Papp Johnson
A 6'8" comic perfectly comfortable with absolute silence.
1 special · 2023
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Papp Johnson works at a deliberately slow pace. Standing six-foot-eight with a deep, rumbling voice, he rejects the hurried rhythms of most club comedy. He will step up to the microphone, deliver a setup, and just stop. Where most comics panic at a quiet room and rush to fill the air, Johnson lets the silence stretch. Sometimes he doesn’t even finish the joke, simply trailing off until the audience connects the dots and breaks the tension for him.
Specials
On stage
His debut album came out on the indie label Kill Rock Stars, a fitting home for a comic who completely ignores industry expectations about pacing. He splits time between the Bay Area and Los Angeles, forcing anxious club crowds to slow down to his speed.
The material grounds itself in his physical reality before getting weird. He complains about the daily fatigue of strangers assuming he plays basketball, and describes the actual logistics of his time working as a security guard. Because his default mode is so calm, he can get a laugh simply by slipping into a frantic impression of a panicked or petty stranger, then immediately snapping back to his standard monotone.
His lack of urgency goes back to his very first time on stage. After a ruptured Achilles finally ended his long-shot hopes of making the NBA, he entered a San Francisco standup competition while still severely injured. He performed his entire set sitting in a chair, and he has not sped up since.
Turning points
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First Standup Set and Contest Victory
After rupturing his Achilles playing basketball, Johnson took the stage for the first time while seated and won Sony's 'Death at a Funeral' standup competition.
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Relocating from the Bay Area to Los Angeles
After headlining and performing with the #HellaFunny crew in San Francisco, Johnson relocated to Los Angeles to expand into higher-tier comedy and screen opportunities.
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Competing on Netflix's Funny AF
Johnson competed on Kevin Hart's Netflix comedy competition series, earning national exposure and feedback from celebrity judges.
At a glance
Fans also like
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Greer Barnes
Barnes is cited directly by Johnson as a major inspiration and comedic peer whose standup mastery sets an artistic standard.
Also on screen
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- Funny AF
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- That Damn Michael Che
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- Wu-Tang: An American Saga
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- Black-ish
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- Dave
A clip to start with
“Ciao Bella, B*tch” - Papp Johnson - Stand-Up Featuring