Jolly is a brand.
What I like about it is, especially being a part of the Kill Tony universe, is... I'm never worried about getting canceled. Most of my subject matter is, like, it's not counselable. It's just from a different point of view. Like, I got all kind of jokes. I got everything you name, but you can't be offended by it.
Like, I got a trans joke where, like, I tell, and if it's homosexual people, it's been a trans woman. She was, like, 6'8", 240 in Atlanta. I'm on stage, and I'm thinking to myself, like, if you think I'm not telling this trans joke, you out of your mind. And then she laughed at it hysterically and was like, man, that's a good joke.
So, I mean, I just want to be that person that, like, bring back real kindness. Let people say what they want to say. How come most of the people offended, not even the people who we talking about? I ain't seen not one Puerto Rican say nothing or question nothing when that situation happened with Tony. Not one. Not one person. I mean, I don't really want to make it a race issue.
You know, maybe it's just a cultural issue. But in that case, it's a race.
Yeah. Yeah, we care about everybody else and everybody else's feelings, right? Except we don't want to come home and talk about the real.
Like, Black people, we want to talk about everybody else like jokes or everybody else could get it. Let one white dude say you ate some fried chicken. Oh, you racist. No, that's prejudice. It's a big difference. It's a stereotype that we use to make jokes about other people, but we might be worse than Jewish people.
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Chapter 2: How did David Jolly overcome his struggles with alcohol?
And you're always gonna have extremes, right? You're always gonna have that extreme that, yeah, they do hate, insert whatever the race is. They do hate, insert whatever the gender or non-gender is. You have the extremists. But that's the minority, right? Like, that really is the minority.
That hate came from a not knowing. It came from the same thing. Like, I'm 43 years old. You got to do this. If I never did that, I would have been started this journey way earlier. But the thing is, if I would have started it earlier, I would have died. Because I'm pretty sure I would have got really, really famous and just did something. That would be my norm to be that way, you know?
To just be like, no understanding. Like, I'm 30 years old. I got a couple hundred million dollars, you know? I knew this process had to happen, but it happened when it needed to happen. Yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? Because, you know, our parents told us, go to school, get a good job. And I could never really work for nobody. Like, I'd be working with somebody, and it'll go on for a while.
And as soon as they get comfortable where they think they're going to say whatever they want to. Like, I've never had a boss in my life. You know what I mean? I've worked for companies. But anytime you even insinuate that you got some type of boss complex, I'm going to straighten you right there. First of all, I don't have a boss.
Second of all, I work for this company, and your title is this for this company, right? So you work for them too, right? Like, people hated me, man. It was just everything had to happen how it had to happen because I know I can't work for nobody. I wake up and push you out until you don't talk to me no more. I might be like, oh, I ain't sure.
I love it, man. So you got into the comedy game. And one of the questions I wanted to ask you specifically, right? Again, the genius of David Jolly. From telling a joke to actually writing a bit, right? Like what was that transformation like from just, again, we're at the cookout. Everybody can be funny and tell a joke.
But when you got to be on stage for 10, 15, 30 minutes, when you're David Jolly doing 45 in an hour, like you got to be able to write a little bit too and connect the dots. Like what was that journey and transformation like for you?
It wasn't ever hard because I got a buddy of mine named Carmen Rallon that gave me this book called The Comedy Bible. So I mean like premise, setup, punchline. I keep that in my mind, but a lot of the times I don't even write like that. That's just a basic formula to go off of. You know what I mean? Like a computer is like a, you know, like I need some type of formula.
Sometimes I can come with nothing. Like sometimes I might just say something funny and I just take it to the stage and I riff on it a little bit. And then I try to build a structure off of that. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I just write out a whole joke word for word and I cut out like 80% of it and that actually works, you know?
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Chapter 3: What does it mean to be a brand in today's comedy scene?
Well, Cam got pulled out of the bucket. He got pulled out of the bucket and then just everything just went crazy. So I went back to Orlando. And when I came back, because I was coming back to do spots at the mothership because I was like in a... Adam Eager was like, hey man, whenever you're in town, come and do spots. So I was flying back like once a month, sometimes twice a month.
The only reason why I was still in Orlando is because I had a lease. And my son hadn't graduated from high school yet. So, as soon as he graduated, I was gone, you know. So, like, what was the question again?
Kill Tony. Yeah. Getting to kill Tony.
It was great, man. Like, everybody in there is just good people. Like, just when we came and then it, like, I just got an opportunity. That's what I'm going to say. I ain't going to get too much in there, you know. But it was great. The opportunity that was presented to myself, I just did what I had to do.
Love it. They love it.
It's great, man. If there's any comics watching this, I tell you, come to Austin. Get away from your local scene because that same guy that's been doing that same thing for 25 years, he may want you to succeed. He may not want you to succeed. Some people just get to a point where they've been doing it so long, they're just angry.
And you got to get away from them people because they don't have no vision no more. They just ready to die. They just going by the pace of day by day or just day by day. If you know you can make it, get away from your hometown. And it's not knocking your hometown because the people in Orlando love me. I'm born and raised there. I lived in Tampa for a while, Tallahassee, but I'm a Florida boy.
The people in my city love me. But it's the people that's in your same profession that say that they love you, but then they really don't show it. I'm not mad at them. I never, it might sound crazy, but even when I first started, I was looking past Orlando. I never even felt like I was a local comic. I never felt like, I mean, I have no beef with nobody.
I'm cool with everybody, but I just didn't want to follow y'all rules. I was going to do it my way. Cause I- A unique one of one. Yeah. I had like a little traction going on, building followers, doing these stupid videos that were like, I know you fucking lying. And it'd be like a crazy motherfucker. Then it'd be me like talking about them. So those were going viral.
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Chapter 4: What makes a joke work in stand-up comedy?
Not the Dolphins.
I don't like any of those teams.
What are you going to say, the Cowboys?
I hate them too. So I'm going to tell you the team, but I'm going to tell you it's because of family first. So my uncle is in the hall of fame for the new England Patriots. So I was born a Patriot fan. I wasn't Brady. And then I started becoming a fan. Like it was when they were terrible. See, I was made back then. Yeah, I remember. The 80s. Yeah, that's when my uncle was there.
At one good year in the 80s, didn't they almost go to the Super Bowl?
They went to the Super Bowl in 85 and lost to the Bears. Walter Payton ran for 8 million yards and didn't score a touchdown that game.
You from South Carolina? Yes, sir. Oh, born and raised right there. Yes, sir. I think I might be. I'm waiting on Lee and Kira to hit me back, but I'll be at the Greenville Comedy Zone. Hopefully April 6th, I believe. Oh, I'll be there, and we'll sell it out. Like, I'll promote it. When we get off, send me your number. I don't have your number. I hit you up all the time. You a good dude, bro.
You feel me? Yes, sir. You got to have, like, strong black men who focus on the same thing, you know? Because it's a race issue, but it's always a race issue. And some of us can't change our minds to get away from stuff. like from what we just traditionally traditionally been given, you know? Yep.
It is what it is, but we'll break those curses. Yes, sir. All right. Last question for David or second to last question. Your top three favorite comedians of all time.
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Chapter 5: How does mentorship play a role in comedy?
Cam Patterson. David Jolly and Kim Miller. Love it. Love it. Oh, yeah. Love it. They're my first. They're my favorite three, yeah.
Yeah, and Cam is a beast. For those who don't know Cam, Cam is a beast.
Yeah, he talked about me a lot on the podcast. I like it. I just don't never want to... like getting away at his shine, you know, killing it right now. That's what, that's what I'm up here with now. Like either I'm doing my headlining dates, killers of kill Tony dates, or I just come with cam on the road. Like I don't have a weekend off until like January 23rd.
And I'm probably going to try to fill that calendar. Like I don't like sitting down. I'd rather be on the road.
Yeah. And for those listening and watching, David is coming to a city near you. Like I know I'm actually I'm going to Boston next weekend. And then you're in Boston two weekends after that. So I'm going to let everybody know in Boston, like when I'm up there next weekend to make sure that they go check you out. That's crazy. You're going to be there next weekend. Yeah.
Yes. Send me your number because we're going to be at Labs Boston anyway. We can't. Okay. So if you want some tickets or just come kick it, yeah.
Yeah, we'll make that happen all day.
I like it. Boston cool, man.
Yeah, I love Boston.
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