Oy, Joke!

BY JAZMIN BANAL

WAS IT too soon? For Jo Koy, born of a Filipina mother and an American military man, who made fun of his family and their Filipino ways, to host an awards show for Hollywood celebrities? Who, as a comic, did the rounds of comedy clubs, television appearances, and podcasts, but who is not as famous as Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and Chris Rock?

A joke is a joke. And oftentimes jokes — whether done in bars or on television — are offensive. They elicit uncomfortable emotions. But, as Elle UK said on YouTube in 2019, “What’s the best thing about awards shows? The hosts roasting the guests of course!”

After reading posts about Jo Koy’s monologue at the 81st Golden Globes awards, and watching the monologue itself, it seems that roasting a popular personality or a serious movie is allowed only if the one doing it is acceptable to begin with. Remember that Mean Girls line? “You can’t sit with us.” For an awards night, who you are might just set the bar for who you can take a jab at, and if they think that you’re not one of them then they will show you the way out.

Last January 7, Jo Koy was clearly nervous. Maybe he knew that the Hollywood royalty was out of his league. Certainly, he was already at a disadvantage, being approached merely 10 days before the event and after everyone had declined the job.

I was scared for him. Many people were. But the thing is, people always tell you to just do it (Nike) and do what you can’t (Samsung) and think different (Apple). Well, Jo Koy didn’t decline the opportunity offered to him. He accepted the challenge, tried something new. Knowing what’s at stake. Mabuhay, I say. To quote T.S. Eliot: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

Of course, showing up wasn’t enough. Jo Koy’s performance wasn’t the best. I wasn’t laughing as hard as I did when I saw him live. During his 10-minute monologue at the Golden Globes, his discomfort was so visible. I thought he could have used his disadvantage to his advantage. Get the crowd to cheer for him. Or go all out and shock Hollywood, dismissing its self-importance with such vigor ala Gervais.

Instead, he apologized to Taylor Swift after making a joke about the National Football League. He called the celebrities out, that they were laughing at the things he wrote and not those the writers came up with.

When he was interviewed the following day on KTLA 5 Morning News, Jo Koy admitted, “The poking of the writers, when you’re in that moment, it’s like ‘Hey man, I’ve got to grab something.’” Not the best way to handle it but imagine the panic. As he said, “No one’s listening to me on stage! Unless I directly talk to them. Like, if I wasn’t saying ‘Hey Robert De Niro’ and he’s like ‘Oh yes.’”

This one reminded me of the U.P. Law Alumni Homecoming last November when our speaker had to pause in the middle of his speech because the noise from the crowd was overpowering. It wasn’t personal. But I can’t say the same for Jo Koy.

Hollywood takes itself too seriously. Filipino fans of Taylor Swift or Barbie take themselves too seriously. I should know, I often take myself too seriously. We can all try to find ways not to be offended.

It’s not about being kind, although kindness would be well appreciated. I never found him funny. He’s a disgrace to Filipinos. What is it about seeing Jo Koy persecuted that drives Pinoys to – in real time – push him further to the ground?

Whoopi Goldberg, who hosted the Oscars several times, said the next day on The View: “These hosting gigs are brutal. If you don’t know the room, if you’ve not been in these rooms before and you’re thrust out there, it’s hit or miss. I love Jo Koy, he makes me crazy because he’s funny. I don’t know whether it was the room, I don’t know whether it was the jokes, I didn’t get to see it. But I do know that he is as good as it gets when it comes to stand-ups, and it is not an easy gig.”

On The Howard Stern, Stern noted how Jimmy Kimmel takes six months to prepare for the Academy Awards. “No wonder no one wants this gig. You can’t make fun of anybody anymore. I felt bad for the dude … Ten days, you’re doomed. Standing up there in front of a bunch of people who don’t want to be laughed at is the biggest bummer in the world.”

It’s not just Jo Koy. I watch foreign comics on Instagram, and they make fun of everything. Last year, I went to a bar and the crowd wasn’t listening to the local stand-up comics. I felt bad for every guy who stood out there, vulnerable and all. As for Jo Koy, I laughed at his jokes about mothers, Vicks, Mary Grace, titas and their bags, not any mean-spirited attack.

To Jo Koy and anyone else who has made mistakes, learn. Sabi nga ni Billie Jean King, keep playing until you get it right./PN