Tonight is The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail Third Anniversary Halloween Blowout! It will be a killer show (isn’t it always?) and a great celebration of one of the best comedy shows in LA. Sean Patton, Brendon Burns, Barry Rothbart, Brent Morin and Pete Holmes will join Jonah Ray and Kumail Nanjiani, plus a comic who’s never done the show. Dress up as one of your favorite comedians and you will also be part of the show! So. Much. Fun. I talked with Meltdown producer Emily Gordon about the anniversary, Meltdown memories and more. A big spooky cheers to The Meltdown!

Emily Gordon by Tyler Ross

Serial Optimist: Congrats on the three year anniversary! When The Meltdown Show started, in the back of a comic book store three years ago, did you know that something special was happening? At that time were you thinking more, “I hope we just make it another week!” or were you able to see this far down the road, and it being such a hit?

Emily Gordon: We had no idea what the show would become when we started it three years ago. It had been already running with just Jonah on a monthly basis, and all I really wanted to do was make a good weekly comedy show that I would actually want to go to each week. At this time in LA, there were not a lot of independent shows outside of comedy clubs.

SO: Can you tell us about the first Meltdown show?

Emily: Oh man, I just remember that I was tweeting up a storm about it, and that Eugene Mirman, who was on the first show, was making fun of me for tweeting too much. So that was a good lesson to learn- don’t at-reply comedians too much! I had to stop off at an Urban Outfitters on the way to the show to get an IPod DJ dock for our music cues. We had a good turnout for the first show, and it was the first and only time that people sat on the floor instead of standing once we ran out of chairs. It was a blast, and luckily, audience member (and Meltdown friend) Adam Dorsey took photos from the audience.

SO: What is it like producing the show now, compared to when it first started? Has the vision and idea of Meltdown changed at all?

Emily: Now it is a well-oiled machine. I used to do everything myself, or with the help of Meltdown Comics owner Gaston (the best human in the universe), and now we have a team of four- three interns and a house manager- to handle all the things I used to do myself. The vision hasn’t changed though. It’s still the show I would want to go to, and it’s still the show that feels like you stumbled into an extremely inclusive secret clubhouse.

SO: Can you share with us a few of your favorite Meltdown memories over the past three years?

Emily: So many! I love the look on the audience’s faces when they see something on our stage they weren’t expecting to see, and this goes for big names like Robin Williams as well as comics who are new to them, like Sam Simmons. It’s most amazing when a comic they’ve never heard of goes out and knocks them out of their shoes. Other than that, the show we did when the power went out, lit by spotlight, was pretty memorable, and any show where the audience ends up telling really personal stories that affect people.

SO: Will Dave Kloc be doing a special anniversary poster? Fingers crossed!

Emily: Heck yeah he will. He’s such an important part of our team, and most people don’t know he is funnier than most comedians. He’s doing an extra big poster for our extra big show!

SO: You have a stellar lineup (as always) for the Halloween show tonight, including Pete Holmes. What was it like seeing one of your best friends have a dream come true with the premier of “The Pete Holmes Show?” How amazing was it that your husband was the first guest? Just as a fan, I was so giddy and excited for Pete, Kumail, you and just comedy in general, did you get chills!?!?

Emily: I got complete chills. I was there for the first episode taping, and when Pete ran out on stage and started the show, I got a little choked up. It’s such a perfect role for him. It’s been so cool to watch friends of ours get more and more famous over the past three years.

Jonah & Deanna

SO: How will Jonah and Deanna top their “Kids in the Hall” costumes? So good. Can you costume tease us on what you will be wearing? We just got super red carpet up in here. 

Emily: We’ve encouraged the audience to dress like their favorite comedians, which I’ll be doing as well (and I love early 90s lady comedians), but I don’t think anyone can top Jonah and Dee’s costumes. Any KitH costumes are going to slay me, and every year their costumes are so spot on. I’m hoping to convince Kumail and Jonah to dress like each other for the show though.

SO: This would make a great trivia question; a comic who’s never done the show will be making an appearance on Wednesday night. I honestly cannot think of any comedians who haven’t done the show! WHO IS IT!? Just kidding, we wouldn’t ask you to spoil the fun, but do you ever have to just pinch yourself at the amazing people you continually get? Do ever geek out when watching an all time favorite perform at YOUR show?

Emily: I geek out on a constant basis. But not just for the big names, I geek out for the friend of mine that I’ve seen in other cities who is doing our show for the first time. I geek out watching an audience go from watching a comedian to absolutely adoring that comedian. That’s my favorite moment. That being said, any time Louie CK walks into our backstage area, my heart flutters a little bit. My comedy heart. I’m married.

SO: When does shooting start for The Meltdown on Comedy Central? How excited are you for that!?

Emily: We start shooting in February of next year! We’re so excited! There’s a lot of work to do, but we’re wading in now.

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SO Note: The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail – Comedy in a Comic Book Store! Every Wednesday at 8:30pm at Nerdist Theater at Meltdown Comics- 7522 W Sunset Blvd. Get tickets here! Follow Emily @thegynomite and The Meltdown @meltdown_show.

*Photos by the amazing Tyler Ross