It’s easy to tell why Jo Koy picked a certain New York borough as the location for his latest Netflix special. Jo Koy: Live from Brooklyn, released in June, captures a fired-up comedian fueled by the energy of a fired-up crowd, creating a stand-up synergy that led to 5 million views by September. Koy touches on energy vampires, mumble rap, Biggie Smalls, being a “zaddy” and, of course, his son.
He also expounds on the nature and benefits of comedy and laughter. “That’s God’s medicine,” he says. “When you laugh it releases endorphins. That’s real s---!”
Live from Brooklyn is Koy’s bounce back from his Golden Globes hosting shot in January that drew a lot of flak from critics. He’s had his defenders, though. Jimmy Kimmel has pointed out that it was Koy’s first try, and he really ought to be given another chance. Koy was game to try his inexperienced hand at hosting, and it didn’t pan out. If he didn’t try, he’d never know, just like if he didn’t get up for the first time on a stand-up stage, he wouldn’t be where he is now.
Like Kimmel, Koy learned to be funny while living in Las Vegas. He started finding out how well he gelled with audiences while leading tours at the (now closed) dolphin habitat at The Mirage. He took a do-it-yourself approach during the embryonic phase of his comedy career, with a high point being his renting the historic Huntridge Theater southwest of downtown and promoting his own show.
While Las Vegas had a substantial Filipino population, comedy did not. Koy, whose mother was from the Philippines, was a trailblazer in that respect. Family is a key source for Koy’s material, with his now 21-year-old-son having his life humorously documented throughout Koy’s career.
Nowadays, it’s less about depicting Joseph Herbert Jr.’s antics growing up than differences between generations. Koy, for instance, recounts the clash they had in discussing their tastes in hip-hop, with Koy insisting music from the era of his youth is far superior to the contemporary rap Joseph Herbert Jr. listens to.
Koy’s material is family oriented and family friendly, in a PG-13 sense. His passionate appeal for people to honor their mothers in Live in Brooklyn probably had more than a few audience members texting their moms after the show. His edginess comes from his energy rather than pushing boundaries. We will likely never hear about him getting wrapped in scandal, declining due to substance abuse or being the subject of a tell-all book written by Jo Jr.
While Live from Brooklyn was recorded before this year’s Golden Globes, its release afterward and ratings success makes it look like Koy is having a comeback. He looks like he works out every day and spends regular time in his favorite tattoo artist’s chair. Koy never went away, though. He was back on stage five days after the Golden Globes, and his current tour is booked through April. Prescribing God’s medicine is his calling.
T-Mobile Arena. 8 p.m. Nov. 8, starting at $55.69 plus tax and fee. axs.com
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