Jo Koy: Record Headliner, Jiu Jitsu Dabbler, and Son
Comedian Jo Koy sells out consecutive shows at arenas for breakfast. And lunch. And dinner. And itty-bitty little snacks in between. His latest serving is a performance of the Jo Koy World Tour at the Wells Fargo Center on March 22nd. Ahead of that, Koy calls in to the Preston & Steve show, where he talks his film Easter Sunday, his mom thinking he wanted to be a clown, the possibility of performing at the Sphere, and more!
Jo Koy comes from a big Filipino family, and like most Filipinos, Catholicism and Easter are core parts of who they are. These are two things that Koy wanted to be reflected in his 2022 film Easter Sunday, which also boasts great Asian representation among the cast, featuring actors such as Tia Carrere, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Lydia Gaston. Despite the cultural focus and inside jokes, there’s still a sense of ubiquity to the film, a sentiment given to Koy by Steven Spielberg. In particular, there’s the commonality among cultures of the overbearing, but well-meaning mother.
“You bought me a house, you can be a clown.”
The first stand-up show that Jo Koy ever went to was “Raw” by Eddie Murphy in the Seattle Colisseum. From there, a 15-year-old Koy knew he wanted to be a comedian. It wasn’t without opposition, but specifically from his mother. Mother Koy thought her son wanted to be a clown, and that he would be homeless within a few years. But Joe grinded away, and he saw success. It was difficult at first, as Las Vegas had no smaller stages for newcomers. Koy had to resort to renting out theaters on his own, and also spent some time touring with the Black College Comedy Tour. It took some time, but Koy got going, and now plays fulls arenas. He’s managed to pay his mom back too, buying her a house and paying for her own Filipino-oriented talk radio show. In exchange she expects 75 tickets to his show, which isn’t exactly feasible (but the love is felt)!
Jo Koy has never been to the Sphere, but he has seen footage of U2’s performances there. Seeing a twenty-foot Bono is intense, and he wonders if a comedian could perform there (and apparently there have been talks between him and Sphere management).
Based on his track record, Jo Koy could very well sell out the Sphere. But until that day comes, he’s going to be in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center! Watch the interview and then buy your tickets at WellsFargoCenterPhilly.com!
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