"Because I Could": Joe Rogan Opens Up on His Decision to Build the "Comedy Mothership"

As soon as Joe Rogan inked his $200 million deal with Spotify, he wasted no time in devising a plan for his windfall: to construct a comedy club tailored for the comic fraternity, by the comic fraternity - a bastion of hilarity, madness, and anarchy in equal measure.

Inspired by Mitzi Shore's legendary Comedy Store, Rogan spent two and a half years developing his vision, culminating in the grand opening of the 'Comedy Mothership.' During an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience with Pauly Shore, son of Mitzi Shore, Rogan revealed his motivation behind the project: "I did it because I could. It was one of those things, if someone could, they should. And you can, so why aren’t you? Well, you should. I had a talk with myself. Like goddamn do you really want to take on this?"

With the Comedy Mothership, Rogan aimed to create a space that nurtures new talent while attracting comedy's biggest names. He sought input from fellow comedians, even delaying the club's opening to incorporate suggestions, such as Louis CK's advice to make the smaller stage more intimate by lowering the ceiling.

"I did it because I could. It was one of those things, if someone could, they should. And you can, so why aren’t you? Well, you should."

The venue boasts two distinct showrooms: Fat Man, the larger headliner showroom, and Little Boy, a more intimate space featuring a mix of local and national talent. Named after the code names for the atomic bombs dropped on Japan during World War II, these spaces embody Rogan's explosive vision for comedy.

As a tribute to his inspiration, Rogan included a new bar called Mitzi's Bar and Lounge, ensuring Mitzi Shore's influence lives on within the Comedy Mothership.

Visitors to the Comedy Mothership are greeted by a sign warning, "Hecklers Will Be Alienated," and are required to store their phones in Yondr bags, creating a phone-free space that allows comedians the ultimate freedom to perform. Already, legends like Roseanne Barr, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, and Ron White have taken to the stage.

On opening night, Rogan himself took the stage, exclaiming, "I’m drunk and on mushrooms in my new club! This is as high as I’ve ever been onstage. I need to connect with this moment … You can’t fire me from my own club, b**ch!"

With the Comedy Mothership, Joe Rogan has crafted a space that both honors the comedy greats of the past and cultivates the stars of the future. It's a bold, innovative venture that promises to change the landscape of stand-up comedy forever.

Listen to Rogan's full podcast with Pauly Shore here: