Hari Kondabolu's 'Vacation Baby' could upend the traditional comedy-special rollout
New York-based comic Hari Kondabolu preps for every stand-up performance the same way: drinking lots of water, peeing and pacing.
"It's the same thing over and over, and I think there's a comfort in that," he said. "I've been doing this 20 years, and I'm still absolutely a mess until I go on."
The Queens-raised, Brooklyn-based comedian was gearing up for the release of his latest special, "Vacation Baby," which he self-released on YouTube Tuesday. Named for his son, who was born during the pandemic but conceived just before lockdown, the special and its nontraditional release is a gamble for Kondabolu, who is no stranger to betting on himself.
"It just felt like I had this major life thing happen, and I had so much to talk about from those two years of the pandemic," he said. "And I'm just sitting on it waiting for what exactly? For a network to give me the right to say what I want to say publicly?"
Alongside the special, Kondabolu is releasing an accompanying album on the music streaming services and self-releasing a digital album, "(Extended) Vacation Baby," on Bandcamp.
The Los Angeles Times caught up with Kondabolu to discuss the comedy climate of today, performing in L.A. versus New York and the origins of his more political comic material.
Q: What made you want to name your special "Vacation Baby"?
A: The special is very much about having a kid during the pandemic. It felt like the worst time in the world, and yet me and my partner were bringing this child into the world.
