Jo Koy celebrates his Filipino heritage in Netflix special

NETFLIX

Andrew Lopez (left) and Joey Guila join Jo Koy in the Philippines for the Netflix special “Jo Koy: In His Elements.”

Taped in Manila, Jo Koy's newest Netflix comedy special is an ode to the Philippines and Filipinos. It is where he spent part of his childhood, learned to speak ride the jeepneys, a uniquely Filipino mode of public transportation, and to speak Tagalog.

"This was something I've been wanting to do since the beginning of my career. I've always wanted to do a special show in the Philippines where it was variety driven... Everything was Filipino. The venue was Filipino, the audience was Filipino," he told CNN.

"In between each segment, we get to showcase something about the Philippines — whether it be riding a jeepney or eating some food. Just highlighting our culture and our people just enough so people will get to see what the Philippines is all about," he said.

Premiering on the streaming network Thursday, June 12, the Philippines' Independence Day, was no accident.

Koy celebrates his heritage by telling jokes about life as a Filipino American while highlighting the culture of Manila. Koy uses this opportunity to shine a light on other Filipino-American performers by welcoming to the stage famed breakdancer Ronnie, Grammy-winning producer !llmind, singer/songwriter Inigo Pascual, and comedians Andrew Lopez, Joey Guila and Andrew Orolfo.

“One thing that was beautiful about going back to the Philippines is them understanding where their parents came from. When you live in America, we're spoiled. Sometimes it takes just going back and really seeing where your parents came from and what they gave up so you can have a better opportunity,” the comedian said.

Koy took his Filipino American guests went to tenements in Taguig, where residents live in cramped quarters. He said the living conditions opened their eyes to how much they can do for their countrymen.

“There was a point where we would yell ‘Cut!’ and we're all just like, damn we got to do more, we got to raise money, we got to help,” Koy told CNN.

When he returned to the US with his family, it reinforced his appreciation for his roots. "I always found myself, especially back then during that time (growing up in the late 1970s and early ’80s), every time I said that I was Filipino, no one knew what it was, you know? I always felt like I was an ambassador. … I felt like I’ve been doing that my whole life. I feel like I’m still doing that to this day. I’ve got a huge platform now. I got a lot of fans that aren’t Filipino and maybe at the end they all go, “Hey, let’s go visit the Philippines. It looks like a fun place.”

Koy added, “It opens up your eyes and you really appreciate everything. That's what I hope we can show with this special, show everybody that if you can help, help. If there's an opportunity to uplift, then uplift. Use your platform wisely. I've been blessed with an opportunity to talk to millions of people so I wanna be able to use that platform.”

Jo Koy: In his Element airs on Netflix beginning June 12.

Filipino American comedian Jo Koy's Netflix special on Philippine Independence Day

NETFLIX

Stand-up comic Jo Koy was taped live in Honlulu for his upcoming special on Netflix.

Jo Koy, the Filipino American comedian, will have another special on Netflix on June 12, which coincidentally happens to be Philippine Independence Day.

Koy is returning to the streaming network for his second Netflix special, Jo Koy: Comin' In Hot! In his act, he doesn't hesitate to dive deep into the idiosyncies of growing up as a Filipino American, especially if he knows there are Filipino Americans in the audience laughing along with him.

That's the case in his special, which was taped in Honolulu's Blaisdell Arena. Watch the sell-out crowd explode with laughter when Jo Koy takes the stage. 

The Filipino American stand-up comedian made his debut on Netlix in 2017 with Jo Koy: Live from Seattle, where he muses about being raised by a Filipino mom and raising a teenage son. 

Watch the promo clip for his new special here:

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TGIF Feature: SNL teasers feature the crazy, rich and Asian Awkwafina

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE released a couple of promotional videos featuring comedian Awkwafina, who will be hosting the long-running NBC program this Saturday.
An Asian American woman hasn’t hosted Saturday Night Live since Lucy Liu in 2000.

Many of her fans are excited for what Awkwafina -- who has her own brand of edgy humor -- will bring to the often-irreverent and satirical show, which has long been criticized for a lack of diversity in its cast.

Rapper Travis Scott will also be featured this Saturday (Oct. 6) on SNL. Check local listings for times.

It's a breakout year for Awkwafina, who otherwise goes by the name of Nora Lum, She has three movies out in 2018: Dude, Ocean's 8 and the surprise hit of the summer, Crazy Rich Asians, a bright romantic comedy featuring an all-Asian cast.

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TGIF Feature: Hasan Minhaj gets his own TV show

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTUBE

Hasan Minhaj at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last year.

INDIAN/AMERICAN COMEDIAN Hasan Minhaj will be hosting a weekly talk show for Netflix.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Netflix family as the country braces for another election season — and like you, I cannot wait to find out who Putin picks this time,” said Minhaj. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show will be an “opportunity for the comedian to explore the modern cultural and political landscapes with depth and sincerity.” The not-yet-named show is expected to debut later this year.

Minhaj, 32, will be breaking new ground as the first Indian/American with his own show on American television. He is a seasoned comedian whose accomplishments include performing at the 2017 White House Correspondent’s dinner and releasing his first stand-up special, Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King, on Netflix. 

The streaming service has already committed to 32 episodes of the talk show is an indication of Netflix's confidence in the success of the new show. The news comes shortly after word that Netflix nabbed another of The Daily Show’s correspondents, Michelle Wolf, for a late-night series.

Minhaj was born and raised in California. His parents, Najme and Seema (née Usmani), immigrated to Davis, Calif. from India.

Minhaj joined the The Daily Show back in November of 2014, and will transition off of the show sometime this summer. While Minhaj will be gone from The Daily Show, the comedian still has one more gig with Comedy Central that includes his four-man comedy ensemble Goatface. 

Netflix’s vice president of content Bela Bajaria—who is also reportedly the highest-ranking Indian-American executive in the entertainment industry—is just as excited as I am. “I’ve been a big fan of Hasan’s for many years,” she said. “He’s a phenomenal writer with a distinct point of view [and] he is a brilliant performer, who is hilarious both onstage and off. And more importantly, he isn’t afraid to share his thoughtful voice and unique perspective.”

CORRECTION: Spelling of Hasan Minhaj's name has been corrected.

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Ali Wong at the Masonic Auditorium tonight

Ali Wong

ONE OF THE brightest young comedians in the country is on tour. If you want to watch Ali Wong before she becomes a household name, here's your chance. You can always brag to your friends, I knew her before ...

Unfortunately, if you want to see Ali Wong in S.F. tonight, it's too late. Her two shows are sold out!

Wong is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actress currently living in Los Angeles, will be playing in front of her hometown crowd. 

After SF Weekly selected her as “The Best Comedian of 2009″ and the SF Bay Guardian awarded her “Best of the Bay,” she decided that it was finally time to depart her hometown. 

In 2010, Comedy Central listed Ali Wong as one of seven “Comics to Watch.” In 2011, Variety Magazine named her as one of the “10 Comics to Watch,” and Ali appeared in the 2011 and 2012 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, QC.

With the recent release of her Netflix Special, "Ali Wong: Baby Cobra," Ali became the first comedian to record a stand up special 7 months pregnant. 

Ali co-stars in the new ABC comedy, American Housewife, premiering this fall.

Ali has performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night With Seth Meyers. She also appeared in Oliver Stone’s film, Savages and was a series regular on NBC’s Are You There Chelsea. In 2012, Ali hosted the Golden Globes Live Coverage on E! 

She recently appeared in Amy Schumer and Judd Apatow’s hit film Trainwreck an was a writer on ABC’s Fresh Off The Boat before landing her American Housewife role.

Her two San Francisco shows at the 3500-seat Masonic Auditorium shows are sold out. If you want to catch her, better luck in the following cities.

Aug 19: San Francisco The Masonic 7th and 8th shows SOLD OUT

Sept 9: Denver, CO Paramount Theatre

Sept 15: Houston, TX Revention Music Center

Sept 16: Dallas, TX Majestic Theatre 1 SHOW SOLD OUT, 2nd show added!

Sept 22-23: Toronto Winter Garden Theatre 3 SHOWS SOLD OUT

Sept 24: Toronto Sony Centre 

Oct 7: Las Vegas Park Theater

Oct 14: Minneapolis, MN State Theatre

Oct 21: Temecula, CA Pechanga Casino 1 SHOW SOLD OUT, 2nd show on sale 3pm

Nov 11: Thousand Oaks, CA Fred Kavli Theatre
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