As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Franklin Yi. The Los Angeles, CA native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and lets us know how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Franklin Yi
Hometown: North Hollywood/Los Angeles, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @Franklinthomasyi @Thomas_Lull @openmiclegend
Years in Comedy: 9
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Amazon Prime/Comedy Cube on YouTube
Favorite Comedy Album: Hannibal Buress “Animal Furnace”
Favorite Comedy Special: Chris Rock “Bring the Pain”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Coming to America
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Curb Your Enthusiasm
Favorite Comedic Character: Larry David
Favorite City to Perform In: San Diego
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Family Jokes
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Anybody that needs a laugh
Favorite Comedy Club: HaHa Comedy Club
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I love the writing process. The automatic response from a good joke or a bad joke.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I killed, I thought it was gonna be easy from there, oh man I was wrong
How would you describe your comedic style:
My comedic style is premise set up punch and mixed with 1 liner
Describe your process for comedic writing:
My comedic process is to write a one-liner and grow it into a full bit.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
My comedy scene is in LA one of the toughest scenes. The competition is fierce here and if you wanna be one of the best in comedy you gotta make it here IMO.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
Being able to make a living off comedy and being respected by your peers.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
I enjoy watching Jesus Trejos he’s a mentor of mine and friend. He’s taught me a lot from my first year in comedy to my ninth.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
My most memorable moment: My Buddy Jack Jr. threw me a Birthday Show at the Haha Comedy Club. It was a night that holds a special place in my heart and made me happy to be in this little Comedy World in LA.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
If you’re not bombing you’re not growing.
How do people react towards you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
People usually want me to tell them a joke, then I tell them to come to a show then.
Describe what it’s been like building a career in stand-up comedy:
Building a career in stand-up: make friends go to mics build your set 5 minutes at a time, pray the right people to see you then build more time then enjoy the ride and also find a nice home base.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
No Zoom comedy.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
Lots of energy, move around, eye contact. Confidence causes the audience can smell blood like a shark they don’t know if you have been doing Comedy for 2 weeks or 20 years.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Open Mic Legend
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
Bill Burr yelling at me while he’s parallel parking his car.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
At my friend Christine’s mom’s 80th birthday party in the CBS lot where they filmed Brooklyn 99
A Franklin Yi Fun Fact:
I am undefeated in one on one basketball. I only played 1 game in my life and won then retired right after and never played again, cause I suck at basketball and I wanted the person that lost to me (one of my best friends Steve) to live with the Shame for the rest of his life.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
To be able drop in and do a set in any comedy club in the world. Also, to create a TV Show or movies that people will watch for generations.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
I would tell a comic to enjoy the ride you never know where it will take you, and be humble cause the Comedy Gods are watching you.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I’ll tell you in 20 years
If you could write one episode for one classic TV sitcom which show would it be and give a brief detailed sentence on the episode:
It would be Seinfeld: 5 years have passed Jerry and the gang finally got out of jail, during that time Jerry & George finally wrote the perfect pilot for NBC and now it’s time to pitch the show Seinfeld the prison years.
If you could choose 1 comedy club and 3 comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I would pick the Haha Comedy Club because it has low ceilings and parking. I’d book Jonathan David, Rico, and Fuquan Johnson. Have Ryan Talmo Cold open and have Jack Jr Host, and I’ll headline and Jack can cover me if I bomb and close out with an hour.
What’s next for you:
Get passed at comedy clubs, get into festivals, build material, write pilots, create movies, do stand-up on TV, and enjoy the ride
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Cause it keeps you young.
Follow Franklin Yi’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Tik-Tok: @Franklinthomasyi @Thomas_Lull @openmiclegend
