I'm Your Son, Papa

JR De Guzman walks onstage with an acoustic guitar slung over his shoulder, ready to combine musical performance with stand-up. Rather than using the instrument merely for quick punchlines or transitions, he leans into it as a storytelling device, detailing his Filipino-American family dynamic, his strict father, and the realities of dating. He plays with the contrast between his gentle musical delivery and the sharper truths of cultural expectations and modern romance.

Filmed live in Las Vegas, the hour marks De Guzman’s debut stand-up special. Released independently in October 2024 through 800 Pound Gorilla Media on YouTube, the show represents a significant milestone in his career following a previous quarter-hour set on Netflix’s The Comedy Lineup. He draws on his background as a former music teacher, taking inspiration from the suburban California upbringing that shaped his perspective. Notable segments include stories about living with his parents as an adult, a controversial song about dating, and crowd work that playfully challenges ethnic stereotypes.