Category: Worldwide

---

Just because something is popular, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good. But it also doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad. In their rush to celebrate the new and the underrated, people sometimes forget the latter aspect. That’s why today we’re taking a look at some of the best-selling American whiskeys. These are the brands that even non-whiskey fans know. The barroom mainstays and liquor cabinet staples.

The expressions we’ll be drinking today include one well-known Tennessee whiskey and five Kentucky bourbons. And though I’ve had all of these drams more than enough times to last me, I sipped them all again for this occasion. While drinking, I detailed took notes — ranking the whiskeys based on flavor, mixability, and overall value.

You won’t be shocked to know that Jack Daniel’s, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, Bulleit, Maker’s Mark, and Evan Williams are the brands we’re tasting. But you might be shocked to see how I ranked them.

(I’ve put them from worst to best to add to the suspense!)

6.) Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon

ABV: 40.5%

Price: $23.99

Distillery: Wild Turkey

The Story:

You might know this bourbon by its former name “Wild Turkey 81.” It’s a classic turkey-adorned bottle that has a permanent spot on many bars and inside many liquor cabinets across America. Aged in charred American white oak casks using the company’s proprietary No.4 “alligator” char, this rich, easy sipping whiskey is one of the best-selling brands for a reason.

Like Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s, this brand has its rapid fanbase devoted to its whiskeys. Plenty of young people grow up knowing that grandpa or grandma insists on Wild Turkey at all gatherings.

Tasting Notes:

The first aromas you’ll be met with are those of Christmas spices, charred oak, and creamy vanilla. The first sip yields spiced apples, brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla beans. The finish is long, warm, and ends with hints of leather and cinnamon spice.

Bottom Line:

Sometimes Wild Turkey doesn’t get the respect it deserves. While it’s not on the level of Elijah Craig or Four Roses, this is a highly sippable bottle. It also shines in a hot toddy or whiskey sour.

5.) Jim Beam White Label Bourbon

ABV: 40%

Price: $18.99

Distillery: Jim Beam

The Story:

Like Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam White Label is an iconic bottle. This high corn bourbon just celebrated its 225th birthday. It’s Jim Beam’s flagship bottle — aged for four years in charred American oak barrels.

It’s cheap, highly mixable, and always there — available at every liquor store from Tacoma to Tampa. Seriously… it’s the top-selling bourbon in the world.

Tasting Notes:

Begin your tasting experience by giving this whiskey a good nosing. You’ll be met with hints of sweet corn, dried orange peel, and subtle vanilla. The first sip is filled with charred oak, sweet honey, toasted caramel, and brown sugar. The finish is long, warming, sweet, and ends with a final kick of cinnamon spice.

Bottom Line:

You can sip any whiskey, but you’ll be happier using this one as a mixer. You don’t have to mask all the flavors with myriad ingredients, though. It works well in a simple old fashioned or mixed with ginger ale.

4.) Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey

ABV: 40%

Price: $37.99

Distillery: Jack Daniel’s

The Story:

Even if you know nothing about whiskey, you’ve heard of Jack Daniel’s. The sour mash Tennessee whiskey is the best-selling American made whiskey in the world. Referred to as “Old No. 7”, this whiskey is well known for being filtered through sugar maple charcoal before being matured in charred American oak barrels.

Tasting Notes:

If you’re the type of person who usually uses Jack Daniel’s as a mixer, you might not take the time to nose it first. If you do, you’ll get acquainted with subtle smoke, cinnamon, and rich vanilla. The first sip brings hints of almonds, toasted oak, and sweet caramel. The finish is long, warming, and filled with more charred oak and cinnamon.

Bottom Line:

Sure, you can sip Jack Daniel’s. If you’re on a budget, you might be more than happy with a glass of Jack on the rocks. But truth be told, this whiskey is best suited for mixing into your favorite drinks.

(Also, Jack and Coke is a top 10 underrated cocktail.)

3.) Bulleit Bourbon

ABV: 45%

Price: $15.99

Distillery: Four Roses

The Story:

This award-winning bourbon was made to pay homage to a whiskey originally produced by Augustus Bulleit more than 150 years ago. This high rye (28%) bourbon is known for its mix of spicy and sweet — appealing to both bourbon and rye whiskey fans. It also makes it a great whiskey for cocktail fans.

Tasting Notes:

From the first nose, you’re met with the subtle peppery spice of the rye. This is followed by hints of toasted oak and sweet vanilla. The first sip brings up flavors of Christmas spices, maple syrup, rich caramel, and cinnamon. The finish is long, creamy, warming, and filled with more spicy white pepper.

Bottom Line:

There’s a reason this whiskey is such a big seller. It’s bold, smooth, and easily drinkable. It deserves to be enjoyed over a few ice cubes in a rocks glass on a cool evening.

2.) Maker’s Mark Bourbon

ABV: 45%

Price: $27

Distillery: Maker’s Mark

The Story:

If Jack Daniel’s is the most well-known American whiskey, Maker’s Mark is the most well-known bourbon. The bottle itself, with its red wax-covered top, is iconic all on its own. The bourbon inside is made with corn, red winter wheat, and barley. The mash bill doesn’t contain any rye, making it extra mellow and drinkable.

Little known fact: To pay homage to its Scottish heritage, the brand omits the ‘e’ in whiskey, calling theirs “Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky”.

Tasting Notes:

Before taking your first sip, you should always give this bourbon a proper nosing. The first scent you’re met with his of the charred barrel itself. This is followed by sweet cream and rich, toasted vanilla. The first is very light with hints of wood, subtle cinnamon spice, and caramelized sugar. The finish is short, very warming, and ends with a nice kick of spicy heat.

Bottom Line:

This whisky is lighter than you’d expect from such a well-known brand and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s smooth, very mellow, and perfect for sipping in a rocks glass over a few ice cubes or mixed into a mint julep or old fashioned.

1.) Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon

ABV: 43%

Price: $16.99

Distillery: Heaven Hill

The Story:

Whiskey drinkers know all about the value of a bottle of Evan Williams. It doesn’t have the name recognition of a Jack Daniel’s or Jim Beam, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better bargain than the classic Evan Williams bourbon. Distilled by Heaven Hill, this bourbon is aged for a minimum of four years in charred American oak barrels. It’s the kind of bottle everyone should have on their liquor cabinet shelves for sipping and mixing.

Tasting Notes:

From the first nose, you’ll be met with a subtle herbal aroma mixed with sweet cream, cinnamon, and butterscotch. The first sip brings up charred oak, salted caramel, and cooking spices. The finish is long, very warming, and ends with a great deal of vanilla and subtle spice.

Bottom Line:

While you can enjoy Evan Williams Black on the rocks quite easily, this whiskey really shines best when used as the base for a Manhattan, old fashioned, or literally any whiskey-based cocktail you enjoy.

Election day is mere weeks away, and right now incumbent Donald Trump is trailing in the polls. Granted, he was trailing this time four years back, and we all know how that turned out. But the numbers appear to be getting to him, as he’s become more erratic and desperate than ever before. A new pro-Trump ad tries to argue that the president’s administration has done a stellar job at fighting the novel coronavirus. It even featured what seemed like a rave from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the most popular and most trusted member of his task force. But on Sunday, Dr. Fauci himself said those words were taken out of context.

On Monday, Trump’s opponent pounced. The Joe Biden team released a clever campaign video, which not only pelted the president for this action, but did so by responding in kind. The ad splices together a couple dozen public Trump appearances, making him look like he’s doing something he’d never do: admitting fault.

And so, through the magic of obviously misleading editing, Trump is made to say the following words: “I am failing at managing the coronavirus outbreak, so I used Dr. Fauci in an ad to say I’m doing a good job. But it’s fake. He never said that.” The Trump of Biden’s ad then goes one further, making him do another thing he’s never done: apologize. “Sorry to Dr. Fauci, and sorry to everyone else.”

The Trump ad tries to paint a heroic portrait of the last nine months, glossing over things like the alarming body count, the supplies that were shorted to certain (usually blue) states, and the misleading messaging from Trump highers-up about masks and other safety precautions. It also includes an undated video clip of Dr. Fauci saying, “I can’t imagine that anybody could be doing more.”

Dr. Fauci, who has kept any critiques of his famously tetchy boss to a minimum, pushed back on this one, telling CNN, that the words were “taken out of context from a broad statement I made months ago about the efforts of federal public health officials,” and that they were “attributed to me without my permission.” He added, “In my nearly five decades of public service, I have never publicly endorsed any political candidate.”

The Biden team has mostly took the high road during its campaign, leaving the more cutting and sardonic commentary to the likes of the Never Trump Republican-led folks at the Lincoln Project. But this one — forceful and funny in equal measure — is a step in a new direction.

LeBron James has surely fielded a number of calls and texts of congratulations over the past 18 or so hours as he picked up his fourth NBA title and fourth Finals MVP award of his career on Sunday night.

Unlike most years, where James could have all of his family and friends nearby during the Finals, he just had his teammates and wife, Savannah, with him in Orlando to celebrate. As such he had an emotional video call with his mother, Gloria, from the floor of the Lakers locker room and L.A.’s team celebration was joyous, even if a bit muted and much smaller than it typically would be.

Among those to reach out offering praise for his play in the Finals, in which he was once again an utterly dominant force and averaged nearly a triple-double over the six-game series, was former president Barack Obama. James made three trips to the Obama White House for NBA title celebrations and the two became fairly close, with Obama even offering James and other players some counsel during their brief work stoppage earlier in the Bubble amid continued calls for social and racial justice. Obama sent out a tweet on Monday afternoon congratulating his friend on another title, but also wanted to highlight how he’s become an “extraordinary leader” on and off the court for the Lakers, the entire NBA, and all those that look up to him.

LeBron exists in a stratosphere of fame that few have ever been in or understood, but it still has to be fairly cool to be able to call the former president a friend and have him send out messages such as this after you win a title.

Angel Olsen has had a wildly prolific year. After debuting her towering record All Mirrors last October, the singer shared a handful of one-off covers. This August, she released the more stripped-down Whole New Mess. But dropping two records in less than a year hasn’t stopped her from continuing to write even more music.

With just a piano and her haunting lilt, Olsen delivers a soaring version of the new single “Time Bandit.” Her lyrics offer a hopeful message: “And laugh at it all when you’ve just had enough / And dance when you’re crying, get that spirit up.”

In a statement about the track, Olsen revealed the track was very new, but she couldn’t help but share it as soon as possible. “I wrote this after I came home from St. Louis a few weeks ago…against better judgement I’ve decided to put new songs up, it’s a business but it’s my business,” Olsen wrote.

Before sharing “Time Bandit,” Olsen drew from her early catalog for a performance on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series. Performing from her tree-lined porch, she sang a medley of tracks from Whole New Mess as well as her song “Iota,” from the 2014 record Burn Your Fire For No Witness.

Listen to Olsen’s “Time Bandit” above and read our review of her Whole New Mess album here.

Legendary singer-songwriter John Prine passed away in April after contracting COVID-19. Ever since, the music world has been mourning his passing and remembering his indelible contributions. After his death, Prine stars like Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, Sturgill Simpson, Kurt Vile, Jason Isbell and more celebrated him with a heartfelt tribute concert. Since then Isbell has kept paying homage to Prine in a variety of ways. The most recent came this weekend, when she and Amanda Shires held a socially-distant concert, during which they found a way to honor him on what would have been his 74th birthday.

Isbell and Shires were wrapping up a four-night stint at The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee. The group’s Saturday show happened to fall on Prine’s birthday, so they honored him with a rendition of “Storm Windows,” the title track off Prine’s 1980 record.

This wasn’t the first time Isbell and Shires have performed the cover together. In fact, at their Grand Ole Opry show back in 2017, the duo wound up playing the track with Prine himself.

Watch a clip of Isbell and Shires performing Prine’s “Storm Windows” above.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The world right now is starving for nice stories. There’s a lot of very serious business afoot, from the election to the pandemic to the long-needed social justice reform proposed by the Black Lives Matter movement. And though sometimes these serious stories sometimes take bizarre and absurd turns, a brain can only take so much important stuff before it needs a break. And on Sunday, we got one, thanks to Jon Cryer.

On yet another crazy Sunday, the Two and a Half Men and John Hughes movie alum cut through the din of Twitter to share a sweet story. It began with heartbreak: He lost his wedding ring.

The actor is currently on a shoot in Vancouver, and one night recently he was walking along the coastal city’s sea wall, looking to meet up with some fellow cast members. But when he pulled his hand out of his pocket, he heard a “ping.” He quickly realized something was wrong: “My wedding ring was gone…”

Cryer went on to describe his fruitless search, in the dark, in an underlit part of the city, right by a sea wall, over which the ring could very well have plunged. He got emotional. “My wife and I have been married for since 2007 and it’s hard to be away form [sic] each other,” he wrote. “With quarantine in effect I can’t travel back and forth to see her while I’m shooting. Which sucks spectacularly.

“Losing my ring is making the pain more acute,” he added.

Eventually, he gave up, drenched and despondent but hopeful to find it first thing in the morning. The next day he tried again, and though he spotted something glinting in the grass, it turned out to be a pair of glasses. He decided to post in the lost and found section of Craigslist, but that’s when he noticed a link to something called “The Ring Finders,” an actual network of people who specialize in doing just that.

Cryer went to their website, and the day after that, he met up with one of the Ring Finders named Chris, who, though he come armed with a metal detector, was “not optimistic.” Chris told him they’d do what he calls a “closure search,” one, as Cryer put it, “that will likely be fruitless, but will at least allow me to know that I’ve tried everything.” But lo and behold, Chris did find it, inside a wad of grass, close by where Cryer had previously found the glasses. Chris even filmed Cryer learning that the ring had been found. Cryer, in turn, took a picture of Chris.

Chris then informed him that The Ring Finders are a vast network, with people “all over,” people who “really love doing this for a living because it just makes people so happy.”

So there you have it: A nice story for trying times. But there’s one more thing: In the replies, Nick Kroll told Cryer, “I’ve already optioned this story for a limited series and hope you’re ok that I’m attached to play you.”

Ben Stiller butted in, telling Kroll, “I need to play this part. Cryer has beaten me out for too many roles. Or I could be Chris. I just want to be a part of the project.” To which Kroll responded, “Ben, you are the ring. You’ve always been the ring.”

Anyway, nice stories are nice, aren’t they? And You can read the whole epic tale starting here.

When the Lakers finished off a Finals victory over the Heat with an emphatic statement in Game 6 on Sunday night, the celebration was on, from Orlando to L.A. and even in Idaho, where TikTok star Nathan Apodaca aka 420doggface208 resides.

Apodaca, best known for his extremely chill videos of him singing all manner of pop hits while skateboarding, longboarding, or just dancing, recreated his most viral hit — longboarding while drinking cranberry juice straight out of the bottle and singing Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” — for the Lakers title win. He posted a video of him cruising on his longboard with a bottle of wine, decked out in a Kobe Bryant jersey while singing “We Are The Champions” by Queen, as he continues to produce the absolute best videos on the internet.

Viral fame has only brought out further good vibes from Apodaca, who has catapulted “Dreams” back to the top of streaming charts as others try to recreate his videos or just look to enjoy an objectively great song they likely just heard for the first time. Now he’s confirmed his Lakers fandom, proving Laker Nation truly spans the entire country, and while thousands packed the streets in L.A., Apodaca still looked like he had the best time of anyone enjoying a 17th Lakers championship.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of disruption to people’s work and family balance as well as their educational pursuits. These days, people are required to do just about everything simultaneously as they attempt to handle business while taking care of their children.

Marcella, mother to a 10-month-old girl, received an email from one of her instructors at Fresno City College in California, requiring all students to turn on their cameras and microphones during class time.

The request makes sense being that online classes make it easier for some students to take advantage by ignoring the instructor.

---

But the rule change made it difficult for Marcella who sometimes has to breastfeed her young child during class. Everyone who’s ever had a child knows that when a baby’s hungry it needs to be fed, regardless if it’s class time or not.

So Marcella asked the professor if she could turn her camera and microphone off if she needs to breastfeed during class. The instructor’s response was a shock.

“I am glad to hear that you can have your camera and microphone on, but please do not breastfeed your daughter during class time because it is not what you should be doing,” the instructor replied. “Just do that after class.”

The instructor rubbed salt in the wound when class began that day by telling his students about the email exchange.

“I got this really weird email from a student stating she needed to do inappropriate things during lecture time,” the instructor said according to Marcella. “You guys need to understand that you have priorities now and you need to put all those distractions aside or be creative when your child needs you and give your full attention in my class.”

Mares posted a photo of herself breastfeeding, while taking notes, on Facebook to prove that mothers can do more than one thing at a time.

via Marcella Mares / Facebook

“I didn’t want to post this picture because I just wanted it for me but I just wanted to show that I CAN focus in class WHILE breastfeeding my child,” she wrote on Facebook.

“It was one thing to send the email telling me what I can and can’t do in my house with my child. But it’s a whole other thing when he announced a “weird” email was received about ‘inappropriate’ things,” she continued. “I felt so unmotivated during class I was so hurt that an actual human said these things about me & my breastfed baby in public to other students. I was humiliated.”

However, Marcella wasn’t going to stand for the humiliation.

She reached out to the school’s Title IX coordinator and told her about the incident. The instructor responded with an apology.

“I am sorry for the inconvenience in regard to your intention of breastfeeding your baby,” the instructor said according to CNN.

“From now on, you have the right to breastfeed your baby at any given time during class, which includes doing group worksheet, listening to the lecture, and taking the quiz or exam. You may turn off your camera at any given time as needed,” he said in an email to Mares on September 26.

Fresno City College Public Information Officer Kathy Bonilla later confirmed that Marcella should be able to breastfed during class due to California law that “requires that schools accommodate students for conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth including lactation.”

Mares later dropped the class for reasons unrelated to the incident.

The Rays entered Monday afternoon with a 1-0 series lead over the Astros thanks to a 2-1 win on Sunday night to open the ALCS in San Diego, and it didn’t take long for Tampa Bay to jump out to an early lead in Game 2.

Manuel Margot put the Rays on the board with a three-run home run hit to straightaway center field in the first inning as they pounced on Houston with a 3-0 lead.

Somehow, that wasn’t the best play Margot would make in the first two innings of the game as the Astros would get runners to second and third with two outs in the second inning and George Springer at the plate. Springer would foul a pitch off to right field where Margot tracked it to the fence running along the foul line and made a sensational catch, flipping over the fence while holding onto the ball for the out to get the Rays out of a jam.

It is one of the finest defensive plays you’ll see all postseason, as it kept Springer from getting another crack at tying the game or, at least, driving a pair in with a base hit. The concentration to haul in that fly ball while also holding on as you flip over and onto the ground is incredible, and for now Margot is the early MVP for the Rays in this ALCS.

Indigenous People’s Day feels different this year. After a year of political and societal upheaval that has seen Columbus statues fall alongside longstanding racist branding and mascots, it’s starting to feel like marginalized people are finally being heard. At least to a larger degree than any other time in American history. As such, it feels like we’ve entered a new era — an era in which progress is possible.

To help us celebrate the strides that Indigenous folks have made toward some semblance of equality (there’s still a long way to go, mind you), we thought we’d shed some light on comedians we know and love from Indigenous communities around the Americas. Joey Clift — a Cowlitz comedian living and working in Los Angeles — put together a list of 25 Indigenous comedians you should know for Indigenous People’s Day this year. Clift has also partnered with Illuminative — a non-profit working to raise the visibility of Indigenous people worldwide — and Comedy Central to shine a bright light on the work these and other Indigenous comedians are doing on stage, in writers’ rooms, online, and in film and TV.

Once you’ve spent some time with this list below, check out the Comedy Central Instagram — where Clift is running things all day long. It’s a chance for you to expand your knowledge of young, Indigenous comedians while also learning about Indigenous communities, all paired with a laugh or two. Illuminative is also offering an Activist’s Guide for Supporting Indigenous Peoples’ Day Toolkit, so you can learn more about the Indigenous lands you live on, the people who still call this land home, and how to be an advocate without f*cking it up. It’s an incredibly useful and fact-packed guide to why Indigenous People’s Day is important and what you can do to support America’s most ignored, misunderstood, and at-risk communities.

Let’s get into the 25 comics Clift compiled (and wrote bios of) for your enjoyment. We’re also calling out Clift at the end because he’s a must-follow, too!

Jana Schmieding (Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux Tribe)

Bio:

Jana Schmieding spent years killing it in the NYC improv and sketch comedy scene before moving to LA in 2016, where she quickly impressed, snagging a staff writing job on the Peacock comedy series Rutherford Falls. Jana’s as funny on screen as she is on the page, so she even landed the lead role on the show!

Be sure to follow Jana on social media, and check out this Cosmopolitan article about a sketch comedy video in which she hilariously panhandled for a date on the NYC Subway!

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Lucas Brown Eyes (Oglala Lakota)

Bio:

Lucas Brown Eyes is a super funny Oglala Lakota television writer, who sold the first-ever Native American family comedy to Fox in 2017. He has written for shows on Netflix, Freeform, and Disney, but he has dominated on Twitter for years and is definitely someone to follow!

Here’s one of our favorite Lucas Brown Eyes twitter jokes.

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Brian Bahe (Tohono O’odham Nation/Hopi/Navajo)

Bio:

Brian Bahe is a hilarious standup comedian and writer, and his Twitter game is so strong that he was even written up by Vulture! Pre-COVID he co-hosted the Brooklyn-based standup shows “Star Fuckers: Astrology but Make It Comedy” at Union Hall and “Butt Dream” at The Rack Shack, which is New York’s only comedy show in a lingerie store. Post-COVID he’ll be headlining Caroline’s On Broadway, as part of their Breakout Artist Series.

Here’s one of his great stand-up comedy sets pre COVID.

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Adrianne Chalepah (Kiowa/Apache of Oklahoma)

Bio:

As one of the founders of the Ladies of Native Comedy, Adrianne Chalepah has been taking over stand-up comedy stages, from Hollywood to Indian Country, for years. She’s even opened for Michelle Obama and wrote the final chapter of the popular children’s anthology series “Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever!” Whether she’s acting, performing, or posting hilarious jokes on social media, she brings the laughs everywhere she goes.

Here’s her amazing stand-up comedy set from First Nations Comedy Experience!

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Azie Dungey (Pamunkey)

Bio:

As a writer for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” on Netflix, “Sweetbitter” on Starz, and “Twenties” on Showtime/BET, Azie Dungey has been killing it in television writers’ rooms for years! We strongly recommend checking out her hilarious Twitter and Instagram accounts, and if you want to see her acting/writing genius at work, you’ve got to see her super-viral and super funny web series “Ask A Slave” on Youtube. It’s two seasons deep, but we recommend just starting from the beginning and thanking us later!

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Tai Leclaire (Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk Nation)/Mi’kmaq)

Bio:

To watch Tai (short for Taietsarón:sere) perform live character-based sketch comedy is to see comedy personified. He’s currently working as a staff writer on the Peacock series “Rutherford Falls,” but when he’s not writing he’s bringing his sketch comedy and stand up chops everywhere, from Austin Sketch Fest to the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre’s “Character’s Welcome” teams in New York City.

We recommend checking out this Tai Leclaire live comedy piece about a Native shaman exorcising a basic white ghost. It’s SO good!

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Dash Turner (Yurok)

Bio:

Dash Turner was previously an editor of the all-POC satire publication Flexx, so it’s no surprise that he’s one of the sharpest comedians in the game right now. Whether he’s doing stand-up with Tai Leclaire and Brian Bahe as part of their New York City-based Native-centric stand up shows “Thanks But No Thanksgiving” and “No Settlers,” or laying down an insanely funny tweet, Dash is definitely a comedy guy to follow.

Here’s one of our favorite Dash Turner tweets about Native American sports mascots!

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Tiffany Midge (Standing Rock/Hunkpapa Lakota)

Bio:

If David Sedaris were a Hunkpapa Lakota woman, she would be Tiffany Midge. Fresh off the release of her hilarious book “Bury My Heart at Chuck E.Cheese’s,” which includes satire essays like “Fifty Shades of Buckskin,” Midge isn’t afraid to go there with her comedy. If you want to check out one of Indian Country’s best satirical minds, look no further.

Read her Pushcart Prize-winning McSweeney’s article “An Open Letter to White Women Concerning the Handmaid’s Tale and America’s Historical Amnesia” here.

Follow Here:

Twitter

Bobby “Dues” Wilson (Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota)

Bio:

As a member of the legendary all Native sketch comedy group The 1491s, Bobby “Dues” Wilson has been holding it down in Native comedy for nearly a decade. And much like fellow 1491s member Sterlin Harjo, he’s been taking Hollywood by storm too. You can find his writing on “Rutherford Falls” on Peacock, along with Sterlin Harjo’s “Reservation Dogs” on FX, and watch some of his world-class sketch comedy performances on The 1491s Youtube channel.

Check out one of our favorite Bobby “Dues” Wilson led 1491s sketches, “The Avatars” here.

Follow Here:

Instagram

Kelly Lynne D’Angelo (Tuscarora (Haudenosaunee))

Bio:

Kelly Lynne D’Angelo is every bit a renaissance person in the comedy space. From writing cartoons for Adult Swim’s “Final Space” and Cartoon Network’s “Mao Mao,” to working as a professional Dungeon Master, to co-writing the amazing full-length musical “Starry” about the life of Vincent Van Gogh (We know, right!?), Kelly is versatile, hilarious, and absolutely worth your follow.

Do yourself a favor and give the full “Starry” musical a listen on Spotify!

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Marc Yaffee (Navajo)

Bio:

Marc Yaffee’s been in the game for a long time, and he just keeps getting funnier! You might already know him from his appearance on the Showtime stand-up comedy special “Goin’ Native,” his hilarious stand up shows all around the world, or as part of the Pow Wow Comedy Jam Tour. If you don’t know him, start getting acquainted because he’s still one of the best in the stand-up game and he’s just getting started!

Check out his amazing Dry Bar Comedy special from 2019 here!

Follow Here:

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok

Kaitlyn Jeffers (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Dakota))

Bio:

Kaitlyn Jeffers is no stranger to Los Angeles stand-up comedy audiences. She slayed crowds at the first-ever showcase of Native American comedians at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles in 2018 and 2019, and she brings her punk rock comedy sensibilities to online satire publication “The Hard Times” as a writer. She’s an exciting young voice in the stand-up scene, and we strongly encourage you to give her a follow!

Here’s one of her many great Hard Times articles.

Follow Here:

Twitter

Monique Moreau (Cree/Saulteaux)

Bio:

A twelve-year veteran of stand-up comedy, Monique Moreau is a pro comedian and so funny to boot. She’s performed everywhere from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to San Francisco Sketchfest to shows all over Los Angeles. Her yearly show “Weighted Blanket,” featuring comedians and musicians on the autism spectrum, is pure comedic joy.

Check out Monique’s hilarious stand-up set from last year’s “Ghost Of Christopher Columbus Theater Smudging Spectacular” at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles.

Follow Here:

Twitter

Kyla Garcia (Taíno)

Bio:

A Native comedian firmly in the artist/activist space, Kyla Garcia has been killing it with experimental comedy pieces that’ll leave you laughing and screaming “preach!” When she’s not acting or protesting with the nonprofit The Valley of Change, she’s dropping amazing comedic spoken word pieces, like her great video “John Smith Was a F*ckboy”.

Be sure and follow her on the socials, and check the amazing “John Smith Was a F*ckboy.”

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Tim Fontaine (Anishinaabe (Sagkeeng First Nation))

Bio:

Along with Tiffany Midge, Tim Fontaine is one of the top voices in satire. His news parody site, which he founded, Walking Eagle News, is like The Onion for Indian Country. And with headlines like “Your uncle, cousins deliver stimulus package to area rez dogs”, he more than lives up to the hype! Besides his writing, Tim is also a super funny performer and storyteller, dominating the stage at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival and “The Beaverton TV Show!”

Rather than choose one Walking Eagle News article we recommend just making Walking Eagle News your homepage.

Follow Here:

Twitter

Tonia Jo Hall (Hidatsa, Lakota/Dakota)

Bio:

Tonia Jo Hall has only been in the game since 2014, but in six short years, she’s become Native American sketch comedy royalty. With her character “Auntie Beachress,” and her funny and motivational videos about her personal life and family, Tonia is a comedian that will be cracking audiences up for years to come!

For a steady drip of all things Tonia Jo Hall, definitely follow her on the socials. If you’d like a quick Tonia 101, check out this helpful primer put together by North Dakota’s KX News!

Follow Here:

Facebook, Instagram

Siena East (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)

Bio:

If her appearance on the Buzzfeed series “Bridesmaids Share Their Horror Stories” is any indication, Siena East is one of the funniest young storytellers in Los Angeles. She’s performed killer standup and storytelling everywhere from The Comedy Union to ACME Noho, and her Twitter game is legit hilarious.

To see her amazing storytelling in action, check out her “Bridesmaids Share Their Horror Stories!”

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Howie Echo-Hawk (Pawnee/Athabaskan)

Bio:

Howie Echo-Hawk is a hilarious stand-up comedian and writer who performs with the energy of a young Andy Kaufman or Maria Bamford. To watch them is to watch controlled comedic chaos distilled, and we are here for it. Besides live comedy, Howie is also one of the founding members of the Seattle based Native American performance collective Indigenize Productions. Howie is doing amazing work, and you should check them out.

Read Howie’s viral Medium article “As a Native American Comedian, I wasn’t mad at the SNL Thanksgiving Sketch, I was just disappointed” here!

Follow Here:

Instagram

Jackie Keliiaa (Yerington Paiute & Washoe)

Bio:

Jackie Keliiaa has been killing it in the Bay Area stand-up comedy scene for a minute, and folks are finally starting to take notice of just how funny she is! Jackie has opened for everyone from Nikki Glaser to Judah Friedlander, and her monthly stand up show “Amazonians” is a Bay Area comedy institution.

Check her out on Instagram for regular updates on her live shows, and be sure and watch her June 2020 stand up set from Nowhere Comedy Club!

Follow Here:

Instagram

Darrell Dennis (Secwepemc)

Bio:

You can’t talk about Native American/First Nations sketch comedy without mentioning Darrell Dennis. As an actor, he was the first-ever Native cast member in the history of any Second City companies. “The Guilt-Free Zone,” which is an APTN comedy series Darrell directed, head wrote, and acted in, was nominated for two Canadian Comedy Awards. He’s performed everywhere from the Just For Laughs Festival to the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and last year he won Just For Laughs’ “Stand up and Pitch” competition for his TV sitcom pilot “Big Game”!

In short, Darrell Dennis is a comedy powerhouse who should be on everyone’s radar. Check out his legendary performance at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Mylo Smith (Crow Creek Sioux)

Bio:

There’s a disarming, universal appeal to Mylo Smith’s comedy that needs to be seen to be believed, and he has the rare ability to pull laughter from everyone, from elementary school students to a jaded comedy audience. Mylo‘s been a staple of the Native comedy scene since the late 2000s. He’s still killing it over a decade later. If you want to smile, we recommend checking out his official Facebook page.

Check out Mylo’s hilarious Facebook video “Natives Always Watching The Same Movies.”

Follow Here:

Facebook

Robert Hall (Blackfeet)

Bio:

Robert Hall may have started his @DeadDogLake Twitter account just to fanboy over rez dogs, but he’s turned into one of the funniest Twitter accounts in all of #NativeTwitter. From his funny memes to his posts highlighting some of the cutest dogs on any reservation, his is definitely a Twitter account to follow.

Though it’s tough to narrow Robert’s comedic output down to just one tweet, this is one of our favorites.

Follow Here:

Twitter

Reg Charging (Lakȟóta/Dakȟóta)

Bio:

Reg Charging has only been slinging Rez comedy on Twitter for a few years, but in that time, he’s established himself as a powerful comedic voice on #NativeTwitter. His video shorts and sketches are so funny and so on point, and he carries himself with the confidence of someone who has been making people laugh for decades.

Check out his hilarious video short “Every News Story on Natives ever” to see what we’re talking about.

Follow Here:

Twitter, Facebook

Tiio Horn (Mohawk Nation of Kahnawake)

Bio:

Fans of the TV series “Letterkenny” are no strangers to Tiio Horn’s comedic acting chops, and anyone who follows her on social media knows that it’s not just her character that’s great with jokes! Her social media game is so funny, and she also hosts the great “Coffee With My Ma” podcast where she interviews her activist mom about her life.

Follow her on all the socials, check out all of her acting work, and definitely listen to “Coffee With My Ma” for a show that’s as heartwarming as it is hilarious.

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram

Jim Ruel (Bay Mills Ojibwe)

Bio:

Jim Ruel’s laid-back comedic stylings have cracked up audiences from Indian Country to Hollywood, and everywhere in between. Smart, and with the comedic delivery of the funniest uncle on the rez, he’s worth a follow, and someone you should absolutely see the next time he does a show in your town.

Check out his set at the Native American Comedy Slam.

Follow Here:

Twitter

Joey Clift (Cowlitz)

Bio:

Joey Clift was one of only a few Natives who made it onto a house team at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater in Los Angeles. He used his position there to boost up other Native comedians who deserve to be showcased. In 2018, Clift started producing and hosting the first-ever all Native American comedy showcase in UCB’s 20-year history. The show is called the “Ghost of Christopher Columbus Theater Smudging Spectacular” and it was on Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day because, of course.

The show was standing room only, so they did it again in 2019 along with an all-Native improv show the day before Thanksgiving which also sold out. Still, the best part of the show was that several great Native comedians got writing and acting jobs in part by performing in these shows. And that’s what really made the shows a “success” in Clift’s eyes.

Today, Clift is a cornerstone of the L.A. Native comedy scene with a joke-filled social presence, game-changing gues on podcasts, and a continued love of all things Garfield. – ZJ

Follow Here:

Twitter, Instagram