The Big Joker

Leonard Ouzts performs like a guy holding court on a porch, blending a slow, conversational rhythm with sharp-tongued crowd work and highly specific physical stories about everyday public embarrassments.

Released in 2023 on YouTube’s Channel Eighty Five, The Big Joker is Ouzts’ debut comedy special, filmed in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Produced under the 85 South Media banner by Karlous Miller and DC Young Fly, the set features a warm hometown crowd and an introduction from Miller. At this point in his career, Ouzts had already made a name for himself with roles on Netflix’s Master of None and NBC’s Abby’s, along with a standout late-night set on Conan.

The performance leans heavily into regional observations and domestic absurdity. Ouzts details the anxiety of buying legal weed in Los Angeles compared to the paranoia of illegal deals back home, the precise terror of a Black mother’s countdown, and a late-night altercation at an IHOP. He moves smoothly between blue material and lighthearted food critiques, particularly a passionate breakdown of lemon pepper wings. The hour highlights the ease of a comic who doesn’t need high-energy theatrics to hold an audience’s attention.