Behind the Bastards Part One: Frank Fay, The Fascist Who invented Stand Up Comedy
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Aug 12, 2025 
Andrew Ti, a comedian and the creator of 'Yo, Is This Racist?', joins to unpack the life of Frank Fay, the alleged father of stand-up comedy. They delve into Fay's controversial connections to the KKK and the darker historical threads in comedy. Much of the discussion centers on how Fay's unique style revolutionized solo performances and observational humor. The conversation also explores the complexities of comedy's legacy and the troubling behaviors that accompanied Fay's rise in the 1920s, prompting reflections on the ethics of humor.
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Stand‑Up's Reactionary Roots
- The hosts suggest stand‑up's modern conservative or reactionary vibe may trace to its origins and influential early figures.
- Andrew Ti even asks whether the discipline itself could have been shaped by a fascist founder like Fay.
Invented Modern Stand‑Up
- Frank Fay created the single‑performer, observational monologue format that became modern stand‑up.
- He discarded props and straight men and performed alone in normal stage clothes, making solo comic speech a new profession.
Comedy As A Weapon
- Fay treated comedy as a weapon he could use to cut people down rather than only to amuse.
- He admired performers who could savage an opponent with wit and used that style to attack colleagues.
