Being Funny Online Is Hard. These Creators Figured It Out
“We’re gonna be making content until the day we die!”
It’s an observation that seems extreme, but coming from TikTok comedians Sabrina Brier and Kyle Gordon, it’s a peek into the hilarious and often nonsensical world of making comedy online. As the creator economy expands, influencers and creators have infiltrated almost every market and career space — the stage included. But comedy is an industry where creators are sometimes seen as “other.” That’s why it’s helpful to have friends in the space. And Brier and Gordon are perfect examples.
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Brier is best known for her online comedy sketches playing increasingly annoying best friends, passive-aggressive roommates, or obnoxious New York City transplants. In the three years since she’s been an active creator online, she’s guest-starred on the hit ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary; released an audiobook based on her famous TikTok character, called That Friend; and is close to 1 million followers. For Gordon, a comedian specializing in characters of the musical variety — his TikTok moment came with the promotion of his 90’s Eurodance parody song “Planet of the Bass.” In the clips that went viral online, Gordon performed as DJ Crazy Times, a European DJ desperate to make a song of the summer with lyrics like “Life, it never die” / “Women are my favorite guy. Now with over 3 million followers, Gordon has also released a full album of musical parodies and is working on his second. But perhaps one of the creators’ happiest shared moments is when they met at a party and decided they just had to collaborate, first making a simple TikTok and then eventually having Brier join Gordon in a video promoting the release of “Planet of the Bass”. “That was serendipitous,” Gordon says. “The filming out in the world thing… It’s certainly done a number on my lack of shame,” Brier adds. “I think it’s total exposure therapy. I don’t think I can ever be embarrassed again.”
The two stopped by Rolling Stone to talk about how they first started collaborating together, how they balance their online projects with new offline opportunities, and why Gordon’s mom gave Brier a ring just a couple of hours earlier.
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