Denver comedian Ben Roy’s special Hyena is being brought to Hulu on July 27th. I sat down with one of the godfathers of Denver comedy for an EXCLUSIVE interview, yeah, that’s right, I’m a real journo, to discuss his latest comedy special, his career over the past two decades, and of course, f*ck, marry, kill, with his co hosts of The Grawlix Saves the World podcast. 

To help with the readability of this interview, the words that I say are started with ‘Nick:’, whereas the responses that Ben provided are, appropriately, started with ‘Ben:’. And now, let’s get into it.

Nick: Your special, Hyena, which has garnered over 100k views and a lot of fanfare on YouTube, is coming to Hulu on July 27th. You filmed Hyena here at your home club at Comedy Works, produced it through 800 Pound Gorilla, and put it out on YouTube. When you filmed this special did you expect it to get picked up on steaming or did you just want to film a special?

Ben: “I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t hope that it was ultimately the goal to get picked up on streaming. But when that didn’t happen and it went to YouTube I was really happy with that choice just because it’s available to everybody that way, not just the subscribers. I eventually let go of that happening and it was a nice surprise that Hulu licensed some specials from 800 Pound and included mine. In the end, I get to join Hulu with my friend Kyle Kinane on the same day, so that’s exciting.”

Nick: You’re part of Hulu’s efforts to push into standup comedy. Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, Roy Woods Jr, Kinane, and you. That’s some pretty good company. According to Gaffigan, whom I did not interview, “This is probably the biggest announcement that will happen to television since the invention of the TV dinner, They’re doing it not half assed. They’re doing it full assed.”  How do you feel to be part of Hulu’s full ass push into comedy and you being part of it – not just one cheek, but both, the crack, and the hole?

Ben: “I feel a little bit like a polyp. Maybe I’m a sign of a bigger problem, with their push, out the ass. What they’re pushing out, is going to be a little more strained because I’m there. No, I think Hulu is realizing the importance and benefit of putting out standup comedy and like you said, I’m in really good company so it’s really rad to be a part of it. And I think they picked a great group to do it with, since 800 Pound Gorilla Media has a really good roster. They’ve really picked a wide range of styles of comedy and it’s cool that I’m one of the people that they’ve trusted to make this with.”

Nick: What do you think the biggest contribution to your special landing on Hulu is… Is it solely because of boring details like the great joke writing and your unique comedic style or do you think the factors that you’re a Hollywood heartthrob and known as the bad boy of comedy contributed at all? 

Ben: “Hahaha you’re a terrible interviewer. But to answer your question, it’s probably because what I do is a little bit different. 

I think part of it was a financial choice by Hulu, and part of it was because my special did get some good attention on YouTube and all of the support and social commentary behind it. I know 800 Pound has always been a super staunch supporter of myself and has always rooted for me, so I don’t know if that had a hand in it. 

I also do think it’s a little bit of what you said, I’m dangerous and I’m a bad boy. There’s a sensuality – what I do is not purely sexual, but it IS 75% sexual. and 25% dominance, and 10% anaerobic, because I always give 110%.” 

Nick: This is your 5th album. What makes this album and special so different from the others, besides the obvious fact that it’s video recorded? 

Ben: “This is going to sound insane for people who have watched it, but it’s a lot less angry, at times. With my son getting older, it’s amazing how a child becoming an adult changes your perception of the world. I’m watching him going through a lot of the things I went through and it puts a lot of different things into perspective. When I talk about the roller skating bit that’s on there, I say ‘kids aren’t any different, they’re the exact same that we used to be’, and it’s true. We’re not changing, we’re just making more of us.”

Nick: You’ve been on Comedy Central, HBO, the tv show you co-produced with fellow Denver comics Andrew Orvedahl and Adam Cayton-Holland ‘Those Who Can’t’ had three seasons on truTv, and now your special is on Hulu. Do you think the impact of getting on these major networks has changed over the years?

Ben: “For sure. I don’t think it matters as much, which is positive and negative. Social media and podcasting have given opportunities to people who may not have gotten their foot (feet?) in the door of major networks otherwise. To a certain extent, I would include us three in that as well – we were putting content up on YouTube and FunnyOrDie which is sort of what got us “noticed” that we could make sketches and write. We met these two brothers and great guys, Evan and Adam Nix, who were real young and hungry filmmakers, and they put the production value through the roof. Nowadays, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok, will have people bursting out of nowhere.” 

Nick: Has your standup style changed or have you had to reinvent yourself from when you first started doing it 20 years ago? 

Ben: “Yeah, definitely. And I think that’s why I have such a hard time calling people out for what they’ve said on stage, since comedy has changed so much over the years. When I was coming up, saying the most awful things you could think of was what was popular, for everybody. And as I mentioned earlier, seeing my son growing up has impacted me, as well as I used to be married, and now I’m single. This has all changed how I view the world and how I behave and think about things. 

I’ve definitely shifted and am going far more into storytelling and doing more emotional deep dives, especially with this next special where I’ll be turning more inward and reflecting on myself. I’m working on this new special called ‘Flowers are for Everyone’, and for me personally, I’ve come to a viewpoint where my favorite types of art are indictments of the creator of the art. It should always put you on trial and that’s the direction I’m taking my comedy.”

Nick: What’s it like being known as one of the godfathers of comedy here in Denver? 

Ben: “It’s weird, because there are people I consider with that title. I think Troy Baxley is the true godfather of comedy here in Denver. he was that guy for all of us. And obviously Wende Curtis was someone who changed the way that clubs interact with local comics and local shows. 

As far as my place in it, I love it. I think it’s cool. I like seeing Derrick Stroup, Sam Tallent, Hannah Jones, Salma Zaky, all of these amazing comics coming out of here. 

It’s cool that we (Adam, Andrew, Ben) cleared some brush away for people to have their own shows. It used to be forested and we did our part. We’re just building a community and we made some important buildings in that city.

Josh Blue is another one that should be considered a big godfather of the scene. He was the one that won last comic standing, and he’s never moved away from Colorado. He’s Denver’s Chad Daniels. He’s that guy that’s sorta always done standup, always flew the Denver flag wherever he toured, and gave legitimacy to the city’s scene and always talked highly of it. Which is what Adam and Andrew and myself have always done. I think we are the strongest scene, and I want everyone to know that I am making that assertion 100% biased and I have zero stats or figures, but I would put our scene against anybody’s.” 

Nick: Ok, F*ck one, marry one, kill one – Adam, Andrew, Producer Ron Doyle

Ben: “Well, I’d f*ck Andrew because he’s a simp. Definitely would kill Adam, and I want to be clear, I hate Adam. Maybe a situationship with Ron, Idk if I’m willing to commit with Ron, but out of all of them, he’s the one I can see being the best partner. To reiterate, I lust after Andrew.” 

Nick: Lastly, anything you’d like to plug?

Ben: “SPELLS has a brand new album out, called ‘Past Our Prime’. I think it’s the best thing we’ve recorded and it’s gotten great responses. Follow the Grawlix Saves the World podcast please, give us a listen, I love doing this podcast with my soon to be husband and my lover and my deceased friend. By the way, if I can plug one more thing, check out Nick Ellis, I told you to say this, so if anyone needs me to fact check this, check him out, hopefully you’ll see him out doing standup with me at some point in the near future again.”

So there you have it folks. A huge thank you to Ben for taking time to sit down and chat with me. Be sure to check out his special Hyena on HULU July 27th and subscribe to his monthly newsletter for additional insight and staying up to date on his tour dates.

Nick Ellis is a Denver based standup comedian and writer. Follow along on instagram at @ellisnd so we can be friends.