Who's the Comedian/Performer Being Referred to Here?

Judd Apatow. 1000%

EST?

John Stewart?

Patton Oswalt

Woke comedian who tours? and his material is regularly consumed - Bill Maher?

I love Maher, but no one considers him "woke"

It does sound like Judd Apatow.

If you read the piece, it's clear the comedian has a brand and produces "material" still today that many people love. That's neither Stewart (who is in his 50s, not his 40s) nor Oswalt.

Yes, probably Apatow. Because the way she speaks of his work, it doesn't sound like stand-up primarily. Her husband and friends regularly "consume is material" does not sound like "watch his specials on Netflix" so much as they watch things he has written or produced. And she didn't say they had tickets to a "show" but rather, to "one of his appearances." Yeah. Apatow is a great guess.

Seth McFarlane.

Andy Richter?

Ok I've whittled it down to only 25 possible men

Guy Branum

She’s being an attention whore. How is that the central conundrum? Silly. Come out with it already.

Judd Apatow is 52 fwiw (doesn't bear on the question because the letter-writer doesn't specify the guy's age, only that they were friends 20 years ago).

R13 I cannot believe she hasn't told/can't figure out how to tell her husband. Who is so paralyzed and awkward?

She’s a moron. “I want to tell him, but he’s such a fan — SO HARD to decide! Crisis!”

Dear Prudence is also retarded.

Kevin Smith?

Yes, tons of people are enjoying Guy Branum's material everywhere.

First name that came to mind was Marc Maron, but Apatow is far more likely.

R19 A very good guess!

Oh, Christ! Who gives a shit? I thought this dumb movement was over already. Does she actually have a real story or is this like that idiot who went after Anziz and it just sounded like a bad date where they didn't have chemistry?

Maron's in his mid-50s, and he's been famous (although not excessively so) for longer than 20 years.

She wants attention. From what I understand, the guy acted like a jerk when she rejected him after he told her he was in love with her. Not admirable but human nature isn't perfect. There are legitimate abuse complaints that should be addressed but there's also a lot of "Help me I'm a fragile princess who needs to be protected " BS thrown in there. There's no reason why this drama queen can't just tell her husband the truth.

And that's assuming that this isn't all an EST designed to get tongues wagging. Come to think of it, that would be a clever way to damage the reputation of a comedian you have some beef with.

Corbett Monica