The YouTube bridge trolls can lurk all they want with their totally original comments about being ugly and what they think about her nose, but Steph Tolev is thriving in her moment as the newly crowned queen — more specifically, Filth Queen — of comedy.
Continuing to bask in the hype and success of her debut special, Filth Queen, which has received rave reviews since its premiere on Netflix at the end of June, the Toronto native is truly loving every minute of her big introduction. Not just because it’s her biggest chance at showing the world all the high energy, off-the-wall comedic debauchery that has manifested itself over the course of more than 10 years in comedy, but also because it gives Tolev the chance to offer a wildly successful “fuck you” to the people who have doubted her along the way. Especially those two bookers in Toronto that told her she would be nothing, a big middle finger to you, as well.
It’s been a long road to this point for Tolev, but with the people in her corner rooting her on with every opportunity that has come her way, she couldn’t be more excited to have this showcase of her creatively sculpted comedic insanity on full display for the masses, even if there are a few nerves that come along with it.
“I’m honestly very nervous [about it], because this is the biggest deal when you dream of having your first special on a platform this big. It’s been stressful in the best way, but I’m having a hard time dealing with how I feel about it,” Tolev tells Vanyaland. “Of course, I think it’s good, and the people around me have enjoyed it, unless they’re all lying to me. I’ve just been trying to calm down about it, but I know the right people have seen and like it, and I guess that’s all that really matters.”
In preparation of delivering her introductory hour last year, Tolev reflected on her previous trip to the Boston area, and knew from the moment she got off stage that it was a special place that showed appreciation for her energy and approach to comedy. That lead to deciding that the perfect place for her first special would have to be not just in Boston, but a venue that exuded the rock and roll energy she herself exudes onstage, which led her to the Paradise Rock Club last fall.
Fast forward to the premiere of the special, not only did she show love to the crowd by being exactly who she wanted to be behind the mic, but she also showed love to the history of the city of Boston with a “long fall” intro that brought her stumbling through places like Cheers and Fenway Park before ultimately ending up on the stage of the Paradise, where she proceeded to absolutely rip.
Looking back on it, it was the only way it could be done in the hands of one of the brightest comets in the comedy orbit today.
“Of all the shows I did last year, the first show I did in Boston was just incredible, to the point where as soon as I got off stage, I knew it was where I wanted to record the special,” says Tolev. “The audience was unmatched, and Bill [Burr] had put my name out there already, so his fans showed up so hard for me. That first show was special, and it was also where I had a meet and greet line that was, like, two hours long. So I knew I had to shoot the special in Boston.”
With the Paradise as the unorthodox vessel, at least when it comes to a comedy show, Tolev wanted to further push the notion that she is not a normal comic to watch with the vibe of the room. Taking inspiration from the attitude and energy of Van Halen with the lights and stage setup, as well as some of the bands who have played the venue, like Alice In Chains, she wanted that punk rock vibe to resonate in every aspect of the delivery of the special.
“Because of my personality, and the fact that I have a mullet, I feel a bit like an ‘80s rock star already. I’m also high energy, and I just wanted that energy to come across on stage, so I didn’t want my first special to be in a massive theater because it didn’t really fit me,” says Tolev. “Looking at all of my ticket stubs, I’ve been to over 200 shows since I was 15 years old, and I’ve been to so many venues like [The Paradise], and after seeing videos of bands playing there and seeing people pouring over the balcony where people are so close and tight, I knew it was the feel that I wanted.”
Tolev is the first to admit that some of the jokes seen in the special aren’t exactly new in terms of how many times she’s told them on stage. However, with the special being her big introduction in many ways, she wanted to offer a deep mix of who she is now with newer material that has evolved over the course of the tour, and give a glimpse for new fans into who she has been as a comedian all along.
“Honestly, some of the jokes are very old. There are three jokes specifically, where one was my first closer ever fifteen or sixteen years, but I thought about how this was the first time the audience is seeing it like this, and that I needed to showcase those jokes now to show people who I am,” says Tolev. “When I started doing this hour, I was single, so all the jokes I do at the beginning about Tinder dates was me struggling to work on the act, but then halfway through the year, I met my boyfriend, Jefferson, who I am now obsessed with, so I couldn’t just do a full hour of my single and dating material. It just didn’t feel genuine to me to do that material, so after including what I included in the hour, I’m happy with how it came out.”
Although she has certainly continued to carve out her own path in comedy, Tolev has not been immune to the tired opinion that women in comedy “try too hard” or can only be gross and brash. It’s a notion that is not only outdated and cheap, but also seeks to discount the experiences and deeply autobiographical comedy of artists like Tolev, who is just trying to share things that have actually happened to her in life.
She is quick to acknowledge just how frustrating it is to deal with that noise, but with a support system that includes friends, family, and her boyfriend, Jefferson McDonald, Tolev feels the love, and thus, that extra jolt of confidence to continue doing what she does best.
It also doesn’t hurt when you have Bill Burr telling the world that you kick ass. Having not only the support of one of the biggest comedians on the planet spreading the good word about you, but also having the opportunity to include him in all of her biggest career moments up to this point has Tolev ready to take on the world in a whole new way.
“Having his support really made me realize that I can just continue to be myself, whether people like it or not. Every time someone says something shitty to me online, my go-to response is ‘up yours, and Bill Burr thinks I’m funny,’” says Tolev. “Just having that idea in my head has helped me a lot, as well as the fact that he enjoys the weirder shit I do on stage. It’s nice to have someone like that in my corner tell me I am fucking funny, and I can tell myself that I’m fucking funny, and who cares what anybody else thinks when I can be my disgusting, weird self and people seem to really like it.”
While it is, of course, a milestone moment for Tolev in terms of unleashing her inaugural filth on the unsuspecting masses, she’s also hoping that the opportunity to be her true self, openly and honestly, resonates with other women who may be tuning in so that, thry too, can explore who they truly are themselves and set off a domino effect of sorts that helps to free people from feeling like they can’t honestly present themselves.
“I’m just excited to hopefully give a voice to these women who may be more sheltered and feel like they can’t talk about these types of things openly,” says Tolev. “Like, I’ve been doing bits about farting in front of Jefferson, and months down the road, women will DM me telling me they finally farted in front of their boyfriend and how it helped in their relationship. I really hope that being so open and honest with this can help other women be more comfortable with being themselves, and it helps people just be a bit more outgoing and comfortable, especially with their partners.”