Joe Wong (simplified Chinese: 黄西; traditional Chinese: 黃西; pinyin: Huáng Xī, born February 16, 1970) is a Chinese American biochemist and comedian.
Joe Wong | |
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![]() Wong in October 2021 | |
Birth name | Huáng Xī |
Native name | 黄西 |
Born | Baishan, Jilin, China | February 16, 1970
Medium | Stand-up |
Nationality | American |
Years active | 2001 – Present |
Genres | Deadpan, sarcasm, observational comedy, satire |
Subject(s) | pop culture, everyday life, marriage, self-deprecation, racial stereotypes |
Notable works and roles | 2010 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner |
Background
editHe was born in Baishan, Jilin, China, into an ethnic Korean family.[1] His family had emigrated from Korea three generations previously. He graduated from Jilin University and studied a master's degree at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, before he went to further study chemistry at Rice University in Texas in 1994.[2] He graduated from Rice in 2000 with a PhD in Biochemistry.
Career
editWong moved to Boston in 2001 and began to perform his comedy at All Asia Bar, at Stash's Comedy Jam. Although he had won numerous awards, he did not attract American nationwide attention until after his appearance on Late Show with David Letterman on April 17, 2009.[3] His multiple appearances on TV, courtesy of Ellen DeGeneres, boosted his reputation further. On February 10, 2010, Wong made his second appearance on the Late Show,[4][5] and appeared again on March 30, 2012. He returned to the Late Show with Stephen Colbert on December 14, 2018.
On St. Patrick’s Day, 2010, he headlined the annual dinner hosted by the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association.[6][7] On June 19, 2010, he placed first in the Third Annual Great American Comedy Festival.
In 2013, he moved back to Beijing, hosting television shows, such as Is it true? (Chinese: 是真的吗?), a MythBusters-like program, on China Central Television.
Awards
editDate | Title | Source |
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May 2003 | Finalist at the Boston International Comedy and Film Festival | [8] |
March 2003 | Best Short Film award at the Cambridge Fringe Fest | [8] |
Six-time winner of Standup Comedy Contest at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA |
References
edit- ^ 小崔说事节目采访黄西 (in Chinese (China)). 2011-11-27. Archived from the original on 2011-11-29. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
- ^ Zaino III, Nick A. (2008-08-17). "Looking for laughs in China". Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- ^ "Joe Wong's network debut on David Letterman's show". 2009-04-17. Archived from the original on 2011-03-16.
- ^ Joe Wong- Letterman 2-12-10 on YouTube
- ^ "KP Comedy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
- ^ Joe Wong, an unusual comedian, kazantoday.com
- ^ Joe Wong to headline RTCA dinner, Politico.com
- ^ a b Joe Wong Archived 2013-07-30 at the Wayback Machine Rooftopcomedy