KFC Radio: "Vittorio Angelone Had The Best New York Week One Could Possibly Have"

Barstool Sports | November 11, 2025
Guests: Vittorio Angelone (UK/Ireland Comedian), KFC, Feitelberg (and occasional Big Cat appearance)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the London-based, Belfast-raised comedian Vittorio Angelone, who joins KFC Radio hosts to recount what’s likely the wildest debut week in New York City any comedian could hope for. The conversation ranges from the surreal comic-book-luck of his Big Apple run, deep dives into comedy and internet culture (both US and UK), to unique career insights, cultural comparisons, accidental celebrity encounters, and hilarious moments from the host’s and Vittorio’s lives.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Vittorio’s Insane New York Week

Starts: [39:06]

• Getting Passed at The Comedy Cellar in 2 Days
  • Vittorio tells the story about how, through a handful of random connections, he was passed at NYC’s legendary Comedy Cellar after only 48 hours in New York.
  • "So he just emailed the owner and I did an audition on Friday. And then two days into being in New York, I'm passed at the Cellar." — Vittorio [01:05], [40:51]
  • The hosts marvel at how major and rare it is to get that opportunities so fast.
• Riding the NYC Celebrity Circuit
  • Vittorio gets invited pitch-side at a Jets game, finds himself featured on the Jets' Instagram, and winds up at a packed SNL after-party, rubbing elbows with superstars:
    • "The SNL after party... My agent in America was like, oh, I can get you on the guest list for that... as we're walking up to the door, James Cordon walks in before us…" [66:16]

2. Comedy, Culture & Internet: US vs UK

Consistent through 04:00 – 90:00

• Stand-Up Structure: American vs British/Irish
  • Vittorio dispels myths about UK stand-up being all “one-person-shows” but admits the Fringe structure invites more narrative arcs than US hour sets.
  • UK comics, he explains, usually build to the Edinburgh Fringe, a pressure-cooker experience for storytellers.
• Comedy Copycats & Originality
  • Deep chat about the “epidemic” of TikTok crowd-work clips, copycat comedians, and why so many end up mimicking hits instead of finding unique voices.
  • "It's almost like... we just start doing what someone else did and then it's like, well, I'm just doing their thing." — KFC [21:20]
  • The discussion highlights how “playing the game” can be detrimental, and why true stars find—and stick to—their real strengths.
• Internet Algorithms & Artistic Frustrations
  • The algorithm's chase for views shapes both online music and comedy into sameness, they agree. But both sides note the magic that happens when someone does successfully “break the mold.”
• Differences in Crowd Response and Cultural References
  • US audiences are more overtly enthusiastic:
    • “American audiences are very, like, unashamedly enthusiastic...they seem very ready to, like, on your side.” — Vittorio [32:02]
  • Vittorio shares he rarely has to change the “edginess” of material between UK/US, only the occasional local reference.

3. Comedic Influence, Authenticity, and Self-Image

Woven through — especially 70:00–93:00

• Finding and Owning Your Own Voice
  • Vittorio and hosts agree about the importance of steering away from direct imitation, but acknowledge that all comedians are, in part, mosaics of their heroes.
  • Multiple examples given (James Acaster, Shane Gillis, Daniel Kitson, etc.) about how mimicry is part of early stagecraft, but true development means leaving it behind.
• Self-Esteem and Comedy Cultures
  • The hosts compare New York’s classic self-deprecation to LA’s “genre-reinventing” attitude, a difference that echoes in the UK–with British comic humility (“it’s fine”) versus US-style confidence.

4. Podcasting as Comedy’s New Frontier

82:00 onwards

• Barstool, "Have A Word," and Indie Podcast Success
  • UK is “catching up” to the US podcast boom:
    • “I think we're sort of catching up to it. Like the Have A Word podcast in Liverpool...they were the first. They were sort of the pioneers of the independent...comedian produced podcast. And they're huge.” — Vittorio [83:15]
  • The episode delves into the blend of copying/inspiration, and how big UK podcasts are now seeding their own waves of imitators—but that authenticity still breaks through.

5. Notable NYC Moments & Observations

• Live Music Rarity
  • Vittorio spots Ed Sheeran singing to a bar of 60 people—further proof he's living a charmed New York week:
    • “And then Ed Sheeran comes out and sings like three folk songs to 60 people in a pub.” — Vittorio [51:21]
• Cultural "Failure to Launch" Moments
  • Hosts and Vittorio joke about America’s love for gigantic flags at football games, casino politics in Times Square, and Vittorio’s fleeting brush with memorial awkwardness at the Jets game.

Notable Quotes

| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |-----------|-------------|---------------| | “Two days into being in New York, I'm passed at the Cellar.” | Vittorio | 01:05 / 40:51 | | “If you mix and match [the Italian and Irish] the right way, it's good. But if you...get the Italian when you need the Irish and you're the Irish…” | KFC | 02:44 | | "People saw the success of people like Schultz or Rife...so everybody was like, 'oh, well, I have to do that.'” | Vittorio | 14:14, 18:14 | | "You just need there to be enough [influences] that you become a mix of all of those things.” | Vittorio | 84:16 | | “I think we're sort of catching up...podcasting as a boom and platform.” | Vittorio | 83:15 | | "UK comedy is becoming more like music. We're about to get genres." | Vittorio | 13:57 | | “New York is not gonna...it's not that awesome. The next time you come, it's gonna suck, man.” | KFC | 55:52 | | “I'm such a chancer now. I think I've gotten cocky…” | Vittorio | 71:36 |

Most Memorable Moments (With Timestamps)

• [01:05], [40:51]: Vittorio’s whirlwind Comedy Cellar story
• [51:21]: Ed Sheeran’s impromptu Irish bar set
• [66:16]: Vittorio at the SNL afterparty, name-dropping James Corden at the door
• [32:02]: "American audiences are very, like, unashamedly enthusiastic."
• [73:20]: The "moving to New York" discussion after getting passed at the Cellar
• [80:17]: Daniel Kitson story—UK comedy legend with no agent or social media, but a sold-out mailing list following.

Cultural Contrasts & Comic Insight Highlights

• British vs. American Comedy:

  • Americans are more self-promoting, British/Irish comics more modest.
  • Most US comics throw together their hour, Brits build a narrative ending due to the Fringe format.
  • British culture’s reticence to push their own material on social media—unique compared to the American grind.

• On Crowd Work and Internet Clones

  • Both US and UK scenes are experiencing a rise of crowd work clips.
  • Many comics are copying successful social media patterns (“what do you do for a living?”), blurring originality.
  • Hosts and Vittorio agree: creativity is nuanced, and "copycat culture" is a double-edged sword—beneficial for progress and new forms, but can dull the industry.

• Podcast/Touring Industry in UK:

  • UK comedy catching up in terms of independent podcasting, with "Have A Word" as proof of concept.
  • Unique, close-knit podcast and live show circuit; Vittorio names names for American listeners to check out: Adam Rowe ("Juicy" and "Club Comic"), Kyla Cobbler, Ed Knight.

Recommendations for Listeners/New York Visitors

• John’s of Bleecker for Pizza (avoid the long line by ordering online), skip the tourist traps, and if you’re looking for true New York, prioritize classic clubs ([58:17])
• For must-see UK comedians:
  • Adam Rowe (specials: "Club Comic" and "Juicy")
  • Kyla Cobbler
  • Ed Knight
  • Mike Rice
  • Raymond Mars (for wild Glaswegian humor)

Tone and Delivery

The conversation is fast, irreverent, honest, self-deprecating, and wildly funny—classic KFC Radio style. The hosts and Vittorio riff seamlessly with genuine respect and curiosity for comedy’s craft, and share plenty of “barstool” camaraderie.

Final Thought

Vittorio’s “jammy bastard” week in NYC is as much a celebration of luck as it is of hustle, charm, and timing. The episode provides sharp, informed opinions on the intersection of comedy, internet fame, and self-identity—poking fun at the culture while also serving up inspiration for anyone grinding in creative industries. A must-hear for fans of stand-up, podcast culture, and anyone curious about London-to-NYC culture shocks.

Further Segments & Key Timestamps

• [10:05] – South Park's billion-dollar deal & cultural relevance
• [13:57] – The myth of a "dead" comedy scene (re: cancel culture)
• [17:32] – Crowd work vs. written material in modern comedy
• [32:02] – New York crowd energy and Vittorio’s opening-night bits
• [41:51] – Anatomy of the Comedy Cellar audition and the unique thrill of NYC clubs
• [51:21] – Ed Sheeran’s surprise set in tiny pub
• [66:16] – SNL afterparty gatecrash, UK version of SNL casting
• [73:20] – Will Vittorio move to NYC? Why most UK comics still stay put

Bottom line: This is an unfiltered, wildly entertaining masterclass in modern comedy, New York/life, and cross-cultural hustle—driven by one comedian’s improbable week at the center of it all.