As part of We Own The Laughs.com’s Comedian of the Day, have a few laughs and get to know comedian J Cann. The Houston, TX native shares some of his favorite moments in stand-up comedy and explains how he always owns the laughs.
Name: J Cann
Hometown: Houston, TX
Instagram/Twitter/Tik-Tok: @TheRealJCann
Years in Comedy: 8 1/2
Haven’t we seen you somewhere before: Funny Media Group Presents: Comedy Cube Season 2
Comedic Influences: Jamie Foxx, Chris Redd, Mark Caesar, Ocean Glapion, & Shabaz Playtime
Favorite Comedy Album: Chris Rock “Bigger & Blacker”
Favorite Comedy Special: Jamie Foxx “I Might Need Security”
Favorite Comedy Movie: How To Be A Player, Superbad, & Money Talks
Favorite Comedy TV Show: Boondocks, Jamie Foxx Show, & My Wife & Kids
Favorite Comedic Character: My own character Uncle Dynamite
Favorite City to Perform In: New Orleans
Favorite Topics to Joke About: My hilarious life
Favorite Type of Audience for a Comedy Show: A fun and unfiltered audience.
Favorite Comedy Club: The Riot Comedy Club & Addison Improv
How did you discover your passion for comedy:
I have wanted to be an entertainer my entire life. I have had the opportunity to do open-mic comedy and have had a passion for it ever since.
What do you remember most about your first time performing stand-up comedy:
The euphoric feeling I had walking off the stage.
How would you describe your comedic style:
Wild, Honest, & Energetic
Describe your process for comedic writing:
I take real-life situations and write them in my head. It’s a skill that I just developed over time.
Describe the comedy scene in your area:
Houston’s comedy scene is at an all-time high! We have comedy nights every night across the city & we have the most talented comics on the planet!
How do you judge success in the world of comedy:
I don’t judge success because it’s opinion-based, but for me personally, success is providing my family with the skills I have on stage. The worldly accolades determining success don’t matter as much if I cannot provide for the family.
Who are some of your comedic peers that you enjoy watching perform or inspire you personally and professionally:
Shabaz Playtime, Raambo 2 Funny, Ben Jackson, Lil Darrel, Jeff Joe, Ray Etc, Lewis Belt, Desi Johnson, Reg Thomas, The whole PYP comedy down in New Orleans… I could go on, but I love watching all the comics I created.
What’s been your most memorable moment in comedy:
Selling out my headliner show at the Houston Improv. That moment was more significant than me! It was a celebration for my family and friends to see one of their own on the big stage as the headliner.
What have you learned most from your failures in comedy:
Stay consistent and persistent. Failures happen, but you should stay focused and keep working.
How do people react toward you when they realize that you can make people laugh:
I usually make people laugh on the first impression, but when they find out I’m a professional stand-up comic, they perk up and always say, “Tell me a joke!’
Describe building a career in stand-up comedy:
It takes time. Building any career takes time, of course, but in stand-up comedy, you have to be willing to sacrifice free time for stage time.
If you could change one thing in the world of comedy, what would it be:
I would change how comedians, like writers or actors, don’t have a union. A union to protect our craft and protect the comics.
Best advice you’ve ever received from a comedian:
“Cut the fat off the joke” “Perfect at least 5 minutes a month of material” – Ocean Glapion
If you were releasing a comedy special this week, what would it be called:
“The Wildest”
Funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a celebrity:
It’s way too much to describe, but it involves Dave Chapelle, John Mayer, & the Olsen Twins!
Weirdest place you’ve ever performed any form of comedy:
My house. I built a stage to perform shows in my living room and probably a barbershop.
A J Cann Fun Fact:
My dad used to be a male stripper…
Where would you like your laughs to take you:
I would love to further my acting career with movies and TV shows through my laughs. Ultimately, I want to own a comedy club and win comedy album of the year for my future stand-up special called “Last Cann Standing.”
What would you tell a potential comedian if they ask you how they can own the laughs:
Find yourself on stage and follow through with the topics that get you laughs. Don’t try to force anything on stage.
What are your thoughts on the future of comedy:
We have to protect the pureness and the essence of stand-up comedy. If not, the internet will dilute it.
If you could write an episode for ONE classic TV sitcom, which show would it be:
I would write a new episode for The Jamie Foxx Show, in which Jamie and Fancy are married with twin daughters who are two completely different people. One is a geek & one is a tomboy, but both can sing, so they sing a jingle on TikTok that goes viral, and Jamie steals it to keep his Jingle’s 300 company afloat, which he now owns.
If you could choose ONE comedy club and THREE comedians to perform with on your perfect comedy show, how would it go:
Hollywood Improv with Mike Epps hosting, Rambo 2 Funny opening, Shabaz Playtime featuring
What’s next for you:
I’m preparing to release my first full-length comedy special while currently touring as an actor in the stage play “The Diary of Black.”
Why should a person always laugh at life:
Because life is unexpected, laugh through it all.
Follow J Cann’s comedic journey on these social media websites:
Instagram/Twitter/Tik-Tok: J Cann
