Photo by Bogomil Mihaylov on Unsplash
Laughter. Connection. Memories. A temporary escape from reality.
PANAMA CITY, FL – These are things you can experience every third Saturday at Mosey’s Downtown in Panama City, thanks to a local LLC known as Panama City Comedy. Ran by Jason Hedden, Panama City Comedy has produced 76 stand up comedy shows at 19 separate venues throughout Panama City and its surrounding towns in 2025. Almost every weekend, touring comedians from all over the United States delivered gut busting laughs to thousands of audience members, some of the performers were even household names. Panama City Comedy has managed to secure some quite famous comedians, with stardom ranging from Saturday Night Live all the way to Hollywood, including the likes of Kevin Nealon, Rory Scovel, and Tim Meadows.
Locals were also able to garner their fair share of chuckles as well. Panama City natives Elijah Cantu and Scotty Jernigan were regularly employed by Hedden. Comedians from other states who now call Panama City their home also took part in the entertainment. Cameron Smith from Texas, and Michael Statham from Alabama have been mainstays in the local comedy scene for years.
Fans of local favorites didn’t have to wait for the weekends to hear from Panama City’s homegrown talent. Every Wednesday, St Andy’s Pub in St Andrews Bay is home to a comedy open mic, where stand up fans got to see the homegrown talent work on new material in preparation for future shows. This event is hosted by another regular performer, Malcolm Xavier. The open mic is not just a place for veteran stand ups to work on their craft. Each week at 8pm, even people who have never performed a day in their life are also encouraged by the likes of Xavier, Smith, and Statham to test the humor. Unbeknownst to most fans of comedy, open mics are where the vast majority of comedians around the world get their start at comedy. Xavier, Cantu, and another local favorite Bailey Ferns, all got their start at St Andy’s when the establishment was formerly known as Lie’brary.
Over the course of 5 years, Panama City Comedy has regularly delivered high quality shows that have resulted in a comedy scene that rivals much bigger cities. Utilizing a wide array of comedians, of different ages and demographics, Hedden has deftly curated lineups that appeal to audiences of multiple sensibilities. Whether you prefer family friendly jests, absurd anecdotes, or raunchy quips, Panama City Comedy can certainly provide a comic that suits your humor.
While consistently selling out shows throughout a year, it’s a wonder how only about a tenth of the city’s population has ever been to a show. Hedden has amassed quite a loyal following of ticket buyers, a large portion of whom will admit to seeing 3-5 shows throughout a year. Already highly revered by other producers throughout Florida’s panhandle, with rave reviews for both the talent and professionalism displayed each week, its only a matter of time before the local comedy scene becomes a well-known force throughout the entire southeast. Best advice to most? Follow Panama City Comedy on Facebook and Instagram, and get tickets to your next show before they sell out yet again.
Malcolm Knox
Student Writer - Spring 2026
Malcolm is a stand-up comedian, veteran, and content creator (known online as ‘malcolminthelittle’) with a passion for entertaining. When he was 9, his mom told him, “Life is easier when you can make people laugh,” and it has stuck with him forever. Malcolm is currently in his second semester pursuing a degree in Radio/TV Broadcasting. A degree he chose because he was constantly in trouble in school for talking too much, and so he wanted a degree that would lead to him “being paid to talk”. Outside of school, Malcolm is approaching his 4th year as a stand-up comedian performing under the stage name Malcolm Xavier (Xavier being his middle name). He has performed throughout multiple states in the Southeast. He is currently in his 11th year in the United States Air Force.
