5 Comedians Poised to Blow Up in 2021

As I’ve covered a few times now, stand-up comedy is coming back, and looks like it’ll be in a reliable state for touring comics to get back on the road come the start of the new year. With that being said, here are a few mid-tier comics that have set themselves up with a chance to take their careers to the next level upon that return.

1. Andrew Santino

The self proclaimed, “Whiskey Ginger” which is what his podcast is called, Santino was on the cusp of headlining the biggest arenas in the country before the touring world shut down in March. However, he didn’t let the shutdown slow him down. Santino benefited from some opportune timing, with Lil Dicky’s smash hit Hulu series, “Dave”, in which Santino guest stars as his manager, releasing more than half of it’s episodes right after nationwide quarantines began, making Santino far more visible over that period of time. He doesn't just benefit from exposure, however, the show allows him to shine with a sense of humor very similar to the style of his stand-up and podcast. He’s bitterly sarcastic, has a myriad of hilarious accents in his arsenal, and is an expert when it comes to timing. Don’t be surprised when Santino is headlining arenas in a few years.

2. Tim Dillion

On quite the opposite of the comedic spectrum from Santino, we have Tim Dillon. Dillon is loud, obnoxious, on the nose, and isn’t afraid to make a few people angry. Over the course of quarantine, Tim has had the good fortune of being the most frequent guest on the most popular podcast in the world, The Joe Rogan Experience. Since only his first post-lockdown appearance on the show, Dillon’s social media presence has exploded, and his audience has multiplied as a result. This, of course, leads to more hits on his youtube stand-up clips, which makes him a prime candidate to become a true post-pandemic headliner, and Tim has earned it. He’s got a style which is hard to copy, and clearly has some mainstream appeal.

3. Nikki Glaser

Glaser has seemed like she’s been on the cusp of headlining major tour status for a while now, and is definitely a successful comedian. However, she’s never really been quite as big as some of her contemporaries, like her good friend Whitney Cummings for example. The pandemic has led to a lot of collaboration in the comedic world, as comics have all started doing more podcasting than ever, I’m not sure anyone has taken advantage of that quite as much as Glaser. In addition to her own podcast, she started one with Whitney Cummings, and has appeared at least once on nearly every other headlining comic’s show since the pandemic hit. With all of her appearances showcasing her brash, hilarious sensibility that is almost entirely unique thanks to her trademark voice, she’s only increased her profile over the past year. Look for big things from Glaser in 2021.

4. Caleb Hearson

Heading away from stand-up comedy specifically, Caleb Hearson is poised to start stacking TV and sketch comedy offers when production scheudles get back to normal for TV studios. Through basically only creation of his own, Hearson’s Twitter account alone has garnered enough attention to ensure he’ll have some opportunities in the future. He’s a satirist with a keen ability to make fun of the worst people on the internet, whether it be pseudo-woke celebrities, radical conservatives, or social justice warriors, Hearson has a unique ability to make everybody look equally wrong in the funniest way one could in a quick twitter video. It’s this satirical gift which has a lot of people placing Hearson on short lists for SNL’s next new group, but we’ll wait and see on that one.

5. Jay Jurden

Last, but certainly not least, Jay Jurden is perhaps the act here that will make the biggest jump into full on stardom on this list. Jurden is an African American, gay comedian, who doesn't shy away from the challenges of either in his material. Right before COVID early this year, Jurden had a few late night appearances that went incredibly well, and has spent the pandemic spreading his clips and getting interviews whenever he can. With the hyper-aware times we’re living in socially, Jurden’s immense skill in timing and unique voice, and his ever-growing audience, Jurden seems a likely candidate to have a huge jolt in his career after things get back to normal. I’d also put Jurden on my short list for SNL in the future, but again, thats just speculation.