Q&A with UNC’s Rooftop Comedy Team

On Thursday, Feb. 23, a group of stand-up comedians gathered in Historic Playmakers Theatre. They gave their best jokes, and by the end of the evening, eight comedians were chosen to compete in the National College Comedy Competition, hosted by Rooftop Comedy and TBS through the Carolina Union Activities Board.

The eight winners will compete Tuesday at the regional run-off against Duke’s eight comedians. Staff writer Janna Jung-Irrgang talked to half of the team about preparing to beat Duke.

Matt Krantz

DAILY TAR HEEL: What’s your pre-routine preparation?

MATT KRANTZ: I have my material prepared and just go over it the day before and make sure I have it well memorized. I definitely know what I’m going to be saying.

DTH: Who’s your favorite comedian?

MK: Jerry Seinfeld.

DTH: Are you ready to beat Duke?

MK: Definitely ready. This being my third year, we were always funnier than Duke.

I think that our comedians are better. But in the end the competition comes down to a social media competition, because basically people go online and vote for you.

Ben Long

DAILY TAR HEEL: Who’s your favorite comedian?

BEN LONG: I like a lot of different comedians. Lewis Black, Jon Mulaney, Louis C.K.

DTH: Are you ready to beat Duke?

BL: We definitely have a good chance to beat Duke. We beat them last year, so I feel pretty good about it.

Also since the judging system has been changed, it will balance a lot out and we will have a better chance.

DTH: What’s your best joke?

BL: I rented the new “101 Dalmatians” movie and in the film, the father dog is having trouble with all of his children dogs, but not his wife dog. It was called “I got 99 problems but a bitch ain’t one, dalmatians.”

Kyle Rainey

DAILY TAR HEEL: What’s your pre-routine preparation?

KYLE RAINEY: Since it’s being filmed and put online, my performance is going to be as tight as possible.

I’m trying to make it broad for everyone around the country to enjoy, not just jokes about UNC.

DTH: Who is your favorite comedian?

KR: I like the other comedians we have on the team and local comedians in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro scene.

Plus, Paul F. Tompkins and the Sklar brothers.

DTH: Are you ready to beat Duke?

KR: Of course.

Kenan Stewart

DAILY TAR HEEL: What’s your pre-routine preparation?

KENAN STEWART: Before my own performance, I try to enjoy some of the other comedians and then go over it again to make sure that I have the order of the jokes right.

DTH: Are you ready to beat Duke?

KS: I know they’ve lost some people from the team last year. We got a good chance to beat them. As a team we have some great people and we will beat them.

DTH: What’s your best joke?

KS: I got kicked out of the movie “Inception” for yelling “That’s what she said!” every time Leonardo DiCaprio says, “We need to go deeper”.

Contact the Arts Editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.