Bloomers Comedy was born out of a revolutionary comedic impulse in 1978 on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, becoming the nation’s premier groundbreaking collegiate all-female musical and sketch comedy troupe. Over decades of late-night writers’ rooms, campus theater stages, and sharp satirical revues, the troupe established a reputation as one of the most prolific creative incubators for writers, performers, and comedic auteurs.
Among its distinguished alumni is Emmy-nominated actress, writer, and comedian Vanessa Bayer, whose seven seasons on Saturday Night Live and acclaimed television work (I Love That for You, Trainwreck) trace their performance DNA back to the fearless, character-driven improv spaces nurtured at Bloomers. Throughout its collegiate history, Bloomers maintained deep collaborative ties with Philadelphia’s creative ecosystem and the University of Pennsylvania’s famed Kelly Writers House, fostering generations of screenwriters, satirists, and comedic storytellers.
Our Modern Evolution: The Digital Journal of Comedy & Screen
Today, Bloomers Comedy operates as an independent digital publication and critical review journal, continuing that foundational mission of sharp, fearless, and intelligent humor commentary. We bridge the gap between historic stagecraft and modern digital culture, offering in-depth coverage across four core pillars:
- Stand-Up Specials & Live Comedy: Critical analysis of contemporary comedy specials, tracking structural narrative shifts, punchline mechanics, and tour debuts across major platforms like Netflix, HBO, and Amazon Prime Video.
- Television & Screenwriting: Deconstructing the craft of episodic comedy, sketch formats, writer’s room mechanics, and the journey of comedic actors transitioning from improv ensembles to auteur television.
- Memoirs & Literature: Curating the best comedic literature, memoirs, audiobooks, and essay collections that offer candid, behind-the-scenes insights into the comedic mind.
- Digital Culture & Vernacular: Exploring the linguistic evolution of modern humor, internet absurdity, and how the digital generation deconstructs traditional punchlines.
Our Mission
We believe comedy is the most urgent, honest, and transformative lens through which modern society evaluates itself. Whether reviewing an intimate stand-up club set, evaluating a groundbreaking satirical television pilot, or analyzing the shifting rhythms of comedic dialogue, our team of dedicated critics and contributing writers provides nuanced, engaging, and fearless critical perspective.