‘SNL’ Alum Punkie Johnson Sets Debut Stand-Up Special ‘Long Tiddie Short Story’ With Hartbeat

EXCLUSIVE: Former Saturday Night Live cast member Punkie Johnson has announced that her debut stand-up special, Long Tiddie Short Story, will premiere on Hartbeat’s LOL Stand-Up YouTube Channel October 21st. In the special, Johnson steps into the ring to reflect on her time at SNL, her complicated relationship with queerness, and her own questionable life choices. It’s billed as a brutally honest and unfiltered hour about marriage, sex, drugs, and what can transpire when you pretend to be “normal.” Johnson taped the hour at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Directed by Steven Feinartz, it’ll be available as a comedy album across audio streaming services on November 13, available for pre-order on October 21. The special is produced by Feinartz and Danielle Lee and exec produced by Johnson, Ethan Stern and Dominic Del Bene. Hartbeat reunites with Johnson after producing her 2023 SiriusXM show, Love Thang, for Kevin Hart’s LOL Radio. Recently, she’s also filmed a role in their upcoming Barbershop TV series for Prime Video. The special joins a growing stand-up slate from Hartbeat, including the second installment of LOL Live at Hulu, with new half-hour specials currently rolling out monthly, as well as Funny AF, the stand-up competition series that was picked up for a second season after drumming up major viewership at Netflix. Watch on Deadline The deal to distribute Johnson’s special was spearheaded by Hartbeat President & Chief Distribution Officer Jeff Clanagan and VP, Comedy Eric Weil. Clanagan told us, “Punkie is exactly the kind of singular comedic voice we want to champion at Hartbeat. We’ve had the opportunity to work with her across radio, television and now stand-up, and bringing her debut special directly to audiences on YouTube reflects our larger strategy of creating more ways for great comedians to reach fans wherever they are. We’re excited to continue building with Punkie and supporting her work across platforms.” Weil added, “Punkie has the rare ability to be completely fearless and deeply personal at the same time. Long Tiddie Short Story is unmistakably her — honest, unpredictable and incredibly funny. We’re proud to be part of her first stand-up special and to continue a creative relationship with Punkie that has grown across radio, television and stand-up.” A comedian, actress and writer from New Orleans, Louisiana, Johnson was with SNL for four seasons beginning in 2020. Touring nationally these days while developing original television and film projects, she’s previously been seen starring in two seasons of Lena Waithe’s The Chi, with additional roles in HBO Max’s Love Life, Netflix’s Space Force, HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show and CBS’s Ghosts. Johnson also served as a writer/consultant on Peacock’s reboot of Queer as Folk and appeared in the cult hit comedy film Bottoms opposite Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott. She is repped by Ethan Stern at Underscore, WME and Ziffren Brittenham.