The Comedy Cellar: Live from the Table Atlantic Writer Helen Lewis on The Riyadh Comedy Festival and Hero Worship
Nov 14, 2025
Helen Lewis, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author, shares her thoughts on attending the Riyadh Comedy Festival and its impact on perceptions of comedy in repressive regimes. She explores the complexities of hero worship in her book, The Genius Myth, discussing how admiration can excuse bad behavior in artists. Joining her, Sheba Mason promotes The Jackie Mason Musical, reflecting on her father's legacy and family memories, while the duo discusses the evolving landscape of stand-up comedy and the influence of social media on performers.
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Vary Tempo For Emotional Impact
- Comic styles vary: rapid-fire one-liners can fatigue, while mixes of short jokes and longer personal stories feel more mature.
- Lewis cites Jimmy Carr's technical skill but notes tonal variety can make sets more compelling.
Gay Presence On Saudi Stage
- Lewis traveled to Riyadh with her gay editor and evaluated safety and symbolic meaning of queer presence on stage.
- She found that being openly gay on a Saudi stage was provocative but unlikely to trigger the harshest legal reprisals compared to attacking Islam or the crown prince.
Controlled Modernization In Saudi Arabia
- Saudi reforms aim to 'normalize' the kingdom internationally while centralizing power under MBS.
- Lewis explains that many social changes are controlled optics rather than full liberalization.
