Watch an exclusive clip from the special dropping on Netflix tomorrow above.
“Yes, you could go there and work.
Yes, you’re free to go there vacation, or perform.”
Netflix
JO KOY:I’m really, really sad.
You know, it’s my life.
It was my dream to become a stand up comic.
I’m old school, by the way.
I just turned 49.
Comics are adapting on social media, but I’m an old guy.
I’m finding myself asking my son to help.
But yes, I just want to get back on stage.
There’s nothing better than a real crowd.
There’s nothing better than the energy and the electricity that forms inside of the theater.
One hundred percent I’m concerned.
I’ve spoken to a lot of my comedy friends.
They gave me a career.
I can only thank them by helping.
I will never let them close.
Especially the [Hollywood] Improv.
I started at the Laugh Factory.
I have to shout out [owner] Jamie Masada.
If it wasn’t for Jamie, I would have never talked about my mom on stage.
My whole point with this is to try and showcase my mom’s culture, my culture.
To let it shine and give it to to the world!
Because not too many people know that, you know, you go to the Philippines people speak English.
There are Filipinos out here that don’t know that Filipinos understand English.
They get American comedy, like it’s scary!
I remember the first time I went “oh, like, are they gonna get it?”
Bring us back to the pitch you had to Netflix for this special.
You have an all Filipino crew and its shot in the Phillippines.
That’s an incredible feat.
It’s something I always wanted to do, even when I wasn’t a professional comic.
We were military, and when you’re military you don’t get American television.
It’s very, it’s very censored.
Then you would find yourself watching Filipino television.
You know, I didn’t really speak the language.
But I understood comedy because they had so many variety shows.
Their comedy was slapstick.
So, I loved the whole variety-pop in special idea when I came to Netflix with it.
What was your favorite thing you were surprised made it on the special?
You were always trying and pick the coolest Jeepney to get on.
So just driving the Jeepney was amazing.
How was the experience of being back overall?
When did you shoot?
I know the exact date.
It’s when the volcano went off.
Two days before [the eruption].
Wait, were you there to feel the effects of that?
I flew my son out.
We were going to travel but we had to get locked in because of all the volcanic ash.
It was so bad.
It was very grainy.
It was all over the place.
Jo Koy: In His Elementshits Netflix this Friday.
