The Chicago standouts turn dating, personal growth, and life’s uncomfortable truths into candid, high-energy stand-up performances.
Two distinctive voices from Chicago’s comedy scene take center stage as Just Nesh and Nina Kern deliver mini comedy special performances for CBTV, now streaming on YouTube.
Showcasing two comedians with different perspectives but a shared willingness to say what others might only think, the CBTV performances find Just Nesh and Kern diving headfirst into life experiences, dating, relationships and personal growth. Both comics bring sharp observations and unapologetic honesty to the stage while tackling relatable — and occasionally taboo — subjects without hesitation.
For Taneshia “Just Nesh” Rice, fearless storytelling has become a defining part of a career that continues to expand well beyond her Chicago roots. Known for her boundless energy, quick wit and ability to transform personal experiences into instantly relatable comedy, Just Nesh brings the same commanding presence to her CBTV performance that has made her a standout on stages and screens nationwide.
Just Nesh first gained widespread recognition through Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City, an appearance that helped lead to her own half-hour special, The Next Level. Her television and streaming credits have since included All Def Comedy, Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks, Mo’Nique & Friends: Live from Atlanta, Nate Jackson’s Super Funny Comedy Jam, BET’s ComicView Rooftop Series, Hulu’s LOL Live and Comics Unleashed.
She also took control of her creative vision with the self-produced hour Self Served, further establishing herself as a comedian willing to bet on her voice and create opportunities on her own terms. Her CBTV set offers another example of that personality at work, mixing confidence, vulnerability and uncensored observations into a performance built around the realities of everyday life.
Joining her is Nina Kern, a Chicago-based stand-up comedian, actor and podcast host whose comedy explores what it means to navigate adulthood as a modern woman.
After leaving behind her conservative hometown, Kern turned her experiences and evolving worldview into material that can move effortlessly from the mundane frustrations of everyday life to the completely absurd. Dating, independence, self-discovery and the contradictions of adulthood all become fair game as Kern brings a candid and energetic perspective to her CBTV performance.
Since establishing herself in Chicago, Kern has performed at some of the city’s most recognized comedy venues, including Zanies, Laugh Factory and Comedy Bar. She has also hosted a recurring show at Laugh Factory while building credits as an actor in commercials, web series and a television pilot.
Outside of stand-up, Kern co-hosts the podcast White Collars, Red Hands, which has released more than 70 episodes and examines true-crime stories involving white-collar criminals.
Together, the CBTV performances provide a snapshot of two comedians embracing honesty as one of their greatest comedic weapons. Whether confronting dating disasters, uncomfortable realizations or the lessons that come with personal growth, Just Nesh and Nina Kern demonstrate how some of life’s most complicated experiences can also produce its biggest laughs.
The Just Nesh and Nina Kern CBTV mini-comedy special performances are now streaming on YouTube.
