At a time when many in the LGBTQ+ community feel under attack, a new comedy series is hoping to do something deceptively simple: make people laugh. Premiering June 7 on Revry, “I’m Dead” blends stand-up comedy with reality-style confessionals, spotlighting LGBTQ+ comics in a format that feels both like a comedy showcase and behind-the-scenes hangout. But according to Revry co-founders and “I’m Dead” creators Damian Pelliccione and Christopher J. Rodriguez, the show is about more than punchlines, it is also about joy, visibility, and creating space for queer voices during a difficult cultural moment.
How ‘I’m Dead’ Is Bringing LGBTQ+ Joy During Difficult Times
For Pelliccione, the timing behind “I’m Dead” is no coincidence. “Comedy is protest,” Pelliccione told The Blast. “As long as we keep telling stories reflective of our actual lives as queer people, our message will be out there. And making someone laugh is probably the best way to connect with people.”
“They’ve done studies showing that during periods of economic hardship, social unrest, and political uncertainty, interest in joyous and positive content actually increases,” he added. “In the same way, I believe that people have more of an appetite to laugh right now.”
That sentiment feels particularly urgent for LGBTQ+ audiences. “We’ve seen a lot of rollbacks of LGBTQ+ rights and visibility over the past couple of years as well as a marked decrease in corporate support for prides,” Pelliccione said. “We need to laugh right now.”
The creator also echoed a message shared by Bad Bunny during this year’s Super Bowl, adding, “I believe that the best form of protest is to spread love and joy.”
Why The Title Felt Like ‘An Obvious Winner’
The series title may seem dramatic, but it actually stems from a very online observation. Rodriguez said he began noticing a shift in how younger people reacted to jokes, particularly Gen Z.
“People, particularly Gen Z, were starting to use the phrase ‘LOL’ less and less and were instead simply responding to funny texts with a skull and crossbones emoji,” he explained. “I even began noticing that younger friends were simply responding to jokes with a simple ‘I’m dead.’”
When brainstorming titles for the project, Rodriguez said the phrase immediately stood out: “It seemed like an obvious winner.”
How ‘I’m Dead’ Gives LGBTQ+ Comics More Than Just Stage Time
Rather than creating a straightforward comedy special, the duo opted for something more layered, combining stand-up sets with reality-style confessionals designed to showcase comedians beyond the stage. “Honestly? Two reasons,” Rodriguez said of the unconventional format. “To freshen up a classic format and to better introduce these comics to the world.”
For many featured performers, “I’m Dead” marks their first time performing on camera, making the confessional segments a way to spotlight personalities that audiences might not otherwise get to know. “We wanted to highlight them in a way that wasn’t fleeting or anonymous,” Rodriguez explained, but don’t expect tear-filled vulnerability sessions. “We intentionally kept the confessional aspect pretty lighthearted.”
He went on to call it “more of an opportunity to interject more zingers that they may have not gotten the opportunity to say on stage.”
Why Queer Comedy Is Finally Breaking Into The Mainstream
While LGBTQ+ comedy has historically existed in niche spaces, Pelliccione believes audiences are increasingly embracing queer humor in mainstream entertainment. “Oh, for sure,” he said when asked whether queer comedy is finally breaking through.
According to Pelliccione, younger generations are increasingly fluid in how they approach gender and sexuality, making queer stories feel more universally relatable. “One of the benefits in this is that ‘queer humor,’ if there is such a thing, is now more broadly consumable,” he explained. “We don’t need to be a drag king who grew up in the deep south to relate to their particular circumstances and get the joke.”
Representation also played a major role in shaping the show’s cast. “It was very important that we cast a wide net so that the end result would be the best representation of what our community actually looks like,” Pelliccione said. “We genuinely wanted our diverse queer community to actually see comics and perspectives that they personally related to.”
‘I’m Dead’ Fans Will Get More Comedy With New Podcast ‘Mic Drop’
The laughs will continue beyond the series itself. Following the June 7 premiere of “I’m Dead,” Revry will debut “Mic Drop,” a new original podcast hosted by Pelliccione that offers fans a deeper look at the comedians featured in the show.
Premiering Monday, June 8, the new podcast will feature one-on-one conversations with comics appearing on “I’m Dead,” diving into major career moments, personal experiences, and the stories behind the jokes. New episodes will drop weekly every Monday following Sunday’s episode of “I’m Dead” and will be available wherever podcasts are streamed.
As for what comes next if “I’m Dead” resonates with viewers? “Season 2, baby!” Pelliccione teased.