Pete Holmes on Finding Showbiz Magic in a Changing World, Navigating Talent Development, and What He’s Learning from Younger Comedians – Comedy Means Business Podcast
Comedian Pete Holmes has reached a new phase in his career, describing it as having arrived at “cruising altitude.” After 25 years in stand-up, he is embracing a fresh approach to his craft.
Holmes, who once performed three to four sets a night, has shifted his focus to balance his personal life with his career. “I look at comedy like a cactus at this point in my career: I try to water it just as little as possible,” he shared in an episode of the Comedy Means Business podcast. He added, “I’m really trying to dial it in. How can I have as much of a normal life and be with my wife and daughter as much as I can…but still do comedy?”
Recently, Holmes released his special, Silly Silly Fun Boy. He currently resides 90 minutes north of Los Angeles and has reduced his touring schedule to one weekend a month, supplementing it with performances at Largo at the Coronet and the Comedy Store.
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Despite his evolving priorities, Holmes acknowledges the importance of regular performance. “If I don’t perform enough, I get irritable,” he explained. During dinner with his wife, he noted, he sometimes struggles to focus, with his neurotic tendencies kicking in. “She’s like, ‘Pete, you need to do a set,’” he recounted.
Holmes, a Boston native, began his stand-up journey during his senior year at Gordon College in the early 2000s. He honed his craft through college gigs arranged by the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) before establishing a successful career that included several specials on Comedy Central, late-night appearances, and festival performances.
An early pioneer in podcasting, Holmes launched You Made It Weird shortly after the rise of comedy podcasting icons like Marc Maron and Joe Rogan. This show became a significant platform for expanding his touring market. He later gained further recognition as the host of The Pete Holmes Show on TBS, produced by Conan O’Brien, and as the creator and star of Crashing, an HBO series that explores his early stand-up experiences, marriage, and spiritual evolution.
While Holmes appreciates the current landscape of comedy, he expresses a sense of nostalgia for the traditional paths within the industry. “I like the old way because it felt really special,” he said, noting the role of gatekeepers in providing a sense of significance to early career milestones. “You don’t get that feeling posting a TikTok clip,” he remarked, citing personal memories tied to his journey.
Holmes reflects on the experiences that shaped him, stating that the challenges of his earlier days contributed meaningfully to his growth as a comedian.
Check out the podcast above.
