You know that feeling when you're watching someone do something so incredibly awkward that you actually have to look away from the screen, but you’re also kind of laughing?
That is basically the entire brand of the Ryan and Amy Show.
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Ryan Steele and Amy Goodmurphy have been a staple of the Vancouver comedy scene since around 2007. They didn't just appear out of thin air. They've spent nearly two decades perfecting a very specific, very weird type of sketch comedy that celebrates the absolute worst in us. Honestly, it’s a miracle they haven't been canceled, but that’s the beauty of it—they’re leaning into the "cringe" so hard that it becomes a form of high art.
If you’ve spent any time on the Canadian side of YouTube or TikTok lately, you've probably seen their faces. Maybe it was the "Moms over Miami" characters or that viral parody about Kelowna. Whatever it was, the duo has managed to survive the death of traditional sketch TV by moving into the podcasting world with Poor Lil' Thing, which was actually voted Vancouver’s number one podcast in 2024. Not bad for two friends who met at a bar where Ryan used to work.
The Secret Sauce of the Ryan and Amy Show
What makes them different? Most comedy duos try to be the "straight man" and the "funny man." Ryan and Amy don't do that. They both just go for the jugular of social awkwardness.
They draw a lot of inspiration from the legends. Think Molly Shannon’s physical commitment or Pee-wee Herman’s surreal energy. You can see those fingerprints all over their "Meeting Baby" sketch. If you haven't seen it, it’s about a woman who uses a terrifyingly high-pitched "baby voice" to talk to her dog while on a date. It’s painful. It’s accurate. It’s why people keep coming back.
From Local Bars to Just For Laughs
It’s easy to forget how long they’ve been grinding. They aren't just "internet famous." They’ve done the hard work of touring North America, hitting up Sketch Fest in Montreal and various stages in Los Angeles.
- They won the Grand Prize at the Vancouver Just for Laughs Film Festival for their short White Wine Boys Club.
- They’ve starred in TV shows like The Face of Furry Creek.
- Ryan even came in third on The Amazing Race Canada back in 2014.
The duo is set to perform at the Rio Theatre for the Just For Laughs Vancouver festival this February (2026). If history is any indication, those tickets won't last. They sold out the Fox Cabaret pretty much instantly in previous years. People love them because they feel like the friends you have who are just a little bit too much, but you can’t imagine a party without them.
Why "Cringe" is the New Cool
The term "cringe" is usually an insult. For Ryan and Amy, it’s a mission statement.
Basically, they look at social media influencers—the ones who are trying way too hard to be perfect—and they just dismantle that facade. They’re "unapologetically queer," which adds a layer of depth to their stuff. They aren't just making fun of people; they’re celebrating the parts of us that aren't "normal."
It’s refreshing. We live in a world of filtered photos and curated lives. Seeing two people run around in bad wigs and outdated outfits, making faces that would make a Victorian ghost faint, is sort of therapeutic.
Beyond the Sketches: Poor Lil' Thing
The podcast has changed the game for them. On YouTube, you see the characters. In the podcast, you see them.
Ryan and Amy talk about being "embarrassing humans," which is something everyone relates to. They discuss everything from bad holiday romances to rigging cocktail competitions. It’s messy. It’s human. It’s why they’ve managed to keep a loyal fanbase for eighteen years.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think sketch comedy is dead because Saturday Night Live feels like a relic sometimes. But the Ryan and Amy Show proves that the format just needed to get smaller and weirder.
You don't need a massive budget when you have chemistry that's been cooking since the mid-2000s. They’ve got over 100 million views on their shorts now. That’s not a fluke. It’s the result of two people who genuinely find each other hilarious and refuse to stop making stuff, even when the industry changes every six months.
How to Get the Full Experience
If you're just diving in, don't start with the long-form stuff. Go to their YouTube or Instagram and watch the shorts first.
Look for the "Ladies of the Day" or anything involving "Smoker Girl." Once you get the vibe, jump into the Poor Lil' Thing podcast. By the time you get to their live show, you’ll feel like you’re part of the inner circle.
Actionable Tips for Fans:
- Watch the Classics: Start with "Meeting Baby" to see if their brand of humor clicks with you.
- Follow the Podcast: Subscribe to Poor Lil' Thing on Apple or Spotify to hear the stories behind the characters.
- See Them Live: If you're near Vancouver, keep an eye on the Rio Theatre or China Cloud Studios schedules. Their live energy is much more chaotic (in a good way) than the edited videos.
- Support Indie Comedy: Share their sketches. Independent duos like this survive on word-of-mouth and the "Share" button.
Comedy is subjective, sure. But there is something undeniable about the staying power of the Ryan and Amy Show. They’ve survived the transition from the DVD era to the TikTok era without losing their soul. That’s rare. Whether you find them brilliant or just plain bizarre, you can’t say they aren't original.