It’s been 10 years since Kenny Sebastian’s comments about middle-class families at restaurants went viral. By then, he had been doing stand-up for five years, performing for audiences who were only just discovering this form of entertainment.
Today, as he prepares for his next tour, the veteran comedian looks to an audience that has not only grown up with him, but has also seen it all. “This show is about marriage, therapy, ostriches…” Kenny says over a video call from Mumbai. “I can’t limit it to any one topic. It’s weird. It’s absurd. But I think it’s the right time for a show like this because the audience is fed up with traditional stand-up. So, when they see something that is simultaneously music, sketch, absurdity and technique, they are curious.”
The show will also move beyond the standard mic-and-stool setup. “There’s a lot of technology, which has always been a part of my show – elaborate lighting and sound. I come from theater, so I have to explain why we’re in an auditorium. Why can’t we just do it in a comedy club? Because we have a big light and sound show for you,” Kenny says, laughing.
comedy club vs auditorium
Still, he acknowledges that scale comes at a price. He says, “I find club shows more entertaining. In a small room, with this infectious energy, you don’t have to work so hard.” Auditoriums are a different animal. “You have to fill a 2,000-seat venue with your energy. How can one person compensate for this huge space? But because we have strong technical elements, the audience experience is amazing. I am its slave.”
If the form has evolved, its content has also evolved. Although Kenny is often labeled a “clean comic”, the subjects he explores now are far more layered. He points to his recent Charulata piece on drinking as an example. “On the surface it’s a drug story, but really it’s about family dynamics, control, parenting. I obviously don’t say drinking is good or bad. That’s for the audience to decide.”
Kenny Sebastian with his wife Tracy and daughter Emily. | Photo credit: Instagram/@kennethseb
Family and parenting
His early sets revolved around his parents and the peculiarities of growing up in a middle-class home. And while family dynamics and parenting are at the center of his work, becoming a father to his daughter Emily in 2024 has sharpened that focus in new ways.
“My work has always been inspired by family. It’s a unifying factor and transcends cultures. Whether I go to America or Australia, everyone has a family. It transcends everything. I’m obsessed with my family, so it’s my favorite subject.”
Kenny thinks his generation is better parents. “It’s not necessarily that our parents were bad; they didn’t have access to information. Now when Emily does something we don’t like, the instinct is to remember that she’s a child. Our parents often treated us like adults when we were kids and expected us to behave like kids when we became adults. I’m not saying our generation is perfect. I’m sure Emily will have complaints about me one day, that’s all. Different.”
He says that marriage has also become a fertile field for a new kind of comedy. “There aren’t ‘I hate my wife’ jokes anymore. It’s more subtle. I’ll talk about a fight that my wife Tracy and I had, and the comment section will be full of real conversations — people debating whether fighting is healthy, someone talking about their experiences. It’s interesting to me.”
Like their content, their audience has also evolved. “Earlier, audiences weren’t used to standing still. So, I had to handle them. Now I’m like, ‘You have to meet me halfway. I’m going to say something weird and stupid, and you need to join in’.”
Kenny says that as his audience grows, writing for him is cathartic. “People who saw me years ago are now married and have kids, and I’m writing for them.”
For Kenny, music often serves as a bridge between his stand-up and his theatrical roots. | Photo credit: Instagram/@kennethseb
algorithm
However, the economics of comedy off stage have changed. “Back in the day it wasn’t so hard. People were comfortable waiting, and when new content came in, they were happy. Now the algorithm penalizes you if you disappear. Not people – algorithms.”
“However, content creators have found interesting ways to be visible. Incredible podcasts, panels and quizzing shows are emerging. If algorithms hadn’t pushed us to this breaking point, these shows wouldn’t be made. I also think Indian comedians experiment more than American comedians. Everyone here does stand up, sketches, improv, panels. And Indian audiences are hungry for variety.”
As for himself, Kenny is leaning into music – something, he revealed, has been woven into his latest show. “We’re releasing songs online. Music comedy works differently; you can enjoy it even if you know the jokes.”
“I am also looking at developing comedy films. There is a dearth of short, story-based comedy films in India. The good side is that many new comedians are entering the industry every day; more comedians means more opportunities.”
Kenny says his latest foray into absurdity is his way of staying one step ahead of viewers who have seen it all. | Photo credit: Instagram/@kennethseb
dealing with fame
The emotional burden of being a public figure is something he copes with helpfully. “On stage, the audience is kinder. But online negativity still affects me. Now, I block toxic people,” he says matter-of-factly, “Therapy helps. I think everyone should go to therapy, especially people in the entertainment industry. Your work, your income, your recognition – it’s all tied to public reaction.”
“At first, there was this pressure to always be funny. It exhausted me, ironically, this idea that I had to be happy all the time. As you get older, you become more secure about who you are. People who watch my shows sometimes expect the same version of me in real life. My goal is just to be polite, not demonstrative. And when I’m with my friends and family, I put zero energy into being funny. “I am.”
However, for now the focus remains on the live experience. He admits that he rarely switches off completely. “My mind is always analyzing. Pattern recognition is probably why I’m here. If I stop performing, I start missing it.”
Kenny Sebastian is launching his comedy music show Tempo Tantrums in Bengaluru with performances at St. Joseph’s University Auditorium on January 31 (4 pm, 7 pm) and February 1 (3 pm, 6 pm); Tickets are available on BookMyShow.