As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Bo Johnson. The Seattle, Washington native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Bo Johnson
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Tik-Tok: @bojohnsoncomedy/@theboscout/Bo Johnson Comedy/@bojohnsoncomedy
Years in Comedy: 9 1⁄2 years, including about 12ish months off during the pandemic.
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Very early into comedy I was on Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City on Comedy Central. More recently, I had a Don’t Tell Comedy Secret Set. Just after college, I also had a viral prank video “Bo and Matthew Sneak into a Movie Theater”
Comedic Influences: Mitch Hedberg, Nate Bargatze, John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Tig Notaro, Hannibal Buress,Todd Barry, Rory Scovel, Maria Bamford.
Favorite Comedy Album: Mitch Hedberg “Strategic Grill Locations” Todd Barry “Medium Energy” Nate Bargatze “Yelled at By a Clown” Mike Birbiglia “My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” & John Mulaney “The Top Part”
Favorite Comedy Special: Mike Birbiglia “Thank God for Jokes” John Mulaney “New In Town” & Netflix “The Stand Ups: Nate Bargatze”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Office Space, Zoolander, Superbad, Dodgeball. I’m a sucker for any of the movies I grew up loving in middle and high school.
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Party Down, What We Do In The Shadows, Flight of the Conchords, & Nathan for You
Favorite Comedic Character: Nathan Fielder’s persona in Nathan for You
Favorite City to Perform In: Portland, OR, Victoria BC (Canada), & Austin, TX.
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Stories from whatever happens in my life.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Smart, expressive laughers, and comedy literate.
Favorite Comedy Club: Punch Line SF, Hecklers in Victoria, Helium in Portland, Dead Crow in Wilmington, Comedy Bar Toronto, Club Comedy Seattle. RIP my original home club, The Comedy Underground in Seattle.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
Watching Comedy Central Half Hour specials once they got released on the iTunes store.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
Mostly just remember that I got a laugh on a few jokes.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Low-energy observational comedy.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
Conversations with comedian friends. Going for long walks and noting premises.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Tons of clubs and a still recovering indie scene.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
By making original and funny comedy.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Brad Wenzel, Mayce Galoni, Andrew Sleighter, and many more!
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Doing “Hart of the City” on Comedy Central early in my stand-up career will always be a big memory.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Comedy is a constant wave of successes and failures. Just keep moving forward.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Hopefully, they’re already laughing!
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
You should start with doing open mic nights for a few years, then slowly start featuring on the road and locally. Then, transition to regional headlining and eventually national headlining and eventually take that leap and leave any other source of income behind.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Have pay go up to a living wage for the first time in 40 years.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
When I was hosting for Nate Bargatze he said, “Anytime you’re feeling comfortable, it’s time to make a change.”
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
Not How Daddy Does It.
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I once I bussed Pete Carroll’s table.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
On a shipping pallet in an outdoor park with a Zumba class 100 yards away.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I would love to be able to perform at theaters around the country and be able to make creative
projects with friends.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Take control of your own career and make the things you want to make; it’s not worth waiting for the opportunities to fall into your lap. These days it feels like in order to be given opportunities, you need to make your own first.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
I’m more interested in making my own TV show. Currently, my friend Mayce Galoni and I are working on a low budget web series about two Canadian Pickup Artists who moved to the states to teach Americans how to pick up chicks the Canadian way.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I would love to see Mitch Hedberg, Hannibal Buress, and John Mulaney on a show at my old home club, The Comedy Underground.
What’s next for you:
Aiming to record a first album/special in the next year or so.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Otherwise, life is no fun!
Follow Bo Johnson’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Bo Johnson
Youtube: Bo Johnson
Personal Website: Bo Johnson
Checkout Bo Johnson on the latest episode of Only Fans hit comedy series LMAOF HERE
