EXCLUSIVE: Underscore Talent has created a comedy unit, with several signings secured on launch.
The next-gen talent management biz will be led by Underscore partner Michael Green, the industry veteran who co-founded The Firm and Studio71. The unit will aim to “bridge traditional stand-up with the digital-first era.”
Green will oversee a roster of comedians spanning established icons and rising stars, including Zachariah Porter and Kareem Rahma, creator of the viral Subway Takes series. It will also rep the likes of Mackenzie Barmen, Andrew Farmer, Dylan Carlino, Tara Cannistraci, Natalie Cuomo, Billy Domineau, Ian Fidance, Dylan Guerra, Kendahl Landreth, Uncle LaZer, Nathan Macintosh, Andrew Packer, David Sidorov, Mara Wilson, Rachel Wolfson, Mike Trapp, and Pooja Tripathi from Brooklyn Coffee Shop.
Green has also tapped Chris Burns and Kyle Stevens to co-head the comedy division under him. Other managers, including Andy Farag, and Andrew Topel will complete the exec team.
Watch on Deadline
The launch comes as comedians wrestle with a fast-changing career pathway and how to manage live sets and digital content in the same breath.
“The traditional path for comedians of touring clubs and chasing late-night bookings is no longer enough,” said Dan Weinstein, co-founder and co-CEO of Underscore Talent. “Underscore was built digital-first, giving comedians the strategies and tools to grow across social, streaming, and live formats. This division provides comedians with a true 360-degree management model to expand their reach and unlock long-term creative and commercial opportunities.”
“I’ve worked with Michael and the Underscore team for the past year, and what makes them different is their belief in both me and the content,” said Rahma, creator of Subway Takes. “Instead of chasing short-term brand deals, they doubled down on helping me create more of the high-quality content my community wanted. With the right management team, comedians today aren’t boxed into one lane, they can open doors to bigger, more creative opportunities than ever before.”
Green is known for managing the likes of the Backstreet Boys, Martin Lawrence, Korn and Ice Cube during his time at The Firm. Later, at The Collective, he managed Kanye West, Linkin Park, Counting Crows, Enrique Iglesias and Katt Williams.
During this period, he financed and produced three specials for Katt Williams, including his first special, The Pimp Chronicles. He also got in early on digital-first entertainment by producing and financing the Fred movies with YouTube star Lucas Cruikshank for Nickelodeon. Green went on to co-create Studio71, which was one of the first major creator companies, alongside Underscore co-founders Reza Izad and Weinstein.
“Thanks to social media, comedy is experiencing its biggest transformation in decades,” he said. “Today, comedians can build global audiences first and then deliver them directly to all content distribution platforms. It’s become an inverted system – artists aren’t waiting for the industry to validate them, they’re bringing their audiences with them. At Underscore, we’re giving comedians the full suite of services to thrive in this new landscape, and I’m excited to lead this new division.”
Underscore Talent is part of TheSoul Publishing. It launched in 2021, and represents a list of global YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, Snapchat, gaming, and podcast content creators. Underscore recently launched Shorthand Studios, a digital production and distribution company.