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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

Live from Seattle

Jo Koy

Netflix · 2017 · 62 min

An energetic hour of physical storytelling and family impressions.

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Jo Koy commands the stage with the high-octane physical comedy of a man who lives in a constant state of loving exasperation. His focus is family—specifically, the generational culture clash of raising a teenage son as the child of a traditional Filipino mother. Whether he is acting out his son’s struggle with seventh-grade math or mimicking his mother’s unique vocabulary, Koy uses his vocal range and expressive face to turn simple domestic anecdotes into loud, theatrical blockbusters. His best routines involve the physical mechanics of a mother-son argument and the inevitable transformation of young Filipina women into identical, Louis Vuitton-carrying matriarchs.

Filmed at the historic Moore Theatre in Seattle, the 2017 special was actually a massive financial gamble. Despite a successful run as a panelist on Chelsea Lately and a popular podcast guest, Koy had been repeatedly rejected by Netflix when pitching a stand-up special. Rather than waiting for permission, he self-funded the entire production, paying for the venue, the crew, and the editing out of his own pocket. Netflix bought the completed tape, licensing the hour in March 2017.

The set list

2 bits

  1. Growing up with a Filipino mother and her quirks

    Performs spot-on Filipino accent impressions of his mother, highlighting cultural stereotypes including the belief that Vicks VapoRub cures all ailments.

  2. Parenting a teenage boy

    Explores the inevitability of catching kids masturbating or discovering evidence, delivering graphic and relatable observations on raising an adolescent son.

How it plays

Tone
Relatable, unfiltered, observational, and irreverent.
On stage
Highly animated and physical performer known for showmanship, spot-on vocal character impressions, and personal storytelling.
Pace
High-energy and animated delivery, relying heavily on vocal inflections and exaggerated physical storytelling.
About
Filipino mothers and family stereotypes, Parenthood and raising a teenage son, Multiracial family dynamic, Giving a teenager independence, Adolescence and masturbation

What the critics said

Praised for extreme relatability, high-energy showmanship, and accurate vocal impressions—especially of his mother—while highlighting his ability to connect deeply with diverse audiences.

In the room: Raucous, highly engaged, and deeply connected to the cultural and parenting material.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, vulture.com, thecomicscomic.com, letterboxd.com, nbcnews.com.

Backstory

Filmed in his hometown of Seattle. After receiving no network offers, Koy took a financial risk to self-fund and produce the special himself before selling it to Netflix in November, joining a growing wave of Asian-American comedians on the platform.

Details

Released
Taped
2016, Moore Theatre, Seattle
Runtime
62 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Shannon Hartman
Topics
After
Comin' In Hot (2019)

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