Tiny Worm Iced Lattes and October’s Other Must-See Comedy Shorts

Each month, many funny videos are posted to every corner of the internet — from the platform formerly known as Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, TikTok, and sometimes other weird places we’ll have trouble embedding. Because you’re busy living your life, you might miss some of these funny videos and feel left out when others bring them up in conversation. Well, worry not! We’re here to make sure you’re not listening in on conversations but leading them … as long as those conversations are about funny internet videos. Here are our favorite comedy shorts of the month.

“Always Lock Your Doors,” by Garrett McKenna

Beware this Halloween, because Rumpelstiltskin is on the loose, knocking on doors and requesting families’ firstborns. Luckily, he’s absolutely terrible with addresses. So don’t just hand over your kid if he knocks. Do a little due diligence first to make sure he’s at the right house.

“The Condo Song,” by SaxBoyBilly18

It’s disheartening to think that the human race is so utterly predictable that every decision we make charts another link in a pre-fashioned chain of mediocrity. But what are you going to do? We fucking aspire to spend our 20s and early 30s in poorly built, semi-modernist condo communities where the pools and grills are as full service as the revolvers we’re going to want to stick in our mouths by the time we’re 50-year-old empty nesters in the ’burbs. With that all said … the dogs are super-cute.

“Danimal,” by Danny Groh and Matthew Strickland

In this hybrid-mockumentary short, Danny Groh plays “Danimal,” a YouTuber with way too much enthusiasm for the animals he works with. Groh has found a perfect conduit here for his aggro puppy-dog energy, which is somehow both alarming and extremely gentle at the same time. “His lawyers reached out and asked if he could have a place to come during the day,” says a shelter employee played by Ben Warheit, watching Groh tussle around with the dogs, fully in his element.

“I Just Need IDs and Proof That You’re Queer,” by ASSSSCAT

In this scene from a set at ASSSSCAT, the Upright Citizens Brigade’s signature improv show, a bouncer checks everyone’s queer credentials on their way into a club. It’s an extremely fun car wash of a premise for the rest of the team to gleefully run through with a very satisfying payoff. I don’t know what story from a guest monologist inspired this scene, but it feels rare for the mechanics of an improv bit to function this well out of context. To be fair, though, that’s what ASSSSCAT does best.

“King!”, by Gara Lonning and Mariposa Coalson

A mind-altering piece of comedic performance art that is in every way better seen than described and better experienced than scrutinized, King! (or rather, in the manner of Dune and Wicked, King! Part One — there is a second act available to watch as well) features a manically energetic central performance from Gara Lonning alongside the serene, deadpan narration of co-creator Mariposa Coalson. An intoxicating blend for those in the right headspace. Then again, King! is the kind of art that puts you in the headspace it needs you to be in.

“Mom’s Last Words: I’m the Zodiac Killer,” by Haley Hepworth

A woman filming a living will for her family takes the opportunity to admit to them that she was actually the Zodiac Killer, then chastises them for not realizing it sooner. Because performer Haley Hepworth lays out the case so plausibly, it really feels like the family deserves it! It also begins to feel like this sketch could spawn a whole new genre of conspiracy theory. Call your moms, folks.

“My Girlfriend Turned Into a Worm,” by Alex Herz

Alex Herz is a real man. He knows exactly what to do when the woman you love most in the world … turns into a worm. And he’s made an assembly of shorts to teach the rest of us a thing or two about worm chivalry. If you think (human-worm) romance is dead, think again.

“POV: That One Kid in the Pool With You at Your Hotel,” by Sibel Damar

Sibel Damar, it seems, was watching us all as we swam in hotel pools from the ages of 6 through 11, because she’s nailed what we like to call “the lonely, chatterbox goggler.” Identified by the absence of any guardian, heavily pruned fingers, and oversharing, this type of child is the product of resorts with liberal pool hours and limited supervision requirements, and parents who are ever so thankful for both.

“Victim’s Notebook Filled With More Than Evidence,” by Jason Sweeten

This is a challenging, sometimes uncomfortable, deeply sad, boundary-pushing, deeply rewarding, and hilarious character from Jason Sweeten, who takes the worst experience of his life and turns it into a monologue about a man whose notebook implicating his former teacher in sexual abuse turns out to draw the police’s attention for more than one reason. Fantastic illustrations by Mark Ledgerwood bring the absurdity contained therein to vivid life.

“When You Gotta Rock With Bro Even Though He’s Not Mysterious and Cool Around Women (He Talks to Them),” by Sahib Singh

Comedian Sahab Singh has taken some time out of his busy life to drop a little knowledge. You see, modern courtship isn’t about antiquated practices like “talking to” a would-be mate. No, the key to finding true love is creepily staring across the room at the object of your affection until they notice you. Then, you stare some more and make weird noises that you think make you seem unaffected and somehow above silly social norms. When they’re about to leave, seemingly beyond the point of any further tolerance for your bullshit … that’s when you make your move. Thank you, Sahib. What a delicate dance.

Like what you saw? Want to be in this monthly roundup? Show us your stuff! 

Luke Kelly-Clyne is a co-head of HartBeat Independent and a watcher of many web videos. Send him yours at @LKellyClyne.

Graham Techler has contributed writing to The New Yorker and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Send him your videos at @gr8h8m_t3chl3r.

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