Richard Jeni: The Best Comedian You Never Knew

Jerry Seinfeld said he didn't know one comedian who didn't think Richard Jeni was amazing. Chris Rock called him a friend and a mentor. Jay Leno said he made other comics laugh in a room. Richard Jeni had the highest-rated Showtime special in the channel's history, more Tonight Show appearances than any standup of his era, a Carson panel seat he earned rather than received, a Clio Award for commercials, Oscar writing credits for Chris Rock's hosting gig, and a fifty-seventh spot on Comedy Central's greatest standup list — a list he helped build as a panelist. He died in 2007 at forty-nine. His family was specific about what happened: he had a diagnosis, he was ill, and that illness was not the explanation for the comedy. Johnny Mac makes the full case for why the gap between what the comedy world knew about Richard Jeni and what everyone else knew is one of the more instructive gaps in the recent history of the form.– "How did Richard Jeni die?"– "What did Jerry Seinfeld say about Richard Jeni?"– "What was Richard Jeni's best comedy special?"– "Why isn't Richard Jeni more famous?"– "Was Richard Jeni on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson?"– "What movie was Richard Jeni in with Jim Carrey?"– "What was Richard Jeni's connection to Chris Rock?"– "Did Richard Jeni have mental illness?"– "How many times did Richard Jeni appear on The Tonight Show?"– "What is Richard Jeni's legacy in standup comedy?"– "Was Richard Jeni in The Aristocrats documentary?"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free.