Everyone you know likely has a story about dealing with troublesome landlords or tricky rental situations. And while it is important to know your rights when dealing with landlords, for comedian Beth Stelling, her method of processing her tricky landlord situation is to find the humor in it all.
Earlier this summer, Beth released her stand-up ‘The Landlord Special’ through Blonde Medicine, now available everywhere comedy is streamed or sold. Filmed in Denver, Colorado at Comedy Works, ‘The Landlord Special’ is a half hour of stand-up comedy with a story-heavy caboose about nosy, unhinged landlords. If you’ve ever had to pay irritating lunatics in exchange for shelter, then this is the special for you. In fact, Beth hopes that everyone watching laughs so loudly they make their downstairs neighbor jealous. They might even be inspired to start saving for a down payment on a home…
Beth has previously showcased her stand-up skills on some of the biggest comedy stages, including CONAN, Jimmy Kimmel, & Comedy Central. Her experience goes beyond the comedy stage and into Hollywood, where she has been a writer for the following television series: Rick and Morty, Strange Planet, The Last O.G., I Love You America with Sarah Silverman, Another Period and Crashing on HBO.
On the acting front, Beth has guest starred on Amazon’s Red Oaks, Corporate on Comedy Central, and she played Ms. Fish on the Peacock comedy Rutherford Falls. She co-hosts a podcast with her best friend Mo Welch called SWEETHEARTS.
A universally recognized topic that many can relate to, we had the chance to catch up with Beth to ask her what she hopes her audiences will love most about ‘The Landlord Special’, and the message she has for landlords in particular!
Congrats on the release of The Landlord Special earlier this summer! What have the past few months been like for you since the album came out?
Thank you so much! I played a field hockey tournament at Amherst College the weekend I put the special on YouTube, so it was fun to have teammates watch and tell me they enjoyed it the very next day! Would be quite interesting if every person that left a comment on the special had to say it to my face. Since then I’ve been touring pretty much every weekend! Some fans mentioned they hadn’t watched ‘The Landlord Special’ because they didn’t want to ruin seeing my live show but I am not performing that material any longer!
What is it about landlords that so many people can relate to, that made you want to based your special around?
Well the special was born out of my personal frustration with my own nosy, overdramatic, unhinged landlords. I think the fact that a lot of people related to it says more about the state of the U.S. economy. Many people will be lifetime renters beholden to overlords (and overladies) as opposed to future homeowners investing in property for their future stability.
Without giving too much away of what you featured on the album, what can listeners expect to hear about your own landlord experience within the Special?
Well it’s a distillation of many years living in a small apartment complex below my landlords’ daughter, who didn’t fall far from the tree, in fact she’s living in it. I highlight a confrontation that involves my landlady yelling in my face but then again, she’s rarely operating sonically below a scream.
What is your process of beginning a new stand-up set like ‘The Landlord Special’? Where do you typically find inspiration from and how do the “bits” all come together in one cohesive album?
I usually know I’m onto something (stand-up wise) when my mom says she wants to hear more. I was dealing with a very nosy, combustible landlady who seemed hellbent on getting me to move (so that she could raise the rent). But for years I was more stubborn than I was exasperated. I would call my mom immediately after many of the interactions (er, altercations) that I had with my landlady and/or her adult daughter.
On those calls my mom was typically shocked and trying to advise me as best she could from afar, but at times it took a toll on my mental health to feel trapped in a place, especially during the pandemonium! I felt unwelcome and under surveillance. This story-heavy special was born from severe frustration but turning that into stand-up comedy for laughs is historically how I process and work through any bad, powerless, painful or uncomfortable things I’ve experienced.
Were there any comedy specials that inspired you along the way, or comedians whose work informed your own?
A renowned New York Times critic once referred to my voices as “Bamfordian” and that (I hope people know) is a reference to Maria Bamford who is one of the great stand-ups of our time. I think any comic that is sharing themselves in a true and honest way is inspiring to me. I prefer to watch well-written jokes and stories rooted in authenticity.
I have an aversion to what I call “word math.” I also categorize comics as “not helping” when they strive to shock audience members in the pursuit of a (perceived) challenge. I believe they’re hacky and often lack life experience and empathy.
What do your friends and family in the Midwest think of your new special?
When I was working it out at the Victoria Theatre last year in Dayton a friend of mine from childhood called it “a bit too long.” So that’s someone’s opinion but I appreciate the honesty. Mostly my family loves it (particularly my mom) and as you’ll recall my field hockey teammates laughed, which means a lot to me. The field is really where I got my start anyway (making my high school teammates laugh).
What are your favorite topics to riff on or improvise about?
I’m not a big riffer or improviser but I’ve gotten better at it with age and onstage experience. If I’m improvising with a friend I’m open to anything that people are curious about or want advice on.
What jokes or bits have gotten the most surprising reaction from audiences, that you weren’t expecting?
I guess I have to say that I remain shocked at the elderly community’s online behavior. I have so many old men and women who have been downright disgusting and cruel to me online. I think their charged reaction is showing their insecurity, but to be hurt by a joke or story and hurl it back tenfold seems so immature. I hope I can keep my sense of humor and carry online etiquette into my golden years.
If there are any landlords listening to your special right now, what is the one thing you hope they don’t stop thinking about?
Stop fucking raising the rent, you greedy bastards. Get a real job. 😉
What are some of your upcoming projects that we should keep an eye out for?
Watch ‘The Landlord Special ‘on YouTube and share it with people you think will like it, please! Then come see me on tour! I’m always on tour. Visit my website to find out if I’m coming to you, or join my Substack for written updates (albeit sporadic). And watch ‘Rick and Morty’ Season 8! I wrote on it with a great group of people. Also if someone wants to produce my next stand-up special I have a new hour ready to go.
‘The Landlord Special’ comedy album is available everywhere comedy albums are streamed or sold, and you can also watch it on Youtube. Follow Beth Stelling on Instagram.
