In the dim blue light under a glittering disco ball of an intimate venue on Jan. 3, young people seeking joy on a rainy Saturday evening filled the Ice House in Pasadena. The oldest comedy club in the country hosted Joe Wong, one of the most well-known bilingual Chinese American stand-up comedians, for his two performances of “The Twin New Year Show,” one in Mandarin and one in English.
Introduced as the “OG of Chinese stand-up comedy,” Wong went on stage to a round of applause in a casual brown jacket and dark jeans. He established a relatable sense of humor inspired by his life across the two countries and captured the audience on both sides of the Pacific.
“A comedy career is not achieved in a sprint, ” Wong said. “It’s a marathon. Over the past twenty years, this career has been built up bit by bit.”
To American audiences, the 56-year-old comedian is known for his appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman” in 2009 and headlining the 2010 Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association annual dinner as the first Asian American performer. Yet for the Mainland Chinese audience, Wong is a pioneer in Mandarin stand-up comedy.
Born in Jilin, China, Wong pursued a career in comedy after earning his doctoral degree in biochemistry from Rice University in Texas. After recognition by an American network, Joe Wong returned to China and began hosting a widely known rumor-verification show, “Is It True?”, on China Central Television in 2013.
Although he had received his doctoral degree, Wong described feeling unconfident in the workplace and struggling with a rising identity crisis as a new immigrant. It was through open mics and stand-up performances, Wong said he regained confidence through “audience’s acceptance of [his] flaws and insecurities.”
Joe Wong flew back from across the ocean a day before his Jan. 3 show, after touring through eight cities in China. Comedians, including Cat Ce and Sandy Velasco, opened the set for his English show, quickly pushing the audience to the verge of laughter on a rainy night.
Wong leverages his experience as a first-generation Chinese American immigrant to provide an unhinged take on topics such as cultural clashes and immigration policies. Particularly during the English show, he drew the audience in with brilliant, layered lines and callbacks, and received immediate resonance in the room.
The international traveling schedule can be taxing, and Wong said he sometimes feels conflicted about maintaining a career across the continents. But he decides to keep the show going. He described a memorable encounter with a fan after the show in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“There was this white American guy,” Wong said. “He brought a photo of him and me from 15 years ago, and he went, ‘This time I brought my wife to see you.’ I was like, ‘damn, I feel like this is what I should be doing.’”
While Wong was hosting his TV show in China, Steven Colbert reached out to his producer to propose appearing on Wong’s show in 2018. Wong said it was a shame the collaboration never manifested, as the geopolitical relationship between the two countries suddenly deteriorated under steep tariffs.
“It would have been an amazing opportunity for two countries to establish mutual understanding and soften the edges, alas, it never happens.” Later that year, Wong was invited to “The Late Show” as Colbert’s guest performer.
As a bridge for a cross-cultural audience, Wong is bringing his “Twin Lunarcies Show” to Hollywood Improv on Feb. 8, presented in both Mandarin and English to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Although he is still seeking platforms, Wong is also planning to release a full special online to reach a wider audience from around the world.