Jackie Martling, "Joke Man"

Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling may be America's last great joke teller. His savant-like ability to remember every joke he's heard since he was eight years old, coupled with his lightning-fast wit and infectious laugh, has established him as a comedy icon. Famous for being the head writer of the Howard Stern show for 18 years, even more infamous for leaving that position, Jackie's story is fascinating, funny, and heartwarming. And in an age of political correctness, he still helps us belly-laugh at ourselves, and the world around us, with a kindness and sincerity that defuses his unfiltered punch lines.

In the feature documentary JOKE MAN we follow Jackie’s improbable journey - from fledgling days of comedy on Long Island, through his time as one of the “Beatles of Radio,” to his success as an author and actor. We hear from friends and fellow entertainers including Willie Nelson, Penn Jillette, Billy West, Artie Lang, Marc Cuban, Sean Young and former Stern show staffers who give us their take on what makes Jackie truly unique. JOKE MAN is a universal story of self-discovery, grit and how humor is the biggest key to authentic happiness.

JOKE MAN is produced and directed by Ian Karr. Karr is the founder of the creative and content-driven production agency, IKA Collective. IKA’s credits encompass television series, promos, commercials and original digital content. Notable clients include AMC Networks, WB/Discovery, Showtime, FOX, Hallmark Channel, United Airlines and NBC/Universal. Karr and IKA Collective have played integral roles in the successful launches and promotion of hit television series including Better Call Saul, Empire, Gotham, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Weeds, Dexter and Californication. The company received a Clio for its work on FX’s American Horror Story: Cult. In addition to filmmaking, Karr spent 8 years at Sirius XM as co-host of Jackie’s Joke Hunt, which aired on the Howard Stern Channels. JOKE MAN is produced and edited by Ronni Thomas. Thomas began his career with horror icons Troma, and in 2003 produced Hey Is Dee Dee Home alongside maverick filmmaker Lech Kowlaski. In 2020 he directed The Broken and the Bad, commissioned by AMC and the producers of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. His 2017 short film Walter Potter: The Man Who Married Kittens was nominated for best short doc at the Raindance Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. His feature debut, The Kybalion, premiered in 2021 and won best documentary and best director at Italy’s Life Beyond Life Film Festival.