Two University students formed the comedy duo Scapegoat Underground in order to participate in a University stand-up comedy tradition — and this year, they were in charge of planning that same event. Featuring student comedians and drawing in crowds from across the University, Kieran Warner, third-year College and Commerce student, and third-year College student Jack Yasenchok, hosted the third annual Step Comedy Jam Sept. 9.
Held at Crozet Pizza and Buddhist Biker Bar, the Step Comedy Jam consisted of 13 comedy acts of all different styles – standup, improv and sketch with an SNL-esque musical accompaniment. Step Comedy Jam is one of the only non-competitive comedy events at the University, and both Yasenchok and Warner stressed they wanted to keep the event accessible to anyone who wanted to participate.
“You come and you laugh with everyone, and that's kind of what you're winning … community and laughter … When [last year’s event] was branded as the last Step Comedy Jam, we were like, ‘That can't happen. This has to stay around,’” Yasenchok said.
The event was originally created by Mary Walton Petersen, founder of Stepmom LLC and Class of 2025 alumna, but she handed the event over to Yasenchok and Warner last April, via a satirical Instagram Reel. Petersen returned for the event as a stop on her own stand-up tour, whose dates are available on ilovestepmom.com. She reflected on what the Step Comedy Jam means to her and the University comedy community.
"It's about free expression, being yourself and unconditional support of other people's vulnerability,” Petersen said. “What matters is that there's unconditional clapping after each set, and you see people actually improve with each time that they come back here.”
Hosting an event with these values reflects Scapegoat Underground’s love for the comedy community at the University. Yasenchok and Warner both were exposed to comedy through the improv group and Contracted Independent Organization Amuse Bouche. They then formed Scapegoat Underground in order to participate in last year’s Step Comedy Jam. Initially, they launched the group to friends casually via Instagram to promote their set in last year’s Jam. However, since taking over the event, they have expanded through marketing and creating an LLC.
Scapegoat Underground’s marketing and video content began after Petersen announced that Yasenchok and Warner would be taking over the Step Comedy Jam with an Instagram reel of the three of them toasting over a Coca-Cola. The duo began planning just days after.
Yasenchok and Warner agreed that growing Scapegoat Underground has been a way to express themselves outside of their demanding class schedules, as well as a chance to hone different skills. Yasenchok noted that creating Scapegoat Underground and promoting their duo has allowed him to draw again and has taught him video editing.
However, Scapegoat Underground believes that the completely student-run Step Comedy Jam provides more than just laughter. For Warner and Yasenchok, stand-up comedy has given them a community at the University, one that they want to help bring to more people.
“When [Petersen] talked about finding the small pockets of community, and [the comedy community] being one of them, it just made everything feel very intimate and special that I was able to find this pocket at U.Va.,” Warner said.
As for the content they produce, Scapegoat Underground’s structure has allowed Yasenchok and Warner to flex their creative muscles with their comedy.
“The structure of a comedy duo is super interesting because there's so many constraints. There are only two characters, and they both have to be on stage at the same time,” Yasenchok said. “All of the constraints actually made us more creative when it came to our act and posts.”
Scapegoat Underground has been working to increase their visibility on Grounds through other arts events as well, such as MCing Rotunda Sing Aug. 27. And as the year progresses, Yasenchok and Warner also hope to create short-form digital content on their Instagram, @scapegoatunderground. Up to this point, they have created a few Instagram reels that each have over 1000 views and are looking to expand more into the digital space. However, this task is more difficult than it seems.
“I think that's a really interesting area of comedy right now, because there's just so much on your phone and to convince someone to watch for even 10 seconds is so hard,” Yasenchok said.
Despite this, Scapegoat Underground is determined to expand their duo. With the rise of social media and endless scrolling, people consume comedy differently. This change is evident in the United States’ most well-known comedy platform, Saturday Night Live.
“The most recent cast members are almost all known from their short-form digital content,” Warner said.
Along with their online content creation, Scapegoat Underground is planning to release merch and host more frequent stand-up events.
“A dream of ours would be to have a late night comedy event at Grit Coffee,” Warner said.
Warner said that Scapegoat Underground’s next event — though likely not to the same scale as the Step Comedy Jam — is planned to be held this winter. Directly after the Sept. 9 event, Yasenchok and Warner expressed their appreciation for everyone who attended.
“I feel so connected and close to everyone, even the people in the audience I don't recognize because when you make eye contact and you laugh together, it really is a great thing,” Yasenchok said.
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