10-03-2025
Comedian Joe Gatto 'can't wait to have some Cincinnati chili' ahead of his Queen City show
When Joe Gatto last visited Cincinnati just over two years ago, stand-up comedy was "a new challenge" for him.
Now, the former "Impractical Jokers" star is a full-on pro. After dropping his first comedy special, "Messing With People," on Hulu last year, he's currently amid his Let's Get Into It tour, coming to Taft Theatre on Saturday.
"I'm better (than I was), for sure," Gatto said with a laugh.
"I hear all the time, 'Oh, you're actually funny.' I'm like, 'Thanks, I think.' ... The good thing is I'm by myself, so you get a full hour of me. So if you're a fan of me from ('Jokers'), it's the same guy that you saw on the show. I wasn't playing a character on that. So it's interesting that people get to dive in deeper and learn more about me."
Here's more from The Enquirer's conversation with Gatto, including very Cincinnati-themed topics, such as chili and Travis Kelce.
Growing up, Gatto looked to the movies and TV shows for his main sources of comedy. He loved Mel Brooks, and would watch Tim Allen's "Home Improvement" with his father.
Allen's stand-up also ended up being the first stand-up special Gatto ever watched.
"(It was) one of those, my dad was like, 'Don't tell mom we'll watch this,' kind of thing," he said. "I remember that and laughing with my dad, and that being cool to have that experience to be like quoting stuff back and forth with my father."
"Now to be that for people is like is the best, coolest thing in my life."
Gatto is in a competitive industry. There are stars galore in the stand-up comedy scene: Shane Gillis, Kevin Hart and Cincinnati-born Nikki Glaser, just to name a few.
"I think it's great," he said. "I think there's room for everybody. With more stand-ups and more ways to discover them, I think people have more ways to laugh. I do like that people can break out in multiple different fashions now."
"I love when people go to see one of the comics they like ... and then they meet their opener. That's one of the coolest things for me is that people are open to stand-up as a format in a really cool way, because there's just so much talent swimming in the pool."
When asked what fans can expect during a Joe Gatto show, the comedian was honest.
"It's going to be terrible," he joked. "You shouldn't come. I'm trying a reverse psychology thing, let's see if it works. It's going to be the worst night of your life. Don't do it. Don't come out."
In all seriousness, Gatto's shows are about one word: fun.
"They're a night of entertainment where people can just come laugh," he said. "I really pride myself on making that and curating that."
While participating in a game of Cincinnati trivia (for a second time), Gatto discussed a slew of Queen City-themed topics.
He was intrigued with Cincinnati's dish of chili on on top of noodles, saying, "Well, I can't wait to have some Cincinnati chili when I get there."
He, however, doesn't eat meat, but said he'll try some vegetarian chili.
Gatto also chatted about University of Cincinnati football alum Travis Kelce, who appeared on his former show "The Misery Index," which ran from 2019 to 2022. He additionally saw the Chiefs tight end last year at a charity event he goes to in Kansas City every year, called the Big Slick.
"I took a selfie with him, and my daughter was like, 'You know Taylor (Swift's) boyfriend?' I'm like,'Yes, I know Taylor's boyfriend," he said.
Gatto's Taft Theatre show is at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Joe Gatto talks meeting Travis Kelce: 'Yes, I know Taylor's boyfriend'
