Best of L.A. 2024: Insult Comedy

Roasting is all the rage for stand-ups right now and "people are eating it up," says Jeff Ross , known as the Roastmaster General for his celebrity ribbings, as seen on Netflix's The Roast of Tom Brady this past spring. The celebrity-filled special, filmed at the Forum in Inglewood, became the number one most-watched show on the streamer. “There’s definitely a trend in honest comedy.”

Taking a moment to meet your audience and give them a little ribbing, is a longstanding tradition in stand-up. Modern insult comedy dates at least as far back as Don Rickles . Some audience members want to be invisible, others love being called out by the performer.

Insults, roasts, and crowd work can turn spectators into players and in L.A., audiences are always interesting. At a recent show downtown, Patton Oswalt randomly selected a filmmaker, a sexpot actress, and a retired pot farmer during his crowd work, before shouting “I love showbiz!”

Here's where to see some of the best and most brutal comedy in town:

ROAST BATTLES AT THE COMEDY STORE

When Ross is in town, he likes to drop in as a surprise judge on “Roast Battles” on the Sunset Strip. “The roast battles every Tuesday are always packed” he says.

THE LAB AT THE HOLLYWOOD IMPROV

Crowd work turns spectators into players. Wallflowers shouldn’t sit in the front row for Mike Falzone and the Comic Wars shows. improv.com

STAND UP AND CLOWN AT THE ELYSIAN THEATER

Chad Damiani aka 'The Clown Boss,' says that when comics interact with the audience, “the power shift[s] back and forth.”

CHOCOLATE SUNDAES AT THE LAUGH FACTORY

Every Sunday evening for 25 years, this delicious club has been throwing a party that happens to also be a comedy show. Kevin Hart, Marlon Wayans, and Tracy Morgan are among the comedians known to drop in. Watch for B.T. Kingsley whose friends think he’s “the roastiest” of the bunch.

Want more BOLA? Here's Where to SHOP , EAT and PLAY !

------------------------------------------------------

Discover all of our 2024 Best of L.A. here .