Impressionist Matt Friend took fans inside the ridiculously star-studded comedy brunch at Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos's home, where Kevin Hart, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kate Hudson, Jerry Seinfeld, and David Letterman were among the attendees.
A Gathering of Comedy Legends
On Thursday, the biggest names in comedy descended on the home of Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos for a brunch celebrating the third Netflix Is a Joke Festival in Los Angeles. The biennial comedy festival, produced by the streaming giant, launched in 2022 and features a range of performances from stand-up to live podcasts and roast battles.
Matt Friend, an impressionist known for his takes on Jeff Goldblum, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama, shared a series of photos and videos on Instagram, giving fans a peek inside the exclusive event. "Netflix Comedy Brunch at the gorgeous home of Ted Sarandos & Nicole Avant… I'm a kid in a candy store! Living the dream, let's keep going," Friend wrote in his caption.
Sarandos and his wife, Avant, former U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas, bought their home in L.A.'s Hancock Park for $15 million in 2015.
A Star-Studded Affair
In a selfie video, Friend exclaims, "This is crazy," as he scans the crowd of A-listers behind him. He spots Adam Sandler and Eddie Murphy casually shaking hands, and pans to reveal Kevin Hart, John Mulaney, Chris Rock, Kate Hudson, Jerry Seinfeld, David Letterman, John Stewart, and Sarandos himself. Friend then asks fellow comic Bert Kreischer how he feels, to which Kreischer replies, "I feel f***ing incredible." Friend then pans to Sarandos, who parodies his famous Trump impression, saying, "I love it! It's a very important day."
Comments on Friend's post included "Wow! This is where the secret service needs to be" and "What is this? The Comedic Avengers?!" Another fan added, "Nearly every funny person alive is in that photo. Wild."
Photos shared by the official Netflix Is A Joke Instagram page revealed even more stars, including Dave Chappelle, Jelly Roll, Will Forte, David Spade, Ken Jeong, and Brittany Snow.
The Netflix Is a Joke Festival
This year's festival, running May 4 to 10, features over 350 events across 35 L.A. venues, including the Hollywood Bowl, The Greek Theatre, the Intuit Dome, The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, and Hollywood Improv. "What makes this fest so special is the sense of community — it's a rare moment where the comedy industry and the fans come together in one place," said Tracey Pakosta, Netflix Vice President of Comedy Series, in a statement. "We're not just putting on shows; we're creating one-of-a-kind experiences that celebrate the range, depth, and sheer brilliance of the comedy world right now."
