NYC Comedian Calls Lake George “Armpit Of America” In Video

The Great Escape in Queensbury, NY holds a special place in the hearts of many Upstate New Yorkers. It is likely also a place that many from downstate visited when on a summer vacation. Lake George is a hot spot for folks to come and get away from the City, and has been for years.

Recently I came up a video from NYC comedian Mark Brucato, aka lilmomozzarella. I'll firstly say that I am a fan of his. I like his comedy, I like his love for the Yankees, and we're both Italian so we got that going for us. He went to Lake George for the Fourth of July with his family and while I love seeing Upstate getting attention i really don't love when it's negative. He called Lake George the "armpit of America."

Visiting the Great Escape

In his video you see him go through the Great Escape with his family. He talks about the Steamin' Demon as the video opens up after calling Lake George the "arm pit of America" and says that the coaster hasn't run since 1988. Sir, I'll have you know I was on that roller coaster in the late 90s, and about five years ago, too. It's also still operational today in 2026. He also slams the wooden structure he's walking through, I assume getting to the Desperado Plunge, but I could be wrong. Hey, at least he got to see the classic high dive in action.

I know Mark is a comedian, so he's trying to be entertaining, and he is, but I also don't love all the negativity. In a previous video he posted about his Fourth of July in Lake George he was very complimentary of the village and talked about the nostalgia of going there when he was a kid.

Read More: Great Escape's Craziest Ride Is Still One of Its Most Memorable

There seems to be an increase in social media personalities from near New York City who come to Upstate New York and then complain about Upstate New York. I don't love this trend. Another influencer, who I will not even compare to lilmomozzarella came under fire for being so out of touch when visiting an Upstate New York grocery store that she had to delete her videos.

If you guys don't like it here, why are you visiting? More so, if you're just going to be negative about the area is it simply just posting and crapping on an area just for clout and views? To see how many people can laugh at someone's hometown?

I like to visit NYC when I can. I get that it is very different than Upstate New York, but I would really love if these folks from downstate showed a little more respect to this area, you know?  Let's all get along as one solid New York. Leave that NYC attitude at the Mario Cuomo bridge.