Jenkins called him only because he has been lobbying to go on, he said, and this was the chance for him to do so. A previous open-mic performance in a pub full of people ignoring him had been the height of his past experience. It was a blast. I just stopped shaking. The greener standup comics, raw and nervous, contrast with the more seasoned performers who anchor the show.
Nobody seems to mind the unevenness.
The jokes that hit get belly laughs. The jokes that clunk get appreciative chuckles from a friendly crowd. Once you take that first step, you can always get better. The high ratio of friends to performers undoubtedly has something to do with the good cheer. Jenkins tells new acts the more people they bring, the more time they get before the red light signals the end of their set.