Leslie Jones Says Comedy Needs Gatekeepers Again
Published on Jun 12, 2026, 2:00:00 AM
Total time: 00:53:10
Published on Jun 12, 2026, 2:00:00 AM
Total time: 00:53:10
EVENT ALERT! Join us LIVE on June 28 at Dynasty Typewriter in LA. Get tickets here.
Leslie Jones thinks comedy has a problem.
The comedian and former 'Saturday Night Live' cast member joins Sam to talk about how comedy has changed, why viral fame doesn’t equal success, and why too many young comics are skipping the hard part: Honing their craft.
She also reflects on her years at SNL, what she’s learned from nearly 40 years in comedy, and why she wants gatekeepers back.
Plus: menopause, comedy clubs, and the one thing every great comedian has in common.
Catch Leslie Jones on her 'I’m Hot Tour' and on her HGTV show 'Roast My Rental,' premiering July 24.
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The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.
The Sam Sanders Show from KCRW is your guide to entertainment. Find out what makes your favorite artists tick, dissect the trends that shape our culture, or just make sense of that random meme you can’t stop thinking about. Join us every week to unpack the pop culture we love.
Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week.
Sam Sanders is an award-winning podcast and radio host. He’s been named best podcast host by both The Ambies and the iHeart Podcast Awards. He was one of the founding hosts of The NPR Politics Podcast and the host who launched both It’s Been A Minute from NPR and Into It from Vulture.