While striving for opportunities to perform in Changsha, the duo reached a turning point about five years ago. In early 2020, at an open mic, a participant didn't show and the duo was strongly recommended to get on stage. With a just-finished script, they boldly seized the chance and wowed the audience.
"We were lucky," recalls Xu with a smile. "It was a very small stage. The audience was very open to new things, so performers could freestyle. We gave it a try, and I realized that our individual performances could be a joint show."
Since then, the duo's career has taken off. After winning first place at Stand-up Comedy and Friends Season 1, their presence expanded from local clubs to various shows and stages, putting them under national and global spotlights.
Despite the duo's daily life now packed with work and tight schedules, they are firmly sticking to their passion and relentlessly exploring new possibilities. At the recent Bilibili Chinese New Year Gala, the two innovatively incorporated singing, which they both are good at, into their performance, presenting a refreshing show.
"When I perform comedy, that's when I'm most genuine. I can put myself and all my emotions in it with no fear. I will always love comedy and making people laugh," says Xu.
"Comedy needs perseverance and taking responsibility. It will never disappear, and generations of comedians are making efforts to support the art form. Whether it's decades ago or now, audiences always love and need 'pure' happiness," Tan adds.
Comedy veterans, including Song Xiaobao, Wang Xiaoli, Song Xiaofeng, and Wen Song, share similar sentiments to those of Xu and Tan. Having been in the comedy industry for roughly 10 to 40 years, respectively, the four comedians from northeastern China remain committed to the art form, moving with the times and exploring their evolving selves.
At Bilibili's gala, they blended short — and micro-drama themes and elements into their comedic performances, aiming to make the young audiences on the popular video-sharing platform laugh. In their eyes, Bilibili users are "trendy, talented, and knowledgeable". The younger generation has different lives and demands, which require them to "keep the old and welcome in the new".
"It is quite a different show from those we've presented before. We are used to more traditional comedic presentations, but realize audiences are becoming more interested in talk shows, where stories and forms are more relatable to their lives. We live in different times, so we need to change our mindsets, break down barriers, and learn from each other," says Song Xiaobao.
Wang, who has been a comedian for four decades, adds, "Whatever era we are in, we all need happiness. It is the essence of comedy, and will never change."
Zhao Siqiang, a 30-year-old comedy scriptwriter better known as Yu Xuan, extends his utmost respect to these veterans. First connecting with comedy in 2018, he quit his job, got on the stage as a comedian, and became a full-time scriptwriter in 2021. He scripted the musical comedy show presented by Xu and Tan at the Bilibili gala.
"Writing comedy also fulfills my creative drive. It allows me to combine my favorite things in an interesting way. Happiness has no boundaries, and we can do a lot of innovation and improvisation in comedy," says Zhao.
Zhao agrees that public demand for comedy and relaxation will always exist, but this results in a wider range of forms, such as talk shows, cross-talks, sketches, comedy films, and more.
Shi Xiaoyu, known as Liu Shou, a 41-year-old comedian and scriptwriter, adds that people nowadays care more about their "emotions" and demand content that generates "emotional value".
"In many cases, it's me who needs comedy more than the audience. I need to hear them laugh to help me feel alive. Comedy completes and nourishes me," Shi says.
