Celebrated Filipino-American stand-up comedian Jo Koy is coming to the Philippines this November and December.
The 46-year-old entertainer is scheduled to perform at The Theatre at Solaire in Manila on November 30 and December 3 and at the Atlantic Hall of Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu on December 1.
Born Joseph Glenn Herbert in Tacoma, Washington, Jo Koy adopted his stage name from a nickname his family gave him as a child.
Like frequent Manila visitor Rex Navarette, Jo Koy is widely acknowledged as one of the top Asian comedians in the world and was ranked as high as number 3 by the popular digital media poll site Ranker.
He started his career at a comedy club in Las Vegas and rose to become one of the top stand-up comedians in the city. His star rose further when he started to appear on TV shows and specials hosted by Jamie Foxx, Jimmy Kimmel, Carson Daly, and Joy Behar among many others.
Jo Koy was one of the very few stand-up comedians to receive a standing ovation as a guest performer in “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” His brand of comedy is characterized by jokes on race, stereotypes, and growing up with a Filipino mother. He is also known for doing various accents.
“Jo Koy reminds you of your funny friend who always got told they should be a comedian, except that Jo actually followed the advice and became a star. Armed with a frenetic physical style that reminds you of Dane Cook but with Carlos Mencia’s material, his ethnic jokes are definitely surface level (i.e. Asians can’t drive, Mexicans don’t have insurance) but are often based on solid observation (his bit on the questionable service at Chinese restaurants is on point). The most notable thing about Koy’s act is its universal appeal – he makes fun of every single group and manages to do it without being offensive,” wrote Soompi, an entertainment site specializing in K-Pop and other Asian entertainers.
“Jo Koy is the type of comedian who grows on you as you watch more of his material. His act is nothing groundbreaking but he is a very solid comedian who could perform his act in front of both mainstream and Asian audiences without having to change a single joke.”
Presented by MMI Live, tickets for “Jo Koy Live” shows in Manila and Cebu will be on sale at Ticketworld outlets starting October 24.
Watch this video of Jo Koy inviting fans to check out his Manila and Cebu shows:
