Life & Work with Chandler Barbee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chandler Barbee.

Hi Chandler, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Originally from a small town in Alabama, I’m a writer, producer, and performer based in Los Angeles, California with over nine years of production experience. I got my start in the entertainment industry at the young age of 18 working as a production assistant on different films in Atlanta and New Orleans. Having a love for film and comedy, I also started spending my nights after leaving set at stand-up comedy clubs around the city and writing my own material. Eventually in my early 20s, film and comedy brought me to Los Angeles where I continued to pursue both – working for producers during the day and studying/performing comedy at night.

Soon, I began writing, producing and performing for many different networks such as Fox Sports, Discovery, Shark Week, Sony, Comedy Central and ABC.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing up in a small rural town in the south, you never really seem to make it out unless you’re a sports star or country musician. Saying I wanted to work in film and comedy nonetheless at a young age, I heard a lot of “yeah…..ok….good luck with that.”…followed by a lot of eye rolls. I wanted to quit college by the time I was 19 and working in film but my parents were completely against it. So, I graduated with a BBA in Marketing at 20. My parents couldn’t say much after that. I left and never looked back. When I want something, I’ll figure out a way to get it. It’s kind of been how I live my life. Preparation and saying ‘yes’ to the opportunity when it comes is part of the process…no matter how nervous you feel.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Coming from a sketch and improvisation background, I thrive writing and performing different characters in comedy. I’m definitely known for my sarcastic and dry, dark sense of humor. It’s funny because I’m a tiny blonde, but I usually write the darkest material in the room.

I would say right now, I’m most known for being the host writer on ABC’s Holey Moley. We just finished shooting seasons 3 and 4 this spring. Joe and Rob are very fun to pitch joke ideas to because they’re always up to try a new bit no matter how odd they think it sounds.

I think in my own comedic characters, I’m very comfortable being “the villain” or the anti-hero. I want people to hate me. The sketches I write and play are satire. Sometimes I laugh because people think I’m being serious online but that just shows my comedy has a clear point of view.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I think taking risks, especially in comedy, is what sets someone apart from others. Every time I write or say a joke, it’s a risk. Will people get it? Will it bomb? You can’t be afraid to fail. The best advice I got from a comedian at a young age was to be okay with bombing….in fact, embrace it. Every good comedian can. If the worst thing I did was try to make someone laugh for 5 minutes and it falls flat…well, I think I can live with that. Risks are healthy.

Contact Info:

• Website: ChandlerBarbee.com
• Instagram: @chandlerbarbee
• Twitter: @chandlerbarbee
• Other: Tiktok: @chanbarbee

Image Credits:
Images 1-3 are from Fox NFL Sketch Show Riggle’s Picks 2018-2020 Image 4 is from Sony’s Ski Master Academy Image 5 is from Shark Week 2019 Chandler with cast Image 6 is from Holey Moley with Hosts Joe Tessitore and Rob Riggle