As part of the closed Alpha for Showrunner.xyz—a platform that uses AI to support community-driven storytelling—I was invited to create my own animated series. After experimenting with the platform, it became clear that the AI worked best with a show that had a repeatable format. A procedural with lawyers, cops, or doctors handling new cases each episode, OR a game show…with dad jokes!

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The Origin: Dad Joke Culture Meets AI Tools

I write and collect dad jokes for a knowledge base I maintain. It powers a dad joke telling GPT chatbot called AI Dad Jokes. Based on your prompt, it tells a joke from the knowledge base. If it can’t find one that aligns to your prompt, it writes one based on dad joke rules included in its system prompt. Then I extended it further by creating an AI automation that turned dad jokes into illustrated instagram reels. 

That became the seed of my idea for a dad joke show. I’ve watched countless instagram reels, dad joke battles, pun-heavy stand up, and I wanted to translate dad joke culture into a show that the audience could watch and participate in. I thought, what if I mashed up two familiar formats — the classic goofy dad joke contest with the comedic brutality of a celebrity roast? But with a twist: all the insults had to be delivered as dad jokes. The venom of traditional roasts gets swapped for corny puns, turning the whole thing into a parody of celebrity culture and roast humor itself.

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Introducing: Celebrity Dad Joke Roast

At first, it was just a format: a host, a celebrity guest, and a barrage of dad jokes disguised as roasts. But it quickly evolved into something deeper.

I created a host, Skip Burns — a washed-up comedian trying to reignite his fame and repair his relationship with his estranged daughter, Sunny Burns. Sunny, meanwhile, has her own story, set in a cozy sci-fi coffee shop called Black Hole Cosmic Coffee, where she hangs out with her best friends — an aspiring actor, a fashion designer, and a talking cat named Kierkegaard.

The world expanded. I added Larry, a superfan who keeps trying to insert himself into the show. A cynical cameraman. A mysterious head writer. The show had gone from a gimmick to a genuine character ensemble — one that invited both laughs and emotional resonance.

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The AI Behind the Curtain

One of the things that makes Celebrity Dad Joke Roast especially powerful on Showrunner is the system prompt I designed for it. This prompt guides the AI to generate scenes that don’t just match the tone — they reflect the story logic of the show.

When a user submits a prompt, the system draws from the character backstories, personality traits, wants, and needs. It understands the structure of a roast scene or a short-form moment in Sunny’s world. That means every AI-generated scene fits the show’s voice, tone, and emotional continuity.

This is where the platform really shines: it enables structured improvisation. Creativity with training wheels. Fans aren’t just generating content; they’re writing in character.

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Built for Co-Creation and Social Media

One of the key design principles behind Celebrity Dad Joke Roast was componentization. The show is built out of parts:

• Full episodes (~5 minutes)
• Stand-alone roast scenes (~1 minute)
• Single-joke shorts (~10 seconds)

This modular format isn’t just great for social media (where brevity wins). It also lowers the barrier to entry for co-creators. Fans don’t have to write a whole episode — they can contribute a 10-second joke, a new roast, or even invent a new character. The show becomes a creative sandbox.

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A Show That’s Also a Playground

Celebrity Dad Joke Roast is part comedy, part character drama, and 100% an experiment in collaborative storytelling. It’s not just made to be watched — it’s made to be shared, remixed, and expanded.

After you watch an episode, hop into our Discord to see what other creators are up to. Bring your favorite dad joke and have Skip deliver it. Create your own roast starring your favorite celebrity. Write a backstage scene. Or invent an entirely new character and drop yourself into the universe.

This isn’t just my show. It’s ours.

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Coming up next: Part 3: Designing the Show’s Logo — From AI Concept to Final Artwork