Labeled by many as an emerging superstar on the world comedy scene, he recently made his TV debut on “Stand Up & Laugh TV,” currently available on Apple TV+. As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian Josh Cousins. The Xenia, OH native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how he always owns the laughs.
Name: Josh Cousins
Hometown: Xenia, OH/Portland, OR
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: @jcousinscomedy
Years in Comedy: 3
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Made my TV debut on October 25th on Apple, Amazon Fire, and Roku on the show “Stand Up & Laugh TV”
Comedic Influences: Anthony Jeselnik, Michelle Wolf, Daniel Tosh, & Neal Brennan
Favorite Comedy Special: Anthony Jeselnik “Thoughts and Prayers”
Favorite Comedy Movie: Dumb & Dumber – What Jim Carrey was able to do in this movie is genius.
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Friends, Big Mouth, & Rick & Morty
Favorite Comedic Character: Rick Sanchez (Rick & Morty)
Favorite City to Perform In: New York, NY
Favorite Topics to Joke About: Relatable topics so that the jokes will be funny well into the future. The fun part is finding a unique perspective in my comedic voice that will stand the test of time.
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: Any. I’m not a fan of the phrase, “That’s a bad crowd.” I understand certain environments can lend itself to different crowds but I believe it’s our job as comedians to win that crowd over and put on a good show.
Favorite Comedy Club: The Stand Comedy Club (NYC)
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
When serving in the military, we had to do a talent show at a training event. My group was going to do a jump rope routine. About two hours before the show I told the group I wasn’t doing that routine and that I could try to tell jokes instead. I went up with zero material and bombed for 10 minutes, but two jokes landed well, and I held onto that feeling. I put it away for over a decade, and during the pandemic, I was in DC working the 2021 Presidential inauguration and watched a ton of stand-up. That inspired me to begin writing, and once I left the military, I took a stand-up class at Helium Comedy Club in Portland. I’ve loved everything about it ever since.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
The first time I performed in a club was after taking the club’s stand-up class. It was shortly after COVID when we were allowed out, a room full of friends and family, and no one sat in the first two rows. My slot was in the middle of the show and no comedian called it out. When I stepped on the stage, I made reference to the empty rows, and the place erupted. That stuck with me more than any of the written material from that night.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Edgy and observational with relatable yet dark misdirect
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I feel like I have two.
1. I’ll sit with a particular topic and pick it apart differently. I’ll do an exercise where I just type without removing my hands from the keyboard and not focusing on being funny. I’ll make lists about the topic and things opposite of that topic. Do joke webs. Once all of that is complete, I look for relationships and begin to build bits.
2. I reference my notes, pick a topic or idea, write a handful of jokes, and then move on to the next topic.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
It’s the only one I know, but it feels like a smaller scene with one major club in the Portland area. The people in Portland love comedy, evident by how often all venues, even the smaller/somewhat odd ones, sell out. The crowds are usually great, even at some “off-the-beaten-path” mics.
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I keep it simple: getting laughs. Comedy is extremely subjective, so if you’re able to find your persona, joke style, and delivery and get laughs, then you are successful. This means being flexible enough to adjust to different audiences (some jokes don’t work well depending on the region, who is in the audience, etc.). With exposure and some self-promotion, opportunities will come.
We as comedians, especially when providing feedback, can get too wrapped up in “being clever”. Anthony Jeselnik once said that he wants the audience to be able to guess a few of the punch lines. That way, when he hits you with something unexpected, it lands bigger.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Nick Charles is from Houston, TX. I graduated with and played college football with him, and he is my go-to comedy partner for all things comedy. Watching his growth in comedy since he started has been amazing.
Percy Rustomji—He is the hype man/opening act for Taylor Tomlinson’s show after midnight. I’m grateful to him for having me on his show at HaHa Comedy Club in LA. Watching how hard he works and the success he is having is inspiring.
Ice Jackson is from Florida. I’ve done a few festivals with him, and it’s amazing how he leverages his hip-hop lyrical background to write comedic metaphors. He’s a super funny and genuine guy.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Filming my first set for TV and performing in front of a sold-out crowd at The Stand – NYC.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
That without them you can’t improve in comedy. I’m the most motivated to write and perform after a set doesn’t go well.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
People are usually shocked because it is something they say they would never try. There is a bit of admiration when people find out. Then I typically get one of two reactions: 1. They want me to tell them a joke (please don’t ask comedians this!) or 2. They are worried they will be a part of my act (which happens from time to time, haha).
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
I’m still working on the career part, so if anyone out there is looking for a writer, opener, or feature act, hit me up!
As far as building yourself as a comedian, I’ve always stuck with something I heard Andrew Schultz say about his approach, and it’s that he focused on becoming undeniably funny first. Once you become undeniably funny, then you put yourself out there, and opportunities will come.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
Open Mic sign-ups. Particularly those mics that don’t let you know the sign-up sheet doesn’t matter. That drives me nuts. It’s such a small thing, and I have no clue why it bothers me so much!
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
I was to remain professional. I’ve always approached comedy professionally, and he liked that, even though I wasn’t selected for this particular festival, I reached out for feedback and thanked him and the review team for their time.
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“Little Debbie.” I have a bit about Little Debbie snack cakes, and it’s the first joke I was really proud of, and it continues to be a strong bit.
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
I ran into 50 Cent at a gym in NYC. It was just me, 50, and his trainer in the gym, and I was wearing weightlifting shoes. After some time, he came up to me and asked me what type of shoes I was wearing. I said weightlifting shoes, and then he immediately asked me, “So what do you use those for?” In my mind, I had a million sarcastic comebacks, but I’m not stupid! That’s 50 Cent (Laughs).
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
At a 70-year-old surprise birthday party that was held in a fishing warehouse.
A Josh Cousins Fun Fact:
I’ve had the opportunity to do some really cool things. I was a college football player at the Air Force Academy. I deployed overseas three times and have sat down with African presidents/leaders, went on an African safari (the same one Obama went on), worked at the Pentagon, and have had a chance to support some unique and important US efforts. For my last military assignment, I was a part of the planning and executing the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. There will never be another inauguration like that in history. When considering that it happened during a global pandemic, there was debate about whether or not the election was valid and the insurrection.
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I enjoy making people laugh and giving them a small reprieve from their hectic, busy lives. I would love to be a television writer and stand-up comedian. I always tell people that if I could have anyone’s career, it would be Neal Brennan’s. I look up to his contributions to comedy and humor from his days as a writer on The Chapelle Show and through his stand-up acts/specials (if you’re reading this, Neal, let’s chat, man).
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Keep at it and experiment. Experiment with different types of jokes, deliveries, and writing routines. It will take some time to figure out the jokes you enjoy writing/telling, your stage presence, and who you are as a comedian (and it may be something you didn’t expect). But once you find it, it is so much fun! And get on stage often! Even when you don’t feel ready, do it anyway.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
I’m excited! It feels like comedians are gaining more control of their art with how comedy is being consumed and, to echo what Joe Rogan and his crew say, “comedy feels dangerous again”. Meaning audiences want to be challenged and hear jokes on difficult topics which is exciting to me.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
It would be for the show Friends, and it would be after something that happened to me at a restaurant. It could be any 3 of the cast members, and one cast member would be getting hit on from afar throughout the meal by another restaurant (making eyes, winking, kissing face, etc. Yes, it all happened to me and was as weird as you’re imagining). And the waiter would repeat every single thing they say. Even the “Umms” and other filler words. She repeated us verbatim, even when talking amongst ourselves and she was around.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
The Comedy Store. I would host, and then the next 3 comedians would get 25 min each – Neal Brennan, Michele Wolf, Anthony Jeselnik
What’s next for you:
I’m continuing to improve, which I don’t think ever stops me as a comedian, and leaning more into the career side of comedy. A few agents/reps have told me that once I get my hour, they would love to represent me, so that’s a goal of mine.
Why should a person always laugh at life:
We only get one chance at this (that we’re aware of) so why take it seriously? Laugh a lot and have fun (Oh, and come to one of my shows).
Follow Josh Cousins’ comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Tik-Tok: Josh Cousins
Youtube: Josh Cousins
