At a time when controversial comedian Dave Chappelle makes news for his every Netflix stand-up special and Bill Burr wins headlines for heading over to Hulu for his new stand-ups, Philly’s Chip Chantry – a winner of Helium Comedy Club’s “Philly’s Phunniest” tournament and its 2024’s One Liner Madness contest – is just getting started when it comes to the streaming stand-up stakes.
This week, in connection with Los Angeles’ Electric Obrien production house, Chantry’s debut stand-up comedy special, “Move Closer,” drops on YouTube.
Couple this with his recent breakout role as Kyle The Liar in fellow area stand-up comic Shane Gillis’ Netflix comedy series “Tires,” and Chantry is having a pretty good year.
“I’m glad the world is about to see how funny Chip is,” writes Todd Glass, yet another famous Philadelphia-raised stand-up comedian for whom Chantry has opened shows. “Chip is a joke machine on and off stage. He’s always writing smart and well-crafted jokes and delivers them at a pace that keeps audiences on their toes, but in such a relatable way.”
During his-Helium-filmed live YouTube show, Chantry’s “Move Closer” proves himself as empathetic and accessible as Glass predicts with whip smart stories about young married couples choosing animals over children; the joys of music over sports; and new neighborhood engagements. There are more Philadelphia references than a handful of M. Night Shyamalan films, too, that makes for a hyper-responsive local crowd that can’t stop laughing throughout the show.
Done in tandem with producer and Electric Obrien founder Thomas O’Brien (“Electric Obrien perfectly captured my style of comedy – silly and fun, but with an edge; like having a knife fight with a clown,” Chantry said), “Move Closer” accurately portrays who the Philadelphia comedian is to his hometown and the wider world of comedy.
Ask Chantry – who has opened stand-up shows for headliners such as Tig Notaro, Bob Saget, Bert Kreischer and the aforementioned Chappelle – what took him so long to concoct his debut streaming event, and he fakes anger and surprise.
“That’s rude to ask, A.D. Did anyone ask Michelangelo how long it would be until he finished that ceiling? It took da Vinci 16 YEARS to paint the Mona Lisa. Also, I couldn’t decide what shirt I wanted to wear.”
When it comes to having and maintaining a great 2024, and his work as part of “Tires,” Chantry laughs about what a great time he has on set as well as on screen. “It was so much fun to work with my old comedy friends who just happen to be insanely talented. Plus, I’m hoping to parlay the role into getting a discount on my next oil change.”
Chantry’s choice in working with YouTube as opposed to stand-up comedy-forward streamers such as Hulu, Amazon Prime and Netflix comes to matters of business and art. “With YouTube, myself and Electric Obrien had COMPLETE CREATIVE CONTROL. Although Helium put the kibosh on the pyrotechnics and the horses REAL quick.”
“Move Closer” can be viewed at www.youtube.com/@chipchantry.
