Overview
StandUp NBC is an annual talent search and development program run by NBC Entertainment that identifies emerging stand-up comedians from underrepresented backgrounds and funnels them into the NBCUniversal talent pipeline. The program operates through regional open-call auditions and online video submissions across multiple US cities, culminating in a finalist showcase in Los Angeles where approximately 8 comedians perform in front of television executives, casting directors, agents, and managers.
The winner receives a talent holding deal with NBCUniversal and a headlining slot at the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) annual convention, which puts them in front of talent bookers from colleges and venues across the country. In 2020, for the first time in the program's 16-year history, NBC named two co-winners: Franqi French and Rene Vaca, each receiving a holding deal.
StandUp NBC is part of the NBC Talent Infusion Programs (NBC TIPS), which has been running since 2000. The program was originally called StandUp For Diversity before being rebranded. Past alumni include Hasan Minhaj (Patriot Act), Lil Rel Howery (Get Out), Michelle Buteau (First Wives Club), W. Kamau Bell (United Shades of America), Deon Cole (Grown-ish), Amanda Seales (Insecure), Dulce Sloan (The Daily Show), and Tone Bell (Fam).
For filmmakers working at the intersection of comedy performance and scripted content, StandUp NBC is a proven pathway. Many comedians who come through the program move into writing, directing, and producing within a few years. Check the NBC TIPS website for current cycle dates and audition cities.
What It Offers
StandUp NBC operates as a multi-round competition rather than a traditional grant. The program structure is:
- Open call auditions: Held in 4 to 5 US cities per cycle. Auditions start at 9 AM. Only the first 100 to 125 comedians to arrive are seen. Each comedian gets 1 minute for the initial audition.
- Callbacks: Selected comedians from the open call are invited back the same day to perform a 2 to 3 minute set.
- Regional semifinalist showcase: Top comics from callbacks perform a 7-minute set before a live audience at a comedy club that evening.
- Online video submissions: For comedians unable to attend in person, each city opens an online submission window accepting video links of a recent 2-minute performance. Top comics from online submissions are invited directly to live auditions.
- Los Angeles finalist showcase: Approximately 8 finalists are flown to Los Angeles to perform at a showcase in front of industry. NBCUniversal covers travel.
The winner receives:
- A talent holding deal with NBCUniversal (the financial terms are not publicly disclosed, but holding deals typically provide a stipend while NBC develops projects for the comedian)
- A headlining slot at the NACA annual convention, performing for talent bookers from colleges and venues nationwide
- Meetings with NBCUniversal casting executives
- Referrals to agents and managers within NBC's industry network
All finalists, not just the winner, gain industry visibility from the LA showcase. Multiple alumni who did not win the top prize have gone on to significant careers in television and film.
Eligibility
StandUp NBC targets comedians from backgrounds that are underrepresented in mainstream comedy and television. The program considers diversity across race, ethnicity, gender, and background. Specific criteria include:
- Performance experience: Comedians should be actively performing stand-up. The program targets emerging talent rather than established names, but does not publish a strict minimum number of years performing.
- Diverse backgrounds: The program is designed for comedians from underrepresented communities. NBC does not publish a rigid definition of "underrepresented" but the program's history makes its scope clear.
- US-based: Auditions are held in US cities and the program is oriented toward the American television industry.
- Age: Comedians must be 18 or older.
Geographic eligibility and specific requirements can vary by cycle. The most recent publicly documented cycles ran auditions in Chicago, Los Angeles (Oxnard), Atlanta, New York, Nashville, Seattle, and Dallas, with the specific cities rotating year to year. Chicago has historically accepted only online submissions rather than hosting an open call.
Filmmakers should confirm current criteria and audition dates on the NBCUniversal website before each cycle, as the program has not maintained a publicly consistent annual schedule since 2020.
Stand-Up to Screen: Why Filmmakers Should Pay Attention
StandUp NBC matters to comedy filmmakers because it functions as an incubator for the writers, directors, and performers who power scripted comedy. The pipeline from stand-up to scripted content is well established:
- Hasan Minhaj moved from stand-up to Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, a Peabody Award-winning series
- Lil Rel Howery transitioned from stand-up to a breakout role in Jordan Peele's Get Out and his own NBC sitcom Rel
- W. Kamau Bell built from stand-up into United Shades of America on CNN
- Michelle Buteau moved from stand-up to First Wives Club on Netflix and her own comedy special
For comedy writer-directors who also perform, programs like StandUp NBC offer a structured entry point into the network talent system. Even comedians who do not win the holding deal often secure agent and manager representation through the finalist showcase, which then opens doors to writing rooms and development deals.
The broader NBC TIPS ecosystem also includes the Late Night Writers Workshop, which targets comedy writers specifically rather than performers. Filmmakers deciding between the two should consider whether their strength is in performance (StandUp NBC) or in writing for late night and sketch formats (Late Night Writers Workshop).
Notable Alumni and Career Trajectories
StandUp NBC's alumni roster spans nearly two decades of comedy talent. Key alumni and their career paths after the program:
- Hasan Minhaj: Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (Netflix), The Daily Show correspondent
- Lil Rel Howery: Get Out, Rel (NBC), Free Guy
- Michelle Buteau: First Wives Club (Netflix), The Circle (host), Always Be My Maybe
- W. Kamau Bell: United Shades of America (CNN), We Need to Talk About Cosby
- Deon Cole: Grown-ish, Black-ish, The Harder They Fall
- Amanda Seales: Insecure (HBO), Smart, Funny & Black
- Dulce Sloan: The Daily Show with Trevor Noah correspondent
- Tone Bell: Fam (CBS), Whitney
- Mike E. Winfield: 2019 winner, The Office (Peacock reboot consideration), NBC development deal
- Franqi French and Rene Vaca: 2020 co-winners, both based in Los Angeles, holding deals with NBCUniversal
The 2019 cycle drew 1,600 applicants through open calls and online submissions. The 2020 cycle drew approximately 650 applicants, reflecting the narrower geographic scope of that year's audition cities.
Who Should Apply
Emerging stand-up comedians from underrepresented backgrounds who are actively performing and want structured industry development support, network television visibility, and a potential talent holding deal. The program is best suited for comedians who are ready for industry exposure but have not yet secured representation or a development deal.
For comedy filmmaker-performers who use stand-up as part of a broader creative practice that includes writing and directing, StandUp NBC can provide the industry access and visibility that leads to scripted opportunities. The program is not designed for filmmakers who exclusively work behind the camera.
Typical Award Size Range
StandUp NBC does not award a cash grant. The prize is a talent holding deal and industry access:
- Talent holding deal with NBCUniversal: Financial terms are not publicly disclosed. Holding deals typically provide a monthly stipend while the network develops projects for the comedian. The deal gives NBCUniversal a first-look option on the comedian's services.
- NACA headlining slot: A performance at the National Association for Campus Activities convention, which can lead to paid college touring bookings nationwide.
- Industry meetings and referrals: Meetings with NBCUniversal casting executives and referrals to agents and managers within NBC's network.
- Travel coverage: NBCUniversal covers travel to Los Angeles for the finalist showcase.
The value of the program lies primarily in industry access and career development rather than a direct cash payout. Alumni who have gone through the program have secured network television deals, streaming specials, and major film roles.
What Makes an Application Competitive
Based on the program's selection history and statements from NBC casting executives, competitive applicants share these qualities:
- Personal storytelling that is relatable and fearless: Grace Wu, EVP of Casting at NBC Entertainment, described 2020 winners Franqi French and Rene Vaca as "hilarious, relatable and fearlessly share their personal stories." Material rooted in lived experience outperforms generic observational comedy.
- Stage presence and audience connection: The program evaluates comedians through live performances at every stage. A comedian who can command a room and adapt to different audiences across regional showcases demonstrates readiness for television.
- Distinct point of view as an underrepresented voice: The program targets comedians from backgrounds underrepresented in mainstream comedy. A clear, specific perspective shaped by the comedian's identity and community is more competitive than material that could be performed by anyone.
- Performance discipline across multiple rounds: The process is grueling. Comedians perform a 1-minute initial audition, a 2 to 3 minute callback, a 7-minute semifinalist set, and then a finalist showcase in Los Angeles. Stamina and the ability to deliver under pressure at each stage is essential.
- Readiness for industry exposure without existing representation: The program targets emerging talent who have not yet secured an agent or development deal. Comedians who are already repped or have network deals may be beyond the program's scope.
Watch
See Also
For comedy writers targeting late night and sketch formats rather than stand-up performance, see the Late Night Writers Workshop listing. For planning a development timeline from performance to production, use the Production Schedule Calculator. For estimating the financial viability of a comedy feature project, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator.
