All Joking Aside offers Emerson students an inside look at the comedy business through candid conversations with some of the industry’s most accomplished professionals. The series was created with legendary comedy executive and Emerson alumnus Doug Herzog ’81, who brought his decades of experience to in-depth conversations with stand-up comedians, actors, writers, producers, directors, and other leading voices in comedy.
After helping establish All Joking Aside as a signature program of the Center for Comedic Arts, Herzog has passed the torch to fellow Emerson alumnus Dan Levy ’03, an award-winning writer, producer, and comedian, who now hosts the series and brings his own perspective and experience to conversations with today’s comedy professionals.
Produced by the Center for Comedic Arts and Emerson Los Angeles, All Joking Aside gives students the opportunity to hear firsthand about the creative process, careers, successes, setbacks, and realities of working in comedy, with opportunities for students to join the conversation through Q&A. Interviews become part of Emerson’s American Comedy Archives, preserving these conversations for future students, scholars, and comedy makers.
Past Guests
Cheri Oteri
Spring 2023: Bill Burr
Fall 2022: Ronny Chieng
Spring 2022: Tig Notaro
Fall 2021: Trevor Noah
Spring 2021: South Park and The Book of Mormon producers Matt Stone and Anne Garefino.
Watch that interview below.