What's a comic made of?

MANILA, Philippines - There is no special gene, no arbitrary means of conception, no unique story of genesis…all it takes is pure and unadulterated talent.

What is a comic made of? Apart from all things physical – the ability to contort one’s facial features or the indefatigable way by which one conducts a stand-up show – there is that one, undeniable attribute: the funny bone.

No one will dispute the funny-ness, if you will, of Jo Koy – America’s newest, if not craziest, face of comedy. A regular of E!’s “Chelsea Lately” and Comedy Central, this half-Pinoy, half-American middle-aged man is nothing short of insanity. Watching his show is like a triptych of fun: escapism, insanity, and pique all rolled into one, bald package that is the Jo Koy of primetime comedy.

Let us dissect and inspect the parts that make a Jo Koy whole in order to understand what makes a comic the bundle of joy that he is.

It’s all in the head, and everywhere else

If we were to theorize that comics have heightened sensitivity, we wouldn’t be remiss. Comics take their cue from the most mundane of things – conversations, daily exigencies, even casual run-ins with friends, acquaintances, and nameless people on the street. Comics take all these in, process them, and turn them into material that knock the knickers off of audiences. This is the stuff Jo Koy lives for.

“I like to talk about anything and everything on stage – whether it’s what my son did that morning, what my mother called me about last night, or something crazy my friends and I did. I write every day based on everyday experiences and I usually write on my own.”

There’s no limit to what a comic can turn into comedy. Jo Koy elaborates, “I get my material from life, from my family, things that I know and like. I don’t have a set of jokes that I throw out at the audience, I just get up there and start talking about anything and everything and the audience loves it.”

A heart that’s in the right place

The struggle to comedic stardom is not without its share of pain, and Jo Koy acknowledges that fact. The belief in a strong support system is what sustains him in his constant and consistent rise to the top. In his journey, he has discovered the things that make the climb a little less tedious, a little easier to bear: “My son is my everything…he is the reason I work hard every day. I want to make sure he is happy, healthy, and has all that he needs to live a good life.”

Jo Koy recognizes the role that he plays in his son’s life: “Little Jo is six years old now and growing up so fast! He’s my baby and I want to carry him and hug him as much as I can. I’m actually divorced…we decided that it would be best for us to separate and divorce so we could be the best people for our son.”

And being the best people in his son’s life means being the best person he can be everywhere else. Heckled in his show with Russell Peters in the Philippines in 2008, Jo Koy handled the situation with the bravado of someone who understands what it means to deliver a good show no matter the obstacles. “Those types of people don’t belong at shows. You don’t talk during a performance, period. When you go to a movie, you don’t shout out loud. When I’m performing, that’s my room, my stage, and my audience. Whoever chooses to disrupt it will be kicked out. We’re all adults and should act like adults. I don’t think of it as necessarily being bitchy, but showing respect to the audience and myself. Not only will I kick them out, I will also make them regret ever acting childish in a room full of adults.”

Bloodlines that cross all borders

His Filipino roots have given Jo Koy’s comedy a flavor that is not unlike the spices in exotic cuisine: hot, tangy, nearly tongue-biting zest that is uniquely Asian. “I am the first Filipino-American to ever be given an hour and a half special on Comedy Central. I’m so thankful Comedy Central gave me the opportunity to showcase my talent and I’m even more thankful the world loved it. It’s not easy, but it also is…Filipinos are really making it now in America and in the world. Apl.de.Ap is part of one of the greatest music groups ever, the Black Eyed Peas; Chad Hugo is one of the best music producers, Pacquaio – well, we all know about him.”

Although he has his own, distinct style of comedy, Jo Koy holds high regard for whatever makes any audience laugh: “I respect other artists and whatever styles of comedy may be, even if it is slapstick. It’s not my style, but I respect them. That’s how they feed their families.”

Asked how his Filipino roots helped shape his comedic style, Jo Joy explains, “I don’t use my ethnicity to brand myself. It’s not something I want people to define me with. But I also want to show how Filipinos are just like anyone else, how wonderful they are. But I do it in a way that everyone can relate to, whether they’re American, Australian, Filipino, Chinese, Mexican, or Italian.”

Limbs working together towards a common goal

Jo Koy has experienced the highs and lows on his journey to success. He attributes his enduring presence to one thing: inspiration. Every artist must have a driving force, a way to reach one’s goal, a lifeline, if you will. To Jo Koy, that lifeline is his son, his number one source of material. “The hardest part about going on tour is leaving him at home,” Jo Koy relates.

And the journey was anything but easy. “I’ve had a couple of bumps on the road because I’m Filipino-American, but being Filipino-American also has its perks. Since I have a more diverse background, my comedy has a different flavor from other mainstream comedians and my personality is different from others as well. I’ve experienced discrimination from fellow Filipinos because I’m Filipino. Sometimes Filipinos don’t want to support other Filipinos, just because they’re Filipino. Maybe it’s because of the colonial mentality, but I don’t care. All I’ve ever known is that I wanted to be a comedian and make people laugh.”

A body and mind built to last, built to succeed

A winning attitude may sound like a cliché, but it’s still the most effective way to stay focused. “Everything I wanted, I got” is testament to how Jo Koy looks at himself: a winner through and through.

There is no secret formula, no complicated genetic code, and definitely no mutation…the secret to success is no secret at all – it’s all about the will to win and the tenacity to achieve what everyone thinks is just a funny, crazy joke.

Catch “Jo Koy Live in Manila” on Jan. 21, 22, and 23 at Music Museum in Greenhills, San Juan, with 6 pm and 9:30 pm performances. Tickets available TicketWorld (www.ticketworld.com.ph and 891-9999), Music Musuem (721-6726 and 721-0635), and Thirdline (426-0103 and 426-5301).