By Nick A. Zaino III Globe Correspondent,April 18, 2019
SOMERVILLE — On a Tuesday night in March, club owner Rick Jenkins is at his usual table at the back of Union Square’s Comedy Studio at 7 p.m., a small light illuminating his open notebook.For the next four hours or so, he will watch more than 50 comedians do roughly three minutes of stand-up each. Barring bathroom breaks or a quick discussion with a comedian, Jenkins will stay at that table for the evening and take notes on every comic. This is the night the club affectionately refers to as “Comedy Hell.”
That evening’s host, James Huessy, doesn’t even take the stage. To save time, he sits at a table stage left and announces who’s next. Most of the comedians are just starting out, trying to find a voice. Others have been around for a few years and are trying out new stuff. Some performers will find a calling, some will do it once and never come back.
After the first couple of hours, it’s fair to wonder who this is for. “Comedy fans,” Jenkins will say later. “People who are into the process and like seeing the development.”
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