As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Lisa Chanoux. The El Paso, TX native shares some of her favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how she always owns the laughs.
Name: Lisa Chanoux
Hometown: El Paso, TX/Los Angeles, CA
Instagram/Twitter/Tik-Tok: @lisachanoux
Years in Comedy: 12
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Lisa Chanoux was named a New York Comedy Festival Comic to Watch in 2024 and has performed at some of the top festivals in the industry, including San Francisco Sketchfest 2025, Laughing Skull Festival 2024, and the Netflix Is A Joke Festival 2024. She has been featured on Netflix Is A Joke Radio on SiriusXM and showcased her comedy across the U.S. and Canada, with appearances at major events like the Pickathon Music Festival (in Amy Miller’s Comedy Barn!) and the Bergamot Comedy Festival. Chanoux hosts and produces Chatterbox Comedy Night, every Sunday at 8pm at the Chatterbox in Covina, acclaimed by The LA Times, Timeout LA, and more. A versatile performer and writer, Chanoux co-hosted the viral podcast What’s Your Sign?, a comedy and astrology show that gained acclaim over their five years on air from outlets like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Nylon, Refinery29, and more. Her voice and appearance has also been featured on Comedy Central Digital’s Saturday Morning-ish Cartoons, “In The Stars” an Amazon Prime Video YouTube show, and as a writer for Netflix Is A Joke. As a live and on-camera festival correspondent for the inaugural Netflix Is A Joke Festival in 2022 and a festival performer in 2024, she has established herself as a dynamic and engaging voice in comedy. Her viral videos on her personal instagram and TikTok as well as viral What’s Your Sign? Podcast memes have made her a recognizable name, face, and style all over The Internet.
Comedic Influences: As a kid: Letterman, I Love Lucy, South Park and SNL. In high school: Conan, Eddie Izzard’s ‘Circle,’ Mitch Hedberg albums, Dane Cook, Brian Regan, Joan Rivers who I knew from Fashion Police, and Chelsea Lately (and her whole panel every week)! Post-college the Call Chelsea Peretti podcast was so iconic to me. Now, I’m influenced by the people I see doing stuff I admire and enjoy: Bianca Cristo, Taylor Tomlinson, Ali Wong, Debra DiGiovanni, Amy Miller, Guy Branum, Chris Estrada, Bryan Safi, Atsuko Okatsuka, Caleb Hearon, Steph Tolev, JC Currais, Solomon Georgio, Danielle Perez, Chris Fleming, Nate Craig, Henry Phillips, Jessica Michelle Singleton, Mo Amer.
Favorite Comedy Album: Mitch Headberg “Mitch All Together”
Favorite Comedy Special: The Original Kings of Comedy, Debra DiGiovanni “Single, Awkward, Female”, Chelsea Peretti “One of the Greats”, John Mulaney “The Top Part”, and I watched Bo Burnham “INSIDE” like four times during covid.
Favorite Comedy Movie: Tommy Boy (if you haven’t seen it, it’s an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet)
Favorite Comedy TV Show: This Fool
Favorite Comedic Character: Lucy Ricardo or Rupert Pupkin
Favorite City to Perform In: Los Angeles, CA
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Being Fat
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Ex-girlfriends
Favorite Comedy Club: Is this a trap? Wherever they’ll have me.
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I’ve been performing since I was young in school plays and dance recitals and cheerleading and taking performance classes in college etc. etc.
When I worked in restaurants and couldn’t speak Spanish well enough to get by in the kitchen I’d do act outs (this was before google translate!) and it would make my colleagues laugh. I battle with depression and getting on stage helps, for the reason of being witnessed. “If it’s mentionable, it’s manageable.”
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
I remember right before I went up the host said something like, “It’s your first time? Don’t worry you’ll do great.” totally unprompted. I must’ve looked terrified.
How would you describe your comedic style:
My comedy is deeply personal and observational, blending wit and storytelling to connect with audiences in a way that is both relatable and uniquely mine. I have a strong voice, sharp writing, and mix of alternative, classically observational, and sarcastic takes. I’m self aware, socially aware, and a party animal.
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I usually start a writing session with a short meditation (5-10 mins) and then set a 20 minute timer where I have to write (on paper) without looking at my phone or any devices. That usually gets me into a decent flow for writing longer form, and I’ll allow myself to check my notes and devices more for the rest of the writing session/however long. I generally take the three best ideas from the session to stage to work out on stage. Even in bare minimum sessions (5 minute meditation, 15 min writing, full stop), I usually get a few things that I can work out on stage.
I also have lists of topics in my notebook: things that I want to write about, things that are in zeitgeist, things that too many comics talk about/tired trends. Leftover ideas I use for my weekly list of trends on my IG story.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
I started in LA and it’s the only place I’ve lived as a comedian. You don’t hear this often, but I genuinely love the LA comedy scene. I’ve always been able to find stage time. There are so many experimental rooms here in LA to perform and watch comedy. And, I’ll say this: there’s a lot you can learn from actors and models and influencers, even if it’s “what not to do.” LA can be really unexpected and you get to do stuff and perform with people you have no business being on a lineup or at a party with. It makes you a strong comic having to follow Whitney Cummings in year one. I’ve met the greatest friends I’ve ever had, here.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
The same way I do in every aspect of life: by whether I feel happy or fulfilled with what I’m doing.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
I would never use the word “peers,” but here are some friends that I love to watch: Scott Luhrs, Bianca Cristovao, Amy Miller, Julia Loken, Ever Mainard, Solomon Georgio, Lindsay Adams, Madison Shepard, Steve Hernandez, Erin Lampart, Simon Gibson, Allen Strickland Williams, James Fritz, Danielle Perez, Casey Ley, Tony Soto, Heather Marulli, Brendan Cooney, MK Paulsen, Blake Wilding, Greg Edwards, Jeanne Whitney, Sammy Mowrey, the Lady to Lady girls (Babs, Tess & Brandie), Amy Silverberg, Kelly McInerney, Jessica Sele, Milan Patel, Mike Bridenstine and more. My friend Honor Nezzo is a talented musician, my friend Kristen Gamboa is an amazing artist. My mom owned and operated a business for most of her adult life, that inspires me.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Performing at the Netflix Is A Joke Festival in 2024.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Before and after the show you should be nice to every person you engage with. Be extremely kind to the servers and bartenders at venues, and tip them too much. If you steal someone’s parking space in the venue parking lot they might be in the front row of the show, or worse, hosting. Just be nice to everyone.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
Mostly it seems like people do not like it when a woman is funny.
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
Have you ever tried to hold your breath for 50 yards of a swimming pool? You can do it, but you have to stay underwater the whole time.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I think it should pay more.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
When someone says something nice to you, about you, even if you don’t believe it about yourself or your performance, the appropriate answer is “thank you.”
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Lisa Chanoux in… FATTY”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I met Danny DeVito once at Capitol Records and I said “I love you!…uh, I mean, I love your work.” He was nice about it, but it was too late, he could tell I meant the former.
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
Howard Kremer used to have a show called “squatmelt” that I’d do. That show involved walking around town and performing outside in front of abandoned comedy venues, dumpsters and in whatever parking lots he could find. I know this sounds crazy, but it would get a good crowd, and really good comics would do it.
A Lisa Chanoux Fun Fact:
I scuba dive.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
My dream is to be successful enough to be in a big budget studio movie– Tarantino, Gerwig, Scorsese, Favreau level movie– with a bit part. Half the people watching in a theater would still recognize me and be excited to see me.
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Get to know yourself and get comfortable. If you talk about people you love they might get upset with you. Get comfortable with that. Get comfortable with people hating things you say.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
If people don’t start coming out to see performers live, the really funny people are going to stop doing it. If you even kind-of like a performer online, go see them live!!! It’s so much better in person, and that’s how we survive financially.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
I would love to write an episode of I Love Lucy where Ethel visits a psychic and everything gets weird. Lucy and Ricky do a role reversal. Lucy gets cast in a show with a big producer, and Ricky really wants to be in it, but he doesn’t want to ask because of the amount of times he’s said no to her when she’s asked to be in his show, Ricky goes to crazy lengths to try to get into Lucy’s show, involving Fred in his schemes.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
I’d like for Conan, Wanda Sykes & Bill Burr to perform at my show, Chatterbox Comedy Night which is every Sunday at 8pm in Covina!
What’s next for you:
I’m headlining The Here-After in Seattle on April 17th. I’m headlining Chatterbox Comedy Night on April 20th (that’s 4/20 and Easter Sunday!) Please buy tickets or my sweet little dog will go hungry.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
What other option do you have?
Follow Lisa Chanoux’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter: Lisa Chanoux
Youtube: Lisa Chanoux
Personal Website: Lisa Chanoux
