Award-winning comic performs at Richmond comedy membership

Peggy Stansbery, Contributing Author

Folks gathered at Richmond Humorous Bone Comedy Membership and Restaurant to take pleasure in meals, drink and a present from Emmy-nominated author and award profitable slapstick comedian Josh Johnson this previous weekend. 

New York Comedy Competition named Johnson New York’s Funniest Comedian at Caroline in 2018, in line with Richmond Humorous Bone’s website. He’s often known as Comedy Central’s “most watched comic ever” with over 40 million views throughout its platforms.

Johnson’s comedy profession started in Chicago the place he pursued stand-up, he mentioned.

“I used to be going to open mics and making an attempt to do as many exhibits as potential. That basically led to me taking it actually significantly and making a job out of it,” Johnson mentioned. 

Johnson mentioned he met individuals who helped lead him in direction of working in late night time TV whereas doing stand-up exhibits. He presently writes on The Every day Present with Trevor Noah, performs with Noah on his “Again to Irregular” tour and beforehand wrote and carried out on The Tonight Present with Jimmy Fallon, in line with Richmond Humorous Bone’s website. He has appeared on CONAN and Netflix as nicely. 

“I believe I at all times thought I’d work in TV, however I wasn’t certain that it will be late night time. I believe it kind of took me there in a means by actually pursuing comedy,” Johnson mentioned. 

Johnson mentioned he finds stand-up comedy so particular as a result of he has such an open and direct line of communication with the viewers. 

“You get to say issues the way in which you need to say them and also you get to speak about no matter you need to discuss,” Johnson mentioned. “There’s nothing that’s prescribed for you actually and that’s why I take pleasure in it essentially the most and why it feels most totally different to different issues.” 

Johnson mentioned his stand-up units are primarily observational. He tells tales from his personal life and pokes enjoyable at issues individuals typically take too significantly, comparable to socioeconomic standing and COVID-19 vaccines. Johnson hopes his stand-up makes individuals giggle and helps them see how related people are, in line with Johnson. 

“The general theme is looking for a common thread that all of us connect with,” Johnson mentioned. “One thing that lets individuals know that even exterior a given expertise or all of the methods we categorize ourselves and one another that we’re principally the identical. That is the principle drive behind what I discuss and why I’ve the method I’ve.”

Johnson mentioned he hopes individuals discovered a “common expertise” whereas having enjoyable at his units at Richmond Humorous Bone this previous weekend.

Comedy present attendee Matt Bean wasn’t accustomed to Johnson’s work earlier than coming to his present at The Humorous Bone however loved Johsnon’s calm demeanor and the way interactive he was, he mentioned.

“I preferred how he requested individuals within the crowd what they did and was making jokes off of that,” Bean mentioned. 

Attendee Lalla Blue additionally loved Johnson’s interactive nature, in line with Blue. Blue mentioned she loved how Johnson’s humor wasn’t too vulgar as nicely. 

“I appreciated that he stored it entertaining, like he engaged the viewers,” Blue mentioned. “It was present and he was a fantastic performer, very humorous. It was nice comedy and a fantastic ambiance.”

Kenny Wingle, native Richmond comic and VCU alum, hosted Josh Johnson’s present at Richmond Humorous Bone, he mentioned. 

“My job as a number is to get by the group at the start and get them prepared for comedy,” Wingle mentioned. 

Wingle mentioned he was a fan of Johnson’s work earlier than internet hosting for him and located Johnson to be hilarious and loved his supply and stage presence. 

Johnson mentioned individuals can take a look at his work on Spotify, Pandora and Youtube.  

Johnson has two albums, “Channel Black” and “A number of the Better of The Josh Johnson Present, Vol. 1.” He’s the co-host of two podcasts, “The Josh Johnson Present” and “Maintain Up,” in line with Richmond Humorous Bone’s website. 

“I believe the factor that actually led me to comedy was that it was essentially the most enjoyable I used to be having doing something was that. So I simply wished to actually pursue that extra and get higher on the factor that made me glad,” Johnson mentioned. 

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