Taylor Tomlinson: From Church Circuits to Netflix Stardom
Taylor Tomlinson is rapidly becoming a name synonymous with comedic brilliance. At 32, she’s already achieved what many comedians only dream of – a successful touring career, a late-night hosting gig (CBS’s After Midnight), and a consistent evolution of her comedic material. “I’m 32 now and I’ve been doing this for half of my life,” Tomlinson reflects. “It’s crazy to think about.”
A Nuanced Approach to Religious Material
Tomlinson’s fourth Netflix hour, Prodigal Daughter, premiered on February 24th, and notably, was filmed in a church. However, her approach to religious themes has matured significantly since her early days. “When I go back and I watch old jokes that I did about Christianity, I think they’re pretty unforgiving compared to this hour,” she explains. “This is coming at it from a place that’s more nuanced and playful and even affectionate.”
From Late Night to Full Focus on Stand-Up
During an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast, I’m Having an Episode, Tomlinson discussed her new special, the difficult decision to leave After Midnight, and the entertainer she’d trade places with for a day (spoiler: it’s not Beyoncé, and for a very strategic reason!).
Early Days on the Church Comedy Circuit
Tomlinson’s start in comedy is unique. She began performing on the church comedy circuit at just 16 years old. “It doesn’t look great,” she laughs, describing the scene as filled with “jokes about not going to prom and being a loser.” Despite her youth, she was remarkably self-aware. “I think that I was pretty self-aware and maybe that was a strength of mine back then. But, obviously, I was not good.” She now views this experience with gratitude, a shift from the previous embarrassment she felt.
The Versatility of a Stand-Up Comedian
Tomlinson highlights the diverse avenues available to comedians: “You don’t have to just be in the clubs—in theaters, if you’re lucky. You can be a corporate comedian. You can be a church comedian. You can be a cruise ship comedian.” She credits her early experience with clean comedy for honing her writing skills. While cruise ships proved challenging (“You’re a water slide. And you’re not as good as a water slide”), churches, when approached with squeaky-clean material, were surprisingly supportive.
The Financial Realities of Early Comedy
Reflecting on her early earnings, Tomlinson recalls making $1,000 a show opening for established church comedians. She eventually had to decline offers, even one for $3,000 for a 30-minute set, because she felt she was no longer authentically representing the values she was being paid to portray.
Navigating Personal Material and Public Profile
As her profile has risen, Tomlinson has become more mindful of the boundaries she sets when sharing personal stories onstage. She recounts removing eight minutes of material about a family relationship, realizing the emotional toll it took on her to recount the story each night. “I’m writing my own script. It’s up to me what I say up there,” she asserts.
The Cancellation of ‘After Midnight’ and the State of Late Night
Tomlinson’s departure from After Midnight coincided with the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show, sparking a broader conversation about the future of late-night television. She questions the narrative that audiences no longer want to watch people talk, pointing to the popularity of podcasts and YouTube shows. She praises the format of After Midnight as a workable evolution for late night, lamenting its cancellation.
A Day in Someone Else’s Shoes
If given the chance to trade jobs with anyone in the entertainment industry for a day, Tomlinson chooses Greta Gerwig, driven by curiosity about her work on the upcoming Narnia adaptation. However, she quickly clarifies that she wouldn’t want to permanently swap lives, fearing the potential devastation of experiencing Beyoncé’s level of fame and then returning to her own reality.
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