Joe Wong (comedian)

Joe Wong (simplified Chinese: 黄西; traditional Chinese: 黃西; pinyin: Huáng Xī, born April 20, 1970) is a Chinese American comedian.

Joe Wong
Wong in October 2009
Birth nameHuáng Xī
Native name黄西
Born (1970-04-20) April 20, 1970
Baishan, Jilin, China
MediumStand-up
NationalityChinese
Years active2001 – Present
GenresDeadpan, sarcasm, observational comedy, satire
Subject(s)pop culture, everyday life, marriage, self-deprecation, racial stereotypes
Notable works and roles2010 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner

Background

He was born in Baishan, Jilin, China, into an ethnic Korean family.[1] His ancestors had emigrated from Korea three generations previously. He graduated from Jilin University and studied a master degree at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, before he went to further study chemistry at Rice University in Texas in 1994.[2] He graduated from Rice in 2000 with a PhD in Biochemistry.

Career

Wong moved to Boston in 2001 and began to perform his comedy at All Asia Bar, at Stash's Comedy Jam. Although he had won numerous awards, he did not attract American nationwide attention until after his appearance on Late Show with David Letterman on April 17, 2009.[3] His multiple appearances on TV, courtesy of Ellen DeGeneres, boosted his reputation further. On February 10, 2010, Wong made his second appearance on the Late Show,[4][5] and appeared again on March 30, 2012. He returned to the Late Show with Stephen Colbert on December 14, 2018.

On St. Patrick’s Day, 2010, he headlined the annual dinner hosted by the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association.[6][7] On June 19, 2010, he placed first in the Third Annual Great American Comedy Festival.

In 2013, he moved back to Beijing, hosting television shows, such as Is it true? (Chinese: 是真的吗?), a MythBusters-like program, on China Central Television.

Awards
DateTitleSource
May 2003Finalist at the Boston International Comedy and Film Festival[8]
March 2003Best Short Film award at the Cambridge Fringe Fest[8]
Six-time winner of Standup Comedy Contest at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA

References
  1. 小崔说事节目采访黄西 (in Chinese). 2011-11-27.
  2. Zaino III, Nick A. (2008-08-17). "Looking for laughs in China". Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  3. "Joe Wong's network debut on David Letterman's show". 2009-04-17.
  4. Joe Wong- Letterman 2-12-10 on YouTube
  5. "KP Comedy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
  6. Joe Wong, an unusual comedian, kazantoday.com
  7. Joe Wong to headline RTCA dinner, Politico.com
  8. Joe Wong Archived 2013-07-30 at the Wayback Machine Rooftopcomedy
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