My Opening Line

Emmy-nominated New York Times bestseller Laurie Kilmartin tells us when she first learned the shocking news that comedians don’t actually perform off the cuff onstage. With that knowledge at hand, and after seeing people floundering one after another, 22-year-old Laurie took the mic to show everyone how it’s done.

NPR host and award-winning storyteller Ophira Eisenberg joins us to talk about her very first time on stage. Was the $300 for the stand-up class a scam? The teacher said she had great stage presence, sooo...

With a little burlesque, some comedy, and a hint of opera, Matteo Lane finds his way to his opening line. Find out what Matteo’s first time doing stand-up was like in this episode.

When Adam first did stand-up, he chose to play a character of a tree doctor who healed trees while hating bushes. He was in a taco restaurant at an anything-goes open mic. Except this didn’t go. At all.

Jared’s first time doing stand-up was at an open-mic known for being super supportive of new performers. Unfortunately, his act was the least supported ever. Find out why in this episode.

Emma tells her never-before-heard story of the actual first time she performed stand-up. It involved making sure her guests got more drunk than they wanted to, an awkward pep talk, and hiding behind a kitchen counter.

In this intro-episode, Keith describes how he didn’t understand stand-up protocol and asked to perform for the first time at an already booked comedy show in Manhattan.