They are basically the same person. Not literally, obviously, but if you’ve ever watched John Early and Kate Berlant together, you know exactly what I mean. There is this weird, psychic tether between them. It’s a specific brand of comedy that feels less like a rehearsed routine and more like a shared nervous breakdown that they’ve decided to sell to us for $14.99 a month on a streaming platform.
People always try to categorize them. Is it satire? Is it "alt-comedy"? Honestly, it’s mostly just two people who met in 2012 and decided that being normal was a waste of time. They specialize in the "hyper-articulate narcissist." You know the type. The person who uses therapy speak to gaslight their friends at dinner. The actor who thinks their "process" is a gift to humanity.
The Myth of the "Falling Out"
If you saw their Peacock special, Would It Kill You to Laugh?, you might actually think they hate each other. That’s the joke. The special centers on this fictionalized, decades-long feud between them after starring on a fake 90s sitcom called He’s Gay, She’s Half-Jewish. It’s a masterclass in passive-aggression.
In reality, they are obsessed with each other. They’ve been sharing beds in hotel rooms across the country for over a decade. They describe their relationship as a "romantic friendship."
What most people get wrong is thinking they are mocking the characters they play. They aren't. Not really. When John Early plays a guy screaming about being "gaslit" while clapping his hands in rhythm, he’s tapping into a real, sweaty desperation we all feel. They aren't looking down on these monsters; they are admitting they are the monsters.
Why 555 Still Matters in 2026
Before the big specials and the HBO deals, there was 555. If you haven't seen this Vimeo series, go find it. It’s directed by Andrew DeYoung, who is basically the third member of their creative hive mind.
555 is bleak. It’s a series of vignettes about people in LA who are failing. Hard.
- There’s an actress (Kate) and her agent (John) who are trying to navigate a world that doesn't want them.
- There are the two aliens getting their makeup done, which John says is the closest representation of their actual friendship.
- It captures that specific "industry panic" that feels even more relevant now than it did when it dropped.
The comedy comes from the effort. These characters are trying so hard to be seen as talented, relevant, or deep. And because they try so hard, they fail spectacularly. It’s painful to watch. It’s also the funniest thing they’ve ever done.
The "Characters" Era and Beyond
Netflix's The Characters was the moment the world at large finally had to pay attention. Most of the comedians in that series did great work, but Kate and John’s episodes were on another level.
Kate’s episode featured her as a version of Marina Abramović, which was just... chef’s kiss. John’s episode gave us "Vicky with a V," the stand-up comic whose catchphrase "I'm looking for my denim!" became a cult phenomenon.
What’s wild is that even when they have their own separate episodes, they still show up in each other's work. John said in an interview once that they’re the only ones who couldn't do the show without the other. That’s the level of co-dependency we’re talking about here.
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What’s Happening Now? (2025-2026)
If you’re wondering what they’re up to lately, they haven't slowed down.
Kate Berlant has been touring her one-woman show, KATE, directed by Bo Burnham. It’s a monumental piece of theater that explores her own "desire to be seen" while simultaneously mocking the very idea of a one-woman show. She also popped up in the film Wishful Thinking, which premiered at SXSW in 2026.
John Early, meanwhile, has leaned into his musical side. His HBO special Now More Than Ever showed off his legitimate vocal chops with his band, The Lemon Squares. He’s been touring London and the US, mixing high-energy stand-up with sincere covers of Neil Young. It’s a pivot from pure irony to something more "schmaltzy," as he puts it.
The Secret Sauce: Precision
The reason John Early and Kate Berlant work is precision. They don't just "do a voice." They capture the exact cadence of a person who is lying to themselves.
It’s in the way Kate widens her eyes when she’s pretending to understand a complex political point. It’s in the way John’s voice cracks when he’s trying to sound authoritative. They’ve spent fourteen years studying the minutiae of human insecurity.
They also aren't afraid to be ugly. Most comedians want you to like them. John and Kate are perfectly happy to let you find them insufferable, as long as you recognize the "insufferability" in yourself.
How to Appreciate Their Genius
If you're new to the cult of Early/Berlant, don't start with the big stuff. Go to YouTube. Search for their old sketches like "Paris" or "The Reunion."
Watch how they use costuming. They talk a lot about how a specific wig or a certain pair of pleated pants can dictate an entire character. They aren't just playing "people"; they are playing archetypes of millennial anxiety.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
To truly get into the headspace of this duo, you need to see the work that shaped them.
- Watch "Rachel" (Short Film): It’s a thriller directed by Andrew DeYoung where Kate plays an increasingly obnoxious guest. It’s the bridge between their early comedy and their more cinematic work.
- Listen to "Poog": While John isn't a permanent fixture, Kate Berlant’s podcast with Jacqueline Novak is essential listening. It’s the same "over-intellectualizing the mundane" energy that she shares with John.
- Track Down "555": It’s often buried on streaming platforms or hidden on Vimeo, but it’s the foundational text for everything they’ve done since.
- Follow the Directors: Keep an eye on Graham Parkes and Andrew DeYoung. These are the filmmakers who know how to capture the duo's specific, chaotic energy without polishing away the rough edges.
Ultimately, John and Kate remind us that we are all performing, all the time. Whether we're at a dinner party or a job interview, we're all just trying to convince people we aren't terrified. They just happen to be the only ones brave enough to make a career out of it.
Next Step: You should check out John Early's debut album Now More Than Ever (released in late 2024/early 2025) to see how he blends his "narcissistic monster" persona with actual, soulful musicality. It’s the perfect example of how his comedy has evolved into something more complex and sincere in the last couple of years.