The recent catastrophic wildfires have inflicted widespread damage across Los Angeles and its surrounding areas, impacting numerous residents, including the comedian Pete Lee. Despite facing personal loss, Lee turned to his craft, demonstrating resilience and a comedian’s unique way of coping through humor.
Pete Lee shared his experience with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, revealing the heartbreaking news of his house burning down. “I don’t mean to be a bummer. This is a comedy show, I’m a comedian, but: My house burned down yesterday,” Lee announced to the audience on January 9th. His candidness was met with audible sympathy from the studio audience, which Lee jokingly compared to a game show’s unfortunate “bankrupt” buzzer. He presented before-and-after photos of his home, contrasting its former state with the charred remains, challenging the misconception that only wealthy celebrities are affected by such disasters, emphasizing that many ordinary working individuals in LA are also victims. Lee recounted the surreal experience of witnessing his house ablaze on a news broadcast, highlighting the impersonal nature of tragedy unfolding through media coverage. “The anchor was in front of my house. And he’s like, ‘Some people are finding out right now that their home is burning by watching this broadcast.’ And I’m watching it with a friend, I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s me. That’s my house,” Lee explained to Fallon, adding a touch of dark humor, “My friend goes, ‘Which one is your house?’ And I go, ‘The orange one.'”
Despite the evident sadness of the situation, Lee expressed that being on The Tonight Show provided a sense of therapy and a welcome distraction. He conveyed his appreciation to Jimmy Fallon, stating, “It also gave me something to focus on, and you’re a great friend, Jimmy. You’re a great man. I love you.” Fallon responded with support, acknowledging Lee’s strength and the resilience of the Los Angeles community, saying, “I appreciate this because I think it shows everyone how strong everyone is right now during these times. L.A. is going to come back, and they’re gonna come back stronger.”
Comedic Coping: Pete Lee Jokes About House Fire
In the face of personal tragedy, Pete Lee, the comedian, instinctively channeled his experience into his comedy. He updated his followers on Instagram about his house, even amidst the emotional turmoil, stating to Fallon that he was “crying so hard that it sounded like pulling a straw in and out of a fast food cup.” Lee addressed potential criticism regarding humor in tragedy, asserting, “There are gonna be people, with already the jokes that I’ve said making light of this, that are going to be mad at me because they’re going to go, ‘Hey, you’re making fun of a tragedy too soon.’ My house burned down. I can tell jokes about this.” This statement underscores the comedian’s right to process and express his experience through his comedic lens.
Lee described his coping mechanism as joke-writing, revealing, “Yesterday, I was crying, and then I just kept writing down jokes.” He even workshopped some of his wildfire-themed material, quipping, “When your house burns down, Dry January is over,” and joking about his “blaze orange” house resembling “the logo for a Guy Fieri restaurant.” His Instagram post on January 9th further reflected his mindset: “I wasn’t home when the fire came through yesterday. I’m in NYC running my Tonight Show set for tomorrow. So grateful to have a healthy distraction. But way more grateful that everyone in the neighborhood got out alive. Still, I’m so sad, which isn’t an emotion you’re used to seeing me wear.”
Following his interview, Pete Lee returned to The Tonight Show stage and delivered a stand-up set that resonated deeply with the audience, earning him a standing ovation. This performance showcased his ability to transform personal adversity into relatable and engaging comedy, highlighting the therapeutic power of humor in times of crisis. His stand-up set, titled “Pete Lee Stand-Up: Being Agreeable, Uber Drivers,” further solidified his comedic talent and resilience in the face of personal loss.
