Jesse Joyce: A Career in Comedy and Professional Writing
From the advertising agencies of Pittsburgh to the high-pressure writers' rooms of late-night television, Jesse Joyce has carved out a distinguished career as a versatile comedian and scriptwriter. His journey is marked by a transition from corporate design to becoming one of the industry's most sought-after voices in roast comedy and variety specials.
Early Career and the Move to New York
Following his graduation, Joyce began his professional life in Pittsburgh, working as a designer and copywriter for Elisco Advertising. His talent for creative communication was recognized early, as he earned two ADDY Awards—prestigious honors in the advertising industry—for his work. While maintaining his professional career, Joyce pursued comedy as a passion project in his spare time. By 2001, after saving sufficient funds, he relocated to New York City to pursue entertainment full-time.
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The Partnership with Greg Giraldo
After making early television appearances on AMC's Date Night and Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Joyce's career took a pivotal turn in 2005. His manager paired him with fellow comedian Greg Giraldo. The two formed a strong bond, supporting each other in their shared journey of sobriety from alcohol.
Joyce served as Giraldo's opening act and writing partner until Giraldo's passing in 2010. Together, they crafted scripts for numerous high-profile roasts, including the Comedy Central Roasts of Flavor Flav, Bob Saget, Larry The Cable Guy, Joan Rivers, and David Hasselhoff, as well as the TBS Celebrity Roast of Cheech and Chong. Following Giraldo's death, Joyce performed the Cringe Humor Roast of Jim Florentine in his partner's stead.
Expansion into Television and Variety Writing
Joyce's reputation as a sharp writer led to his hiring for the staff of several Comedy Central Roasts, including those for Donald Trump, Charlie Sheen, Roseanne, James Franco, and Justin Bieber. During this period, he began collaborating with Seth MacFarlane, who later hired Joyce to write for him during MacFarlane's hosting stint at the 85th Academy Awards.
His portfolio expanded further as a staff writer for the first two seasons of The Burn with Jeff Ross on Comedy Central. Joyce has provided writing services for an eclectic range of talent, including Sacha Baron Cohen, Kevin Spacey, Dave Attell, Jim Norton, Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Dunham, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and Matt Lauer of the Today Show.
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Accolades and Late-Night Success
Between 2014 and 2017, Joyce was a writer and regular guest on @midnight with Chris Hardwick. His work on Hulu's 2016 Election Special for Triumph the Insult Comic Dog earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special and a 2017 Writers' Guild Award for Best Comedy/Variety Special.
Since 2017, Joyce has been a writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, receiving Writers' Guild Award nominations for Best Comedy/Variety Series in both 2018 and 2023.
Global Performances and Multimedia Work
Beyond the writers' room, Joyce is an active performer. He has performed for American service members in various international locations, including Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, South Korea, and Japan. His international reach extends to civilian audiences in Switzerland, Ireland, China, Malaysia, and Singapore, and he was invited to the 2013 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada.
In addition to stand-up, Joyce has ventured into acting and recording. He played the role of Price in the independent film Stags (2009) and reached the top 20 as a semi-finalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing in 2010. He was also a regular guest on Fox News' Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld from 2009 to 2017. His musical comedy output includes two albums: Joyce To The World (2005) and Pro Joyce (2011).
Key Facts
- Early Career: Won two ADDY Awards as a designer/copywriter in Pittsburgh.
- Major Partnership: Writing partner and opening act for Greg Giraldo until 2010.
- Award Winner: Won a 2017 Writers' Guild Award for Triumph's 2016 Election Special.
- Emmy Nominee: Nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.
- Current Role: Writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC.
- Global Reach: Performed for US troops in 8 different countries and toured internationally.
| Category | Key Highlights |
|---|---|
| Writing Credits | Jimmy Kimmel Live, @midnight, The Burn with Jeff Ross, 85th Academy Awards |
| Notable Collaborators | Greg Giraldo, Seth MacFarlane, Jeff Ross, Sacha Baron Cohen |
| Major Awards | Writers' Guild Award (2017), ADDY Awards (Early Career) |
| Discography | Joyce To The World (2005), Pro Joyce (2011) |
| Television Appearances | Last Comic Standing (Top 20), Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Jesse Joyce partner with early in his comedy career?
Jesse Joyce was the writing partner and opening act for comedian Greg Giraldo from 2005 until Giraldo's death in 2010.
What are some of the most notable roasts Jesse Joyce wrote for?
He wrote for the Comedy Central Roasts of Flavor Flav, Bob Saget, Larry The Cable Guy, Joan Rivers, and David Hasselhoff, as well as the TBS Celebrity Roast of Cheech and Chong.
Which awards has Jesse Joyce won or been nominated for?
He won a 2017 Writers' Guild Award for Best Comedy/Variety Special and received a Primetime Emmy nomination for the same work. He also received Writers' Guild Award nominations in 2018 and 2023 for his work on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Has Jesse Joyce performed outside of the United States?
Yes, he has performed internationally in Switzerland, Ireland, China, Malaysia, and Singapore, and has performed for US service members in countries including Iraq, Kuwait, and Japan.
What is Jesse Joyce's background before entering comedy?
Before moving to New York in 2001, Joyce worked for a year as a designer and copywriter for Elisco Advertising in Pittsburgh, where he won two ADDY Awards.