Josh Johnson (comedian)

Josh Johnson
Johnson in 2019
Born1990 (age 34–35)
Alma materCentenary College of Louisiana
Occupation(s)Comedian, writer

Josh Johnson is an American stand-up comedian and writer. He became a correspondent on the The Daily Show in February 2024, after being a writer on the show since 2017. He was also previously a writer and performer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He toured with Trevor Noah on his Loud & Clear tour for several years. In 2018, he was named New York's Funniest Stand Up at the New York Comedy Festival. He has released two hour-long comedy specials, # (Hashtag) (2021) and Up Here Killing Myself (2023).

Early life

Johnson was born on March 6, 1990 and is from Alexandria, Louisiana. He received a degree in lighting design for theater from Centenary College in 2012.[1] He lived in Chicago before moving to New York City.[2]

Career

Johnson made his late-night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he was also a writer and performer.[1] Since 2017, he has been a writer for The Daily Show,[1] where he made his debut as an on-air correspondent in 2024. His first half-hour special was released on Comedy Central in 2017.[3] His comedic story "Catfishing the KKK" has been viewed more than 13 million times on YouTube.[4]

In 2018, he appeared on the Netflix stand-up comedy series The Comedy Lineup.[5] At the New York Comedy Festival that year, he was named New York's Funniest Stand Up.[6]

He toured with Trevor Noah on the Loud & Clear tour beginning in 2019.[7][1]

Johnson's first hour-long stand-up special was # (Hashtag).[8] It was released in June 2021 on Comedy Central to a positive reception, including being named one of the best comedy specials of 2021 by Vulture magazine.[9][10] Later that year, he took bits from his stand-up and interspersed music compositions in a 33-track mixtape album called Elusive, which he worked on with Mike Relm.[11][12] His second special, Up Here Killing Myself, was released in February 2023 on Peacock.[9]

Johnson voices Harry Buns on the Disney Channel series Kiff, which premiered in March 2023, his first acting role in a major scripted TV series.[13]

Starting from July 13, 2023,[14] Johnson has uploaded routines from his open mics and performances at the Comedy Cellar and his running tours every week at his personal YouTube channel.[15] Coverage and criticism of Johnson's uploads praise their remarkable frequency, thematic consistency, and depth.[16][17]

Discography

  • I Like You (2018)
  • Elusive (2021)
  • #Hashtag (2021)
  • Channel Black (2022)
  • Some of the Best of the Josh Johnson Show, Vol. 1 (2022)
  • Biden! Karen! OnlyFans! A Josh Johnson Basement Tape (2023)
  • Some of the Best of the Josh Johnson Show, Vol. 2 (2023)
  • Leaps (2023)
  • Josh Johnson: Live from Before (2024)

References

  1. ^ a b c d The Times (January 29, 2021). "Centenary College's free virtual convocation features interview with NowThis, 'Daily Show' media". Shreveport Times. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  2. ^ Lerman, Ali (November 8, 2021). "Nice Guys, Like Comedian Josh Johnson, Finish First". SPIN. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  3. ^ "Season 1, Ep. 9 – Josh Johnson – Full Episode – Comedy Central US". Comedy Central. January 26, 2022. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  4. ^ Johnson, Josh. "Catfishing the KKK". Yum's The Word. YouTube. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "Watch The Comedy Lineup". Netflix Official Site. November 26, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "New York's Funniest Stand Up – New York Comedy Festival". New York Comedy Festival – Official Website. November 8, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  7. ^ Martinson, Elizabeth (June 5, 2019). "Trevor Noah brings laughs to Pittsburgh". The Pitt News. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  8. ^ Greenough, Jason (June 3, 2021). "Josh Johnson's first hour special '# (Hashtag)' set to hit Comedy Central". Vanyaland.
  9. ^ a b Miller, Kirk (February 17, 2023). "How Josh Johnson Uses His Therapy for Laughs". InsideHook.
  10. ^ VanArendonk, Kathryn (December 16, 2021). "The Best Comedy Specials of 2021". Vulture. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "Comedian Josh Johnson Dares To Make Us Laugh In A Global Pandemic". NPR.org. September 30, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  12. ^ Wilstein, Matt (September 14, 2021). "Josh Johnson Made Jimmy Fallon and Trevor Noah Funnier. Now It's His Turn". The Daily Beast. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  13. ^ Thompson, Avery (January 24, 2023). "Lauren Ash & More Stars To Recur In Disney Channel Series 'Kiff': Exclusive Theme Song Reveal". Hollywood Life. Archived from the original on January 24, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Johnson, Josh. ""Biden, Karen, OnlyFans – Josh Johnson – Comedy Cellar Set – Stand Up Comedy"". YouTube. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  15. ^ Johnson, Josh. "Josh Johnson". YouTube. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  16. ^ Pandya, Hershal (August 21, 2024). "The Daily Show's Josh Johnson Is Reaching New Prolific Heights". Vulture. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  17. ^ Miller, Stuart (September 13, 2024). "Josh Johnson put out over 22 hours of stand-up material in a year, and somehow is still hungry to do more". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2024.