Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh
Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh
"The beauty of it being an audition is you can't yell at the audience because now that's the girl conditioning you can't fuck up the whole show that's why I thought it's diabolically beautifully where it's like yo you cannot if you make it a regular set and he's there he'd be like oh fuck y'all something like dick because you audition you can't guys guys you drove about a new y'all guys yeah" — Akash
"The entire audience was on board it's like they knew it was supposed to happen we had a GoPro we have cameras I have this I have not released it I'm dying because we're going to release it in the Patreon we're gonna we're gonna have black one and we're gonna get black one and we're gonna watch it with him on the thing" — Akash
"Hey man sorry they told us not to laugh but that so then blower like what what the fuck you talking about and then he's like the guy on stage the host told us not to laugh and then I went out there and then I told him was a prank and then the whole crowd came out afterward and applauded and told him he's really funny and it was hard not to laugh in all that shit but like it actually worked out for the best because that would have eaten no item for fucking weeks wow" — Akash
The episode recounts a elaborate prank orchestrated by Akash involving a comedian named Michael Blouse. Blouse was led to believe he had secured a genuine audition at "Stand Up New York," a premier comedy club in New York City. The setup was meticulously crafted, with the club's booker directly contacting Blouse, amplifying his belief in the opportunity's legitimacy. This audition was positioned as a significant career milestone for Blouse, who had been actively seeking to break into the competitive New York comedy scene.
The prank's execution involved a carefully briefed audience and host. Prior to Blouse's appearance, the host (Akash) instructed the audience to maintain complete silence, without booing, creating an atmosphere of utter apathy. This was a challenging directive, as audiences typically react to performances, even negatively. The objective was to create a profound sense of bombing for Blouse, making the subsequent reveal of the prank more impactful. Adding to the pressure, Blouse was scheduled to follow a highly respected comedian, Greer Barnes, known for his impactful sets, which is often considered a difficult act to follow.
During his set, Blouse, already visibly nervous, delivered his material, including a bit involving an "act out" as a dragon. Despite his efforts and his inherent energy, the audience remained completely silent, leading to a perceived four-minute bombing period. After his set, Blouse was met with silence and then confusion when a drunk audience member inadvertently revealed the audience had been instructed not to laugh. The prank was ultimately revealed to Blouse, who, upon understanding it was a joke, was met with applause and reassurance from the crowd and organizers that he was indeed a funny comedian. The narrative highlights the psychological toll of the silence and the creative lengths taken to engineer a memorable comedic experience.