Sarper Güven’s Rise From Reality TV Villain to Touring Comedian Gains Momentum Despite Challenges

Sarper Güven, known by many from 90 Day Fiancé, has added comedian to his long list of identities after shifting from reality TV and personal training to the stand-up stage. Now living in the U.S. with his wife Shekinah Garner, he has quickly become a touring comic performing alongside established names like Whitney Cummings, Bobby Lee, and Pauly Shore.

Güven says he always loved being on stage and missed the attention he once had as a professional dancer. At 44, dancing no longer fit his lifestyle, so he decided to finally try the comedy career he had once imagined while living in Turkey.

He began by writing a two-hour routine entirely on his own without taking any formal classes. He practiced daily in front of a mirror, discovering through trial and error that Turkish humor differs greatly from American comedy, which forced him to adapt his material.

His first ever stage performance was shown on 90 Day Fiancé, where he appeared nervous and didn’t even know how to hold a microphone. Looking back at that footage now makes him laugh, especially because he currently performs 70-minute sets with confidence.

Güven recently watched a recording of one of his shows for the first time and says it made him truly believe he has real comedic talent. He noticed gestures and expressions he wasn’t aware of onstage and finally felt proud of his progress.

He attributes much of his rapid growth to the exposure the show gave him, saying it pushed him ahead of most beginners. Despite this advantage, he insists he is working hard to prove that he deserves every opportunity he’s getting.

Güven refuses to keep the same jokes for long periods because, as he puts it, he gets “sick of himself.” He writes new material constantly and tries three or four new jokes at every show, even if some fail.

Bombing on stage has affected him at times, especially at the Hollywood Improv, a club he calls one of the toughest in the world. Los Angeles audiences can be slow to laugh, but he learned to embrace the challenge and focus on maintaining his own tempo instead of rushing his delivery.

His reputation on television once painted him as the biggest villain of the season, especially after admitting to a “2,500 body count”, something he still stands by as part of his past. Over time, fans have watched him shift from a cocky bad boy to what he calls a more “lovey-dovey” version of himself.

Güven says this transformation happened in front of viewers’ eyes, just like his comedy journey. Fans who saw him bomb on TV and now see him live are shocked by his improvement and energy on stage.

He never rehearses with Shekinah because, according to him, she is “the worst person ever” to test jokes on. She rarely laughs, so he prefers that she hears everything for the first time during live shows.

To refine his jokes for an American audience, he openly admits he uses ChatGPT, describing it as helpful for adjusting wording and cultural references. He says even small changes can make a big difference in understanding.

Güven is inspired by Sebastian Maniscalco, whose physical style helped shape his own high-energy stage presence. He blends American-style short jokes with longer story-based humor, which is more traditional in Turkey.

He also developed Bootlaugh, a combination of personal training and comedy that includes teaching a Turkish dance routine. However, he now finds it harder to maintain the high energy Bootlaugh requires while also preserving his voice for nightly stand-up shows.

Touring has allowed him to see the U.S. in ways he never expected. His busy schedule has kept him from visiting Turkey again, though his parents visited him once and remain his biggest dream audience even if they wouldn’t understand English.

When asked which reality shows he’d join next, he says he once auditioned for Survivor Turkey but jokes he’s too injury-prone. He believes he would excel on Love Is Blind because he thinks contestants would fight over him.

Long-term, he hopes to create a show where he coaches shy men on dating, similar to advice he gave on The Single Life. Fans can keep up with him at www.SarperGuven.com and on Instagram at @Sarper90Day.