The duo behind Charlotte's most relatable comedy videos
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From left: Comedians Sean Kett and Alex King. Photo: Courtesy of Sean Kett and Alex King
Two Charlotte comedians are turning the city's pain points into laughs.
Why it matters: Comedians Alex King and Sean Kett roast Charlotte out of love, the same way you're allowed to pick on your siblings. But there will be hell to pay if someone from Atlanta or Raleigh talks smack about Charlotte.
State of play: The comedy duo has made more than 100 videos together. At least 50 of those videos are about Charlotte.
- You've probably heard them on Instagram or TikTok saying, "I'm Alex and I'm Sean, and we designed" anything from the toll lanes on I-77, the Central Avenue intersection near Central Coffee, exit 3A, the midtown Trader Joe's parking garage and the Plaza Midwood Harris Teeter parking lot (more than 360,000 views).
- They're also keeping up with local news, including the data center debate.
- Their video roasting Charlotte's airport has more than 241,000 views (even out-of-town family members have sent it to me).
Between the lines: Charlotteans are looking for niche local content about the city they call home, King tells me. They've noticed their videos are striking a chord, and they've started to receive requests from viewers.
Flashback: King, a Harrisonburg, Virginia native, moved to Charlotte right before the pandemic. Kett, a Miami, Florida native, moved here two years ago. The pair met at Sip City in Plaza Midwood where they now produce shows together.
What's next: Their next show at Sip City is June 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 (plus fees) and doors open at 7pm. The lineup includes Kett, plus a mix of touring and local comedians.
- King and his wife recently welcomed a baby, meaning you may be laughing at his sketches online a little more often than in-person for a bit.
The big picture: Like the city itself, Charlotte's comedy scene is growing.
- "In the couple years I've been in the stand-up comedy scene here, it's definitely gotten bigger," says King, who is a full-time industrial engineer.
- Duckworth's opened an Uptown comedy club last year. Sip City has become a rising comedy destination. National acts perform at the Comedy Zone and Ovens Auditorium. Other venues include Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte and Charlotte Comedy Theater.
- In the last couple of years, Kett says he has seen a rise in locally produced shows.
The bottom line: There are plenty of laughs to be found in Charlotte, whether you're an aspiring comedian or looking for a show.
- "Once you understand what to look for [and] once you're in it, you're like, 'Wow, Charlotte has a lot of cool stuff,'" King says. "I just think sometimes people don't know what to look for or they don't know what's out there."
