Every comedian you love was once the name in small print at the bottom of the poster. These 10 are past the open-mic stage and moving fast: Netflix competition finalists, Kill Tony and Tonight Show alumni, Just For Laughs New Faces, and comics who have already put out their first hour. Most of them are on the road this fall.
Each entry has a quick intro, the credits worth knowing, and where to follow them. Catch them in a club now, while the tickets are still easy to get.
1. Steve Furey
Based in: Los Angeles
Steve Furey spent three years as the opening act on Bert Kreischer’s arena tour which means a lot of nights warming up arena crowds who bought tickets for someone else. Back home in Los Angeles he is a paid regular at The Comedy Store, the Hollywood Improv and the Comedy Mothership in Austin, and he was named a Just For Laughs New Face in 2025. He also runs a monthly show at The Comedy Store, “Steve Furey + Cronies.”
Follow Steve Furey: Instagram @scubastevefurey (138K followers) · Website: stevefurey.com
2. Cat Ce
Based in: Los Angeles
Cat Ce’s hour special, Perfect Chinglish, came out through Comedy Dynamics and streams on Apple TV, Amazon and YouTube. She has headlined Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas, The Ice House and The Comedy Store, and her short videos regularly reach millions of views on Instagram. Between sets she hosts the podcast Cat Jam in the Car.
Follow Cat Ce: Instagram @catceofficial (138K followers) · Website: officialcatce.com
3. Winston Hodges
Based in: Washington, D.C.
Winston Hodges made the final six on Kevin Hart’s Funny AF, Netflix’s stand-up competition, and he has the material to back it up: his self-produced special Grieving Productively is on YouTube. The D.C. comic has been featured by Don’t Tell Comedy, has opened for Fortune Feimster and hosts the Dog Name Podcast.
Follow Winston Hodges: Instagram @winstonhcomedy (105K followers) · Website: winstonhodges.com
4. Brittany Ross
Based in: Los Angeles
Brittany Ross works clean, and it travels: one of her stand-up clips has passed 13 million plays on Instagram. She has performed at the Netflix Is A Joke and Big Pine comedy festivals, is a regular at the Hollywood Improv and Don’t Tell Comedy, and has acting credits on Mythic Quest, The Middle and 2 Broke Girls. She also hosts the Full Out podcast.
Follow Brittany Ross: Instagram @iambrittanyross (128K followers) · Website: brittanyrosscomedy.com
5. Brendan Sagalow
Based in: New York City
Brendan Sagalow was a Just For Laughs New Face in 2022 and put out his hour, Thin Lips, on YouTube in 2024. The New York comic is a recurring guest on The Bonfire and KFC Radio, hosts his own show, Sagdaddy Da Pod, and posts club-set clips to more than 150,000 followers on Instagram.
Follow Brendan Sagalow: Instagram @brendansagalow (157K followers) · Website: brendansagalow.com
6. Kat Bird
Based in: Los Angeles
Kat Bird’s Don’t Tell Comedy special landed on YouTube in January 2026, and she has kept moving since, with fall dates in Denver (October 30 and 31) and Tacoma (November 1). She also hosts Kat Bird Pod.
Follow Kat Bird: Instagram @katbirdcomedy (68K followers) · Website: katbirdcomedy.com
7. Jack Jr
Based in: Glendale and North Hollywood
Jack Assadourian Jr. is Mexican and Armenian, and he named his special after it: Mexican Armenian. He was a finalist on NBC’s Stand Up showcase in 2019, appeared on Amazon’s Laugh After Dark and founded the NoHo Comedy Festival in his own backyard. His fall tour runs through New York, Boston, Chicago and San Jose.
Follow Jack Jr: Instagram @jackjrcomic (179K followers) · Website: jackjrcomic.com
8. Renée Percy
Based in: Los Angeles, from Toronto
Toronto-born and now based in Los Angeles, Renée Percy has a Canadian Comedy Award and a special, The Komic Sutra, on Amazon and Apple. She has played the Netflix Is A Joke festival and written sketches for Jimmy Kimmel Live! This summer three of her clips passed three million plays each on Instagram.
Follow Renée Percy: Instagram @reneepercycomedian (202K followers) · Website: reneepercy.com
9. Collie Tyrrell
Based in: New York City, from Ireland
Colum “Collie” Tyrrell started in Ireland and made his U.S. TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2023. He is a regular at the Comedy Cellar, released a half-hour through Gas Digital in 2024 and has guested on Legion of Skanks and Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast. His first hour is set to come out on YouTube.
Follow Collie Tyrrell: Instagram @columtyrrell (87K followers) · Website: columtyrrell.com
10. Brian Parise
Based in: New York City
Brian Parise has written for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, and his site lists an Emmy win from that writing work. On stage he was a Just For Laughs New Face, and his album Last Wishes on 800 Pound Gorilla Records debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes comedy chart. His heckler clip with a protective wife is a good place to start on Instagram.
Follow Brian Parise: Instagram @parisecomedy (12K followers) · Website: brianparise.com
Frequently asked questions
Who are the up-and-coming comedians to watch right now?
The LA Note’s list features Steve Furey, Cat Ce, Winston Hodges, Brittany Ross, Brendan Sagalow, Kat Bird, Jack Jr, Renée Percy, Collie Tyrrell and Brian Parise. All of them are past the open-mic stage, with credits that include Netflix competitions, Kill Tony, The Tonight Show and Just For Laughs New Faces.
Which comedians on this list are based in Los Angeles?
Steve Furey, Cat Ce, Brittany Ross, Kat Bird and Renée Percy are based in Los Angeles, and Jack Jr splits his time between Glendale and North Hollywood. Winston Hodges is in Washington, D.C., while Brendan Sagalow, Collie Tyrrell and Brian Parise are in New York City.
Which of these comedians were Just For Laughs New Faces?
Steve Furey was named a Just For Laughs New Face in 2025 and Brendan Sagalow in 2022. Brian Parise is also a Just For Laughs New Face.
How can a comedian be considered for the next list?
Comedians, managers and publicists can reach The LA Note through its submission page. Send a clip, your Instagram and your upcoming dates.
More comedy on The LA Note
Know a comic who should be on the next list?
Comedians, managers and publicists can reach us through our submission page. Send a clip, your Instagram and your upcoming dates.
Sarrah Sanchez is a home, arts, and crafts-minded creative who brings a maker’s eye to her writing. With several years in the online writing space, she covers entertainment and lifestyle for The LA Note, and she’s set on taking her craft as far as it will go.
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