Ari Shaffir Talks About His Storytelling Journey with ‘The End,’ Insights from His 7-Month Latin America Trip, and Life Off the Grid on the Comedy Means Business Podcast
Comedian Ari Shaffir has recently concluded two significant journeys—one marked by a seven-month adventure off the grid in South America, and another that unfolds over decades in the comedy landscape.
Known for his tendency to embark on extended travels, Shaffir returned in late March after his latest trek. Shortly thereafter, he premiered The End, a direct-to-consumer comedy series that features leading stand-up comedians sharing their most memorable longform stories.
For Shaffir and his collaborator Eric Abrams, The End embodies more than 15 years of effort in creating platforms—ranging from live performances to digital content—focused on storytelling in comedy. The duo’s most notable project was This Is Not Happening, which began as a grassroots live show before blossoming into a successful digital series and a well-loved Comedy Central show that ran for four seasons. The series has been credited by comedians like Ali Siddiq and Roy Wood Jr. with greatly benefiting individual careers as well as the broader stand-up comedy scene.
Shaffir hosted This Is Not Happening for three seasons before leaving under contentious circumstances related to his decision to sell a special to Netflix, a competitor of Comedy Central. Although Roy Wood Jr. took over as host for the fourth season, Shaffir feels he was pushed out of a format he created, describing the experience as deeply unsettling and reinforcing his skepticism toward working with industry gatekeepers.
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Almost a decade later, The End allowed him to revisit that format and conclude it on his own terms. Teaming up with Tom Segura and YMH Studios, Shaffir hosted and produced a seven-episode finale, featuring a lineup of prominent comedians including Shane Gillis, Nate Bargatze, Tony Hinchcliffe, Joe List, Mark Normand, and Jordan Jensen.
Released on April 16 through Segura’s website, The End has already recouped its entire budget, exemplifying the potential of creator-owned distribution in the current entertainment climate. Despite several title changes over the years, Shaffir’s storytelling series has outlasted Comedy Central’s platform, helping to elevate the profiles of numerous fellow comedians.
In a recent episode of Comedy Means Business, Shaffir candidly discusses his conflict with Comedy Central, the artistry behind crafting longform stories with other comics, and why The End feels like a definitive conclusion.
He also reflects on creating his own opportunities in stand-up, his financial stability from an early commercial success, auditioning for Sam Mendes, navigating a turbulent history at the Comedy Store involving Carlos Mencia, profit-sharing in comedy, his fondness for Denver Comedy Works, and the travel rituals that continue to influence his daily life.
The full conversation is available for viewing above.
