I Wrote About the LA Marathon for Defector

I was honored to write a piece for Defector, my favorite blog, about running the Los Angeles Marathon, my personal catharsis, and how former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt ruined it for everyone in the name of profit:

So why on Earth would the LA Marathon opt to dismember its own course, turning what could be a world-class civic event into a revolting slog through a hilly office park, when all they saved was a few extra bucks? I propose that it’s the same reason a baseball owner cuts payroll instead of investing in players who could bring his team a winning record, making it beloved in the minds of its fans, and lifting the spirits of an entire city. And it’s the same reason the politicians who control the LA Metro system voted to cut bus service, when expanding public transportation for the working class would be the single most cost-effective way to expand the city’s economy and achieve its climate goals. The billionaires and elected officials who run our vital institutions don’t care that investments, maintenance, and improvements would benefit everyone, themselves included. Instead, they’d rather cut costs and maximize short-term profit at our expense. Why would they do anything else? They’re making money, and that means they’re right.

Click here to read the whole piece.

The G Word is Streaming Now on Netflix

I couldn’t be more thrilled that The G Word is finally streaming on Netflix. Our incredible team worked for three years to bring you this never-before-seen look behind the scenes of American government. I fly through a hurricane with the Air Force’s Hurricane Hunters, pull back the curtain on where our meat comes from, and meet some truly inspiring citizens who are changing their city government for the better. I can’t wait for you to see it. Click here to watch now!

The G Word Trailer is Here!

I’m so excited to finally share the trailer for my new docu-comedy series, The G Word. We spent 3 years researching, writing, and filming around the US to pull back the curtain on our government. All 6 episodes drop worldwide on Netflix on May 19th! I can’t wait for you to see it. Click here to set a reminder on your Netflix account.

I Spoke Before the FTC and DOJ About Harmful Media Mergers

This week I spoke before FTC Chair Lina Khan and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter about how corporate mergers are devastating working conditions, access to diverse voices, and artistic freedom in media. This is my full statement. It’s not every day that you’re invited to present a case like this to the exact government officials who are empowered to do something about it. It was, honestly, the highlight of my career so far. My deepest thanks to Chair Khan, AAG Kanter, and the Writers Guild of America West for the opportunity.

I Have Launched a Patreon

For years, I’ve made a living by having giant companies pay me to do comedy. First, I was paid by internet companies, until the market for internet comedy collapsed (killed by Facebook.) Then, I made comedy for basic cable, until basic cable collapsed (killed by Netflix.) Now, I’m making comedy for Netflix. (Look for The G Word, premiering later this year!) Netflix hasn’t been killed yet, but I’ve seen enough business models rise and fall over the years that I don’t trust any of them. Giant corporations don’t care about comedy, they have short attention spans, and they have a worrisome tendency to get gobbled up and stop existing without any warning.

Instead, I want to go back to basics, and make comedy directly for the people who care about it. No executives, no advertisers, no algorithm — just a comedian and a crowd, together. That’s what I’m trying to create on my new Patreon page.

If you support my work on Patreon, you’ll receive the following EXCLUSIVE “CONTENT”:

• Bonus podcast episodes, in which I talk with comedians, scholars, and anyone and everyone who I find interesting.
• A book club, where we’ll read a fascinating recent work of non-fiction, then discuss it together live. (If we’re lucky, maybe the author will even show up!)
• My private blog, where I’ll be documenting my process as I write a new hour of standup
• Standup clips that won’t be posted anywhere else

But more importantly, you’ll be joining a community of people who love to laugh, learn, and hang out. If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, please click here to join us and support what I do. As always, thank you: I promise to make it worth your while.

Introducing The G Word (and some Adam Ruins Everything news)

I’m very happy to finally be able to share this news: I’m creating a new comedy series for Netflix about the federal government. It’s called The G Word, and we’re producing it in collaboration with Higher Ground. We’ve been hard at work on the show for quite awhile, but there’s no release date yet; that being said, I’m incredibly excited for it and I can’t wait to share it with you.

As many have speculated, this does in fact mean that Adam Ruins Everything is over, and that our last season finale was also our series finale. I’m so proud of what we accomplished on ARE, but it was time to take on a new challenge and prove we could tell even bigger stories. I want to thank truTV for taking a chance on me, but more importantly, I want to thank our amazing team. Adam Ruins Everything is the show it is because hundreds of writers, researchers, directors, art directors, propmasters, editors, DPs, PAs, and more put their creative all into it. It was the privilege of my life to be carried atop their shoulders.

And one final bit of news: For those who have been asking when all of Adam Ruins Everything will finally be available on streaming, the answer is right now! As of today, all 65 episodes of ARE are streaming on HBO Max. This includes the mid-season “Re-Animated History” mini-series, and the epide I’m most proud of, our season finale. Feel free to binge the cold winter away in the light of unwanted knowledge!

Thank you to everyone who supported Adam Ruins Everything over the years; I’m so excited to take these next steps with you.

I’m on TikTok

That is all.

Invisible People Documentary on SELAH’s Work

I’ve been an enormous fan of Mark Horvath’s Invisible People for many years; his simple, minimalist interviews with people experiencing homelessness are incredibly empathy generators, putting a human face on the issue and helping the average person connect with people who are so often invisible to us.

That’s why I was incredibly honored to speak about SELAH in Mark’s new YouTube documentary about our work helping our unhoused neighbors:

In SELAH, we do community engagement, checking in on our unhoused neighbors, dropping off food and water, and helping them with other daily needs such as getting ID or registering for housing. When I first started volunteering with SELAH, I was a little intimidated by the idea, but after a year of going out every week, getting to know the folks living outdoors in my neighborhood, and helping them not just survive but make their way into housing, it’s something I can’t imagine not doing.

If you live in LA and want to get involved, visit SELAH’s website to check out our volunteer opportunities, or donate money or resources.

Don’t live in LA? Try doing an engagement in your own community – even just handing out water bottles to your unhoused neighbors and asking “How are you today?” can make a huge difference. The wall that stops us from helping each other is an illusion – your actions can bring it down.

My DIY FYC Campaign

The network didn’t pay to run a “For Your Consideration” Emmy campaign this year, so I did it myself:

I was interviewed in Vulture about the project, in which I explain why I felt I had to do it:

We did a whole segment about how the awards system is bullshit. It’s not based on talent or how good the work is, and I know that, but that doesn’t mean I get to not care about it. Because if any of my crew received a nomination, it would change our careers. My cinematographer — Matt Garrett, who’s incredible — we submitted for Best Cinematography in a Nonfiction Show. I think it’s some of the best cinematography in a nonfiction hosted show. Our costume team, they do elaborate period costumes that we put onscreen for like two minutes to make a silly point about Queen Victoria or whatever, and they do that on a day when they’re dressing 20 other people. Our hair team’s doing period hair. Our makeup team does prosthetics. We try to make it really beautiful for our fans. All those people on our staff, if any one of those people could say “Emmy-nominated” before their name the next time they’re applying for a job, that means a lot to them, to their careers, to how much money they make, and their longevity in the industry. So for both myself and for them, we gotta try! But we have to try in the context of this completely fucked-up system where we have almost no power.

If you’re an Emmy voter, please consider Adam Ruins Everything.

Humans Who Make Games is Back for Season 2!

Ask and you shall receive — season two of my game developer interview podcast Humans Who Make Games is out now! This season features game creators like Kim Swift (Portal), Anna Megill (Control), Alx Preston (Hyper Light Drifter), and Alex Beachum (Outer Wilds). Whether you love video games or just love hearing creative people talk about their art and process, I think you’re going to love this season.

First up, we have a live episode recorded at the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. My guests for this episode were the incredibly funny comic and gamer Ron Funches, and Assassin’s Creed Creative Director Jean Guesdon. This conversation was incredibly fun – hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed having it.

Take a listen – new episodes out weekly!

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