As we count down to 2019, Ticket Club is reviewing the past year in the entertainment industry. Follow along with our series as we explore the best of 2018’s live events, determined by internal sales data.
Kevin Hart will be laughing all the way to the bank. The funnyman topped the list of Ticket Club’s Top 10 Best-Selling Comics, largely thanks to his massive Irresponsible Tour.
Hart’s latest comedy venture raked in more money than veteran comics like Jerry Seinfeld and Jeff Dunham. The Irresponsible Tour consisted of over 100 shows across four continents and followed Hart’s wildly successful 2015-16 What Now? World Tour.
While his Irresponsible Tour was been quite a smash among fans, Hart has also been at the center of controversy in 2018. Earlier this month he announced he’d be hosting the 2019 Academy Awards, only to face public backlash after several homophobic tweets resurfaced. Less than 48 hours later, Hart stepped down from the gig.
I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's….this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018
Closing in on Hart in the No. 2 spot is perennial best-seller Dunham. His Passively Aggressive Tour brought the ventriloquist to dozens of North American cities and featured new hilarious bits with his colorful cast of puppet characters. Martin Lawrence’s LIT AF Tour claimed the No. 3 ranking, while stand-up giants like Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Sebastian Maniscalco and Gabriel Iglesias also made the cut.
Rounding out the list are Sal Vulcano, James Murray, Joe Gatto and Brian Quinn – otherwise known as TV’s Impractical Jokers. While their live tour must follow a different format than the hidden camera mayhem shown on TV, the quartet remains a comedy favorite among audiences around the country.
See the full list below.
Ticket Club’s Top 10 Best-Selling Comedians of 2018
- Kevin Hart
- Jeff Dunham
- Martin Lawrence
- Sebastian Maniscalco
- Gabriel Iglesias
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Jim Gaffigan
- Steve Martin & Martin Short
- Trevor Noah
- Cast of Impractical Jokers
Want to see more posts like this? Check out the rest of our Year in Review series here.