Jimmy O. Yang on Crazy Rich Asians, George Lopez, Dave Chappelle Influence & Hollywood Rise

Everyone's like, "Oh, my top destination. is Paris, Eiffel.". >> [laughter]. >> Who cares about Paris? French food. sucks. When's the last time you crave. French food? >> What about french fries? French fries. American, we claim that [ __ ] already. Go. to Hong Kong, everybody speak English. there. And it's a beautiful city, some. of the best food you ever have in the. world. Fusion food, western food, and. Chinese food. >> Right. And the pasta in Hong Kong is. amazing. I bet you find a bowl of pasta. there that's better than the pasta here.

>> [music]. [music]. [singing]. >> Hello, welcome to another episode of. Club Shay Shay. I am your host Shannon. Sharpe, and also the proprietor of Club. Shay Shay. Stopping by for conversation. and a drink today is a global and. Hollywood star. He's one of the biggest.

international stand-up comedians today. He's a scene-stealing actor. Who can. forget his incredible performance in. Crazy Rich Asians? A celebrated and. sought-after speaker, writer, author, producer, performer, and an entertainer. Please welcome to Club Shay Shay, Jimmy. O. Yang. Thank you. Thank you, Shannon. Appreciate that, man. Thanks for. stopping by. How you doing? I I love the. show, and this is the best intro. >> [laughter]. >> People should just come on the show for. the intro. Has anyone done an intro for. you? No, they haven't.

>> Like, can I? May I? >> Sure, go ahead. >> May I? Okay. Um, how do you start? How. do you start? Uh Uh This Club Shay This. Welcome to another episode of Club Shay. Shay. I am your host Jimmy O. Yang. Yes. Can I Can I just have that? Um. Welcome to another episode of Club Shay. Shay. Uh this is the proprietor of also. Shay Shay Shay cognac. Yeah, yeah, sponsored by Shay cognac. Sitting across from me, he's not just a. football player, one of the best. podcasters in the world, the black Joe. Rogan. He got more muscles than Arsenio. Hall, funnier than Jay Leno or David.

Letterman all combined. Just one episode. with Kat Williams made him more money. than you guys will ever see in your. lifetime. His sex tape don't even need. no video, it just sound and it goes. viral. Weighing in at 228 lb, 6'2, three. times Super Bowl champion, four time All. Pro, eight time Pro Bowler for a 10-year. NFL season veteran, Hall of Fame. Let's. give it up for Shannon Sharpe. Thank. you, man. MAN, THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE. I LIKE THAT. >> OKAY, GOOD. GOOD. GOOD. I I feel like. you deserve that, you know. You've done.

it You've done it for so many people. >> Yes. >> So, tell No, no, before before we go. >> Can't drink yet. >> No, yeah. Before we go, we going to we. going to uh uh um toast. But, you said. there's something that you do in your. culture Yeah. for uh uh salute or toast. So, how we do it? What we do? >> Yeah, so when someone pours you tea or. drink, you do you do this. You tap the. table a little bit. So, the story comes. from it it's a sign of respect, saying. thank you. But, the story come from like. the king back in the day, right? During. the a dynasty days. He went out to in. public and then he start pouring his.

servant tea, but they don't want to blow. his cover. Right. Cuz usually you bow. your head. So, you do this instead. This. is bowing your head. Okay. Yeah. With. thank you. Cheers. Cheers. Thank you. Ooh, that's nice. You know, uh the. fastest demographic for cognac drinker. is Asian. Yeah. Yeah, that's true. Hennessy and stuff. They They give me a. bottle of Hennessy every year uh We. better than that, though. I I like it a. lot. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, you know let's get right. into it.

You've done a lot of projects, but kind. of the movie project that kind of. catapulted you, launched you. was Crazy Rich Asians. How did you get. the part and what did it do to jumpstart. your career? Man, [clears throat] that that was a. very special movie. I can't believe that. was 8 years ago. >> [laughter]. >> Um I didn't read the book at first, but. my publicist, Sam, who's here, she read. the book and she was like, "They're. making a movie. You got to be in it.". And then I remember her and my manager. kept calling Jon Chu, the director, like. every day, like hounding him, you know, like like, "What's up? What's up?" And. then I was like, "Hey, I I know I'm.

usually like not uh. a super handsome, 6-ft tall, chiseled. leading man. Right. So, but this is a. movie like for Asians, by Asians. >> Correct. >> Let me just audition for the leading man. part. >> Right. And then my manager was like, "Hey, um I got to be honest with you. They're looking for like a good-looking. dude for that.". >> Yeah. >> like, "Man, what what what are you. trying to say, man?" So, he was really. She was that honest? Yeah, yeah. He was. like, "Yeah, they're looking for like a. Chow Yun-fat type like. >> [laughter]. >> leading man type dude, like, you know,

but but we got a side character for you. We got a we got a funny funny side. character." And I actually auditioned to. be the groom at first. Really? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Uh which is I a great part. played by my buddy Chris Pang. Uh but I. I ended up with the burned tie part, which is funnier, Right. >> and a little crazier. And I get to bring. a lot of uh you know, I think when I. went into costume fitting, I get to kind. of pick my own clothes and I was like, "Why don't we just kind of leave my. chest open like that?" And then at the. end um when they catch me making out. with this girl like in the wedding um.

party, I was the one that pitched them that cuz. they gave me some like gold underwear, like boxers. I was like, "Nah, this guy. should be wearing like a golden thong.". >> Right. And then they couldn't find a. golden thong overnight in Singapore. [laughter] It's a pretty conservative. country where we shot the movie. >> pretty. >> So, so the seamstress had to hand-make. like literally like a banana hammock. thong for me. Um And I stole the thong, so I kept it. It's a 101 souvenir. [laughter]. Did you know that this movie like when. you're shooting it cuz I sometimes.

people, you know, like when we shoot a. movie, kind of know it's going to be. really really good and then sometimes. you're not really really sure. In the. process [snorts] of doing this movie, did you know it was going to have the. commercial appeal in the states like it. had? I I really didn't. I don't think any of. us expected that kind of um. that kind of box office, that kind of. importance. Um but I did know that when. we were shooting the movie, there was a. very special feeling because it's the. first movie, first project, TV, anything. that you have an all Asian cast I've.

been. >> Right. Yes. Cuz I've done, you know, Silicon Valley, I've done other TV. shows, movies, and usually I'm the I'm. the only Asian dude there. I'm the Asian. guy. >> Okay. Um but this one, man, like I met. my contemporaries, you know, I felt like. I met my best friends on this set. Um. matter of fact, last night I was just. hanging out with Awkwafina, I was. hanging out with him. >> Really? Yeah. Who were both in the. movie. We're still best friends. But. when we were in that hotel lobby, when. we were shooting that movie in the um in. in in in Singapore, I just had a very. special feeling in my heart. I was like,

even if this movie doesn't work, I I. found my creed of people. And if the. audience can feel, yeah, and if and if. the audience can feel a. ounce of joy that I felt when I was. filming this movie, I think I think we made something. special, and I think they did. How many. of the cast members were you familiar. with, do you have prior relationship. with, or was this your first time. meeting these guys once you got to set? One. I knew Nico Santos and Ronnie. Chieng, but I never met him before cuz they're. from stand-up. >> Okay. But then I I met Michelle Yeoh, I.

met. Henry Golding, Constance Wu, like all. these people from America, from. Australia, from wherever, right? Like it. just felt like the Asian Avengers. gathering together, and we're still best. friends, man. Yeah. How many times did. you audition because you said like, you. know, what I okay, it's a it's a it's a. it's a Asian movie about Asians Yeah. from Asia that that are directing and. producing doing everything. How many. times you like, I need to be I need your. your your your your manager say you. really need to be in this movie, and you.

was like, I auditioned for the the. leading role, but you got the role that. best suited you. Like how many times did. you audition? I just auditioned once for. the. >> Just once? Yeah, and then I met with uh. Jon M. Chu on Zoom, and then he was a. fan of mine on Silicon Valley and of. course I'm a fan of his. Um and we just. kind of talked it out and he was like, "I got this character for you. Would you. do it, you know?" And and that was that, yeah. But I It's one of those movies. sometimes you go to an audition like. like like you're like, "Man, this is. they need a funny Asian dude that plays.

ping pong.". >> [laughter]. >> That that was literally like a movie. part I had to audition for years ago, right? >> of you, bro? Yeah, no, but I'm like I'm. a funny I'm one of five funny Asian. dudes in Hollywood and I know actually. how to play ping pong. If I don't get. this part, I'm going to quit acting. >> [laughter]. >> You know? So, with this Crazy Rich Asian movie, I'm like they they casting 20 Asian. people. If I can't even get in as a top. 20 Asian, I'm just going to kill myself. What's your favorite What's your. favorite moment of being on set? Because. now you're in a movie on the all Asian.

movie, all Asian cast, producers, everybody, directors, everything is all. It's all about your community. And who. can better tell a story about Asians. than an Asian? Yeah, that's right. Um I. mean, it was such a fun shoot, especially my scenes. They made a. parking lot look like a container ship. and they hired all the models cuz it was. like a beauty pageant contest, right? Uh. all the models from all over the world. uh on that and I just got to improvise, you know, talk about like Miss Moldova, Miss whatever, you know? Uh so, that was.

a pretty fun day for the boys to hang. out, you know? When you're on set, how. much do they let you ad-lib? Cuz I hear. a lot of people, you know, and they. said, "Look, there's some lines that. they want you to stick strictly to that. because it leads to something else." But. a lot of times when they're dealing with. someone like yourself or like a cat and. I've had people, you know, Mike Epps and. Marlon Wayans, they're just like, "Okay, you get an opportunity to freelance a. little bit. Let's not go overboard, but. how much of that did they let you be. you?" Uh on that movie, John let me be. me. I mean, you know, you always want to. hit the line that's on the script once.

Yes. And even if you improv, you got to. stay within the script. Like if the next. scene is uh you going to the library, you can't just be like, "Hey, tomorrow. let's go to the coffee shop." Like. that's not going to that's not going to. work. And people do that sometimes. But. I think. with my training, with my background, when people hire me, they know like I'm. going to bring that, you know, as well. Cuz I started on Silicon Valley, there's. a lot of improvisation. It's some of the. best improvisers in the world. And now. whenever I take a project, even if it's. like a drama, you know, I have a talk.

with the director. I'm like, "Is it cool. if I bring a little Like like we'll try. the script a couple times, but then I. want to bring something, too. And a lot. of times improvisation it's not just. saying a funny line. It's not just like. you know, changing the script. Sometimes. it's a reaction. Sometimes Like I've. done this thing on Silicon Valley where. I walked off camera and then ran back in. and said said said something, you know, it's just it could be anything, you. know? And and I think it's it's part of. acting. Like Robert De Niro like. improvises. And it's not necessarily for.

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something if something is funny, if I. can make the crew laugh. If I can make. people behind the camera laugh. >> Yeah. That's how I know it was good, you. know. And I learned that when I was. doing Silicon Valley and sometimes you. can just hear like like they're not. supposed to laugh but you You're like I. I I just hear it. Yeah. Yeah. That's a. good one. Cuz I think as a stand-up you. need the audience feedback. >> Right. Which is why stand-up is so. great. You get immediate feedback and if. a joke sucks, come back tomorrow and be. better, you know, and make the audience. laugh. So, if you can make a crew laugh. or in a sitcom where there is an.

audience, those are pretty good, you. know. You You play a crazy billionaire. in Crazy Rich Rich Asians. >> Sure. What do y'all be. How did you like because you you're a. funny guy like, you know what? If I had. a billion dollars, this is how I would. act. This is how I would be behave. So, so when you playing that character you. like, what what what inspirations did. you draw upon? Weirdly, that was the. easiest character to play. [laughter]. Why was it so easy? Because because he. is just living in the id. There is no.

like there's no self-control. If me and. you don't have any self-control, we say. whatever we want, we do whatever we. want, when we just let let that run. wild, how would this person act? >> Right. So, it's. you just let yourself free and it's it's. super fun. If you actually had a billion dollars, what would the first thing you would do? Buy an underground bunker. There you go. Man, I don't I don't know. I don't wish. to have a billion dollars. I I think.

that's a hassle. Yeah, I think 100 mil. is good. 100 mil? 100 mil, maybe a you. know, maybe a private jet or or just a. jet card. I don't even need a private. jet. >> Right. You know, um. >> Just access to one. You don't need to. own it, maintain it. You just want. access. A couple, you know, let me have. me 2 300 hours a year on one. >> That's it. That's it. Cuz it's a. billionaire, there's too much security. Now you worry about your kids getting. kidnapped. You don't know people's. intentions and and and people hate. billionaires. So, >> [laughter]. >> let me just have like 900 mil and then. and then I'm okay.

Uh. Moving on. Your mom your mom. on saving. Your mom like to say, "Guess. how much?". >> Yeah, that's a name of my second. special, yeah. She was inspired by her. So, when she's get she tries to guess. the price in which something cost or. she's saying. How much is how much you think this. cost? Yeah, but she want you to guess. really high cuz she feels good about. getting a good deal. Oh. >> like those glasses. Like she'll she'll. bring home some glasses and she's like, "Jimmy, guess how much?".

And then I know they like she probably. got it for like 80 bucks, right? Cuz she. she's all about the deals. That's why. she's asking me. But I got to guess. really high. I Make her feel good if she. got a great deal. I'm like, "Oh, 550.". And then she's like, >> [laughter]. >> "80 dollars.". Yeah, isn't your mom super smart, you. know? Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> Your mom [snorts] get offended when you. guess too low? Yeah, yeah. She does. She. does. Um. And she's like, "You you don't even. know. Like you you don't even know. You. don't know designer glasses. You don't. know designer shoes, you know? Like you.

don't you don't know the price of these. things." Yeah. Your mom your mom um. if this was being we we did this in the. information. Is your mom is alike like. my mom and grandma? They don't want. gifts, they want cash. I remember. calling my grandmother and I asked what. she wanted for Christmas. And so I'm. naming out thing. She said, "Cash.". She says the right color and always. fit.". >> [laughter]. >> From that point on, she got cash for. Mother's Day, birthday, Christmas, all. that. So, your mom want cash. She don't.

want you to buy her gifts. Yeah, and I. think that's within Chinese culture. Every Chinese New Year, you get a red. envelope. You know, the kids usually. So, it's totally okay to give cash. Really? >> Yeah, they won't like in China, they. won't take tips a lot of times cuz. they're like, "No, no, we're not tipping. culture." But during Chinese New Year, you have like red envelopes ready. You. got to kind of color code them. The one. with like the rabbit on it, the one with. this word on it got 20 bucks for your. securities, you know. This one got $100. for like your nephews and nieces and. stuff like that. And that's how we build. up our first savings account. I think.

that's why Asian people are so good with. money. Really? >> Yeah. Because you know, a lot of times. it's like, well, money is so. insensitive. It's so it's not. thoughtful. It don't take any thought to. give somebody money. We want you to take. time and go pick out a purse or pick out. this X, Y, and Z. But in your culture, it's like cash is is okay. Yeah, we. don't want thought. We just want money. >> [laughter]. >> I mean, come on. Who cares about thought? There's no money in that. So, were you like this as a kid? Did. your parents give you money instead of. buying you gifts gifts when you were a.

kid? I mean, for my birthday, they'll. buy me gifts and stuff like that. But. yeah, for Chinese New Year, you go. around people's houses. Friends, family, friends, uncles, aunties for like 7, 8. days cuz you get 2 weeks off. >> Really? >> Of school. Yeah, it's the best. I grew. up in Hong Kong, so we got the Western. holidays at Christmas and we got the. Chinese holidays. Oh, it's amazing. Yeah, and then you. just go collect your money and then you. go back to school and you compare your. friends, "How much did you get?" "Oh, I. saved up like 3 grand." And that's your. first savings account. Wow. So, so so. the Chinese New Year, you get 2 weeks.

off from school. >> Yeah. Do do people actually go to work? So, is it like a a national holiday? It's the biggest holiday. It's It's like. Thanksgiving, Christmas, you know, people travel back home or they go. travel. I actually just went uh to Macau. and did the Chinese New Year show over. there. Um yeah, it's just It's just big. vacation. People don't even care about. New Year New Year. What's your favorite. hook here? Let me tell you something. Don't be that guy that use the same. shampoo for your head and your beard. You're not going to see the results you. want and you're not saving time. Truth. is, that one size fit all advice, it.

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>> I think. now let's say I I sound like an [ __ ]. saying this. Now I'm trying. better to like I'm trying to spend more. money. Damn. I'm living way too below my means. >> [laughter]. >> You know. >> And that's not a bad thing considering. the circumstances what's going on right. now. You might want to stay that way for. about another year or so. Yeah. That's. true cuz also actors, uh, comedians you. don't know like especially in the acting. world. Cuz comedy you can kind of. control your own destiny. >> Right. Cuz you can do stand you can go.

do, you know, gigs. >> anytime. You. can build a new hour, sell a special but. in acting you just never know. You got. to be very financially disciplined. You. don't know when the next paycheck comes. Um, but I think now I'm okay. I'm trying. to spend more money and. >> [clears throat]. >> um. I I. This joke never worked. I shouldn't even. tell you this. Like I tried to do this. joke. where I'm like, you know, all my athlete. friends, whatever, they're like, "Man, once I made it, you know, everybody's. ringing up my phone to like borrow. money.". And I'm offended cuz nobody asked me to.

borrow money. >> [laughter]. >> And I wish people would just ask me to. borrow money. Like do you think I'm. broke or something? But then it's not a. relatable joke. I sounded like an. [ __ ] And now And now I bet you a. bunch of people are going to hit me up. for money now. Because you do realize. like there's this, I don't know, I I. don't want to be stereotypical, but they. think you Asians are good with money, they have money, are very financial uh. responsible. And so nobody like. Man, you on TV, you got comedy specials, you've been in movies. Let your boy hold something, Jimmy. You know, >> [laughter].

>> I think it's because a lot of my friends. are also Asian. Oh. >> [laughter]. >> So they're doing okay. >> okay, too, huh? Yeah. Uh. Man, this This is going to sound. terrible. Cut it out if you guys don't. like it. The only two people that asked. me for money were my black friends. >> [laughter]. >> Is that terrible? Is that Should I. Should I leave? Is that Is that. terrible? Is that. You. Well, one of my one of my best friends. is your best friend, Ron Funches. Ron. ask you for money? No, no, no, no, no. But Ron Ron um he's he's my opener's.

cousin. And I see him in Denver every. time I tour. Awesome guy. But he gave me. the advice. He was like, "Don't let. nobody borrow money." No. And then I was. like, "Well, nobody's asked me to borrow. money." Well, you just got to I mean, at. at a certain point, you don't ask. because you know that you're not going. to get it back. You only give what you. can afford to stand to lose. So if. somebody ask you for a thousand dollars, can you afford to not get that money. back? Cuz you're not getting it back. Yeah, exactly. I don't I don't expect it. back. But then sometimes friends hit me. back like like uh I got this friend So. my old roommate, he he used to.

ask me for some money uh or like, you. know, to front the rent a little bit. Which is weird like cuz I think Asian. people are good with money because you. can be a janitor, you can like not. really have a job, but you got $20,000. in savings. You know, Americans just not. very good at savings. Like, my buddy, he. was on a TV show, he was making like. 50,000 like a season, you know, which is. not a lot of money, but like to me back. in the day when I was broke, I was like. >> oh, I can that that will last a lifetime. in rent. My rent was only $500. But. then, 2 months later, he won't have no.

money. And then he'll ask me for money, you. know? It it was it was very um. He might be westernized. Yeah. >> Where he cuz you know, we get they. western the western culture, we get a. little money, we go like, "Man, I always. wanted this bag. I always wanted these. shoes. I always wanted this car.". >> True. And the next day you know, ain't. got no money. >> Zero savings. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah, it's very scary, man. I I Yeah, I. don't know. But you know the saying, you're not promised tomorrow. So, die tomorrow and you got a pocket full. of money, what good what good is that?

Well, see see, I got to live a little. bit more like this, you know? Like, I I. I. agree. I That's what I'm saying, I don't. know how to spend money. I I got to live. like today's my last day. What's the. Like when you started making it, what's. what's the most expensive thing that you. bought? Did you buy something really. nice? It seems you got a nice watch on. You got a AP on. >> Oh, yeah, this is a special Singaporean. edition that I bought in Singapore. Only. 50 ever made. Maybe I do know how to. spend money. Yeah. Huh? I did buy a watch when I first made it. I got a Rolex Pepsi, like a 1969 vintage.

watch. Yeah, I like to buy watches. I. like to buy. >> Okay, you're you're a watch guy, okay. >> Yeah, yeah, like like a little story, a. little character. And I still I wore. that for my first special. I wore that. for my new special that's coming out, too. That's one of my favorite watches. You see the the Chinese tariffs. >> [laughter]. >> made Chinese product a luxury. Temu is. the new Gucci. Yeah, man. People can't afford Chinese. products anymore. Everything got a. tariff, man. And it And the thing is. that because it's so so so inexpensive, you're like, "Oh, man, I'm just going to. load up on this." But now when they put.

the tariffs on it, like, "Nah, bro, I. got to hold up on the Chinese products. >> Yeah, and and maybe you brag about it, you know, back in the day when you see. made in China, you're like, ah, this is. cheap stuff. >> you you you you you you you you you But. now it's like made in China, like this. guy paid double the price for this. This. might be some good [ __ ]. >> [laughter]. >> Which is better, Elon Musk's Cybertruck. or Chinese electric car? Oh, Chinese. electric car. The Cybertruck looks like. a joke, you know, um. You guys have electric cars for a long, long time. >> Man, when I went to China, man, they. have so many companies you never heard. of. You might have heard of like BYD,

but they have like so many other. companies. Like even like their Apple. store, like uh um. uh Huawei, you know, has cars inside of. it. That's like their their version of. the Apple store and it's beautiful, man, and they have so many. and I don't know, I I don't think we get. them here in America, but in Europe they. started to get uh uh. uh Chinese cars now and it's killing the. European car market. So. >> Yeah, they're not they're not they're. not they're not letting that happen. >> Yeah, no. No. That'll be a real brag if you have a. Chinese car here cuz they they look.

awesome. >> I've never seen one. Because. it's like I went to Japan, I remember I. went to Japan many, many years ago. and you might see one American car for. like 15,000 Mhm. Japanese cars. >> Yeah, cuz they probably had to pay the. American tariff and it's really. expensive. Well, well, you like you it's. nothing to see a foreign car in America, but it's a rarity to see an American car. in a foreign country. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. There's I think. in Japan there's a word like like.

they're like American files, like they really enjoy American stuff, some some of them, you know, whether. it's an American car or even I think. Trader Joe bag, Trader Joe's like tote. bag. >> Yes, I saw that. >> sell them for like $1,000 somewhere in. Asia. >> Yes, yes, yes, a a bag that you can buy. at Trader Joe's for $5 is trading like. $1,000, 1,500 bucks. And I bet you they. they loved you in Japan, right? They're. like, a man, American guy, this is. awesome.". >> Well, back then, I don't know if it's. still true, they wanted American money.

Now, I don't know how you because. we go went to the electronic district. and they were like and we you know, buying cassette and DVDs. They had a lot. of stuff that wasn't even out in America. yet. And they was like, "You pay you pay. American money, American money." Really? I'm like, "Yeah, you we give you we give. you you know, in their in their their. broken English, they give you deal, they. give you discount.". >> Uh-huh. I'm like, "Okay, well, you going. to give me a discount? Yeah, I'm going. to pay with American money.". They they probably scammed you. They probably got you good, man. They. they do.

>> [laughter]. >> I don't know. Well, now now you can use. uh obviously uh you use yen over there, but um the exchange rate's really good. for us right now, I think. Yeah, the. last time I went to Japan, exchange rate. was awesome. And then in China, um. everything is still quite. >> the coin What's the What's the What's. the the Chinese. >> Uh yuan. Yuan. Uh renminbi, yeah, RMB. Okay. Um in Hong Kong, you use Hong Kong. dollars. >> Okay. Uh but it's like seven one eight. to one exchange rate. >> Really? Yeah, in mainland China, you can. get a bowl of noodles for like 50 cents. still. Like it's Yeah, the cost of.

living is still quite low. And of. course, you got like big cities like. Shanghai uh and then of course, Hong. Kong, where things a little little more. expensive and very international. They. have Everywhere you go, it's Gucci, it's. So so Hong Kong is more Westernized. They you going to see the Starbucks and. you going to see all the things that. that you would find in America, you'd. find a lot of that in Hong Kong. Yeah, cuz Hong Kong was a British colony for. like 100 years. >> Okay. And now it's uh called the special. administrative region, so it has its own. government and stuff like that. So it's.

a little different, it has its own. currency. So when I grew up, I learned. English, not not very well, you know, like how American kids would learn. Spanish on books. Um but yeah, yeah, it's it's very international, they have. all the international brands and it's. one of the most dense I think it's like. the fourth most dense city in the world. There's seven and a half million people. on a small island. It's beautiful, it's. like Manhattan, but even better. Like. people always say, "Oh my god, New York. is like the best city or whatever." When. I went to New York, I was I wasn't. impressed cuz I grew up in Hong Kong.

where the tall buildings are amazing, the subways are clean, and there's just. there's just like a energy of the people. everywhere on the street. There's a word. for it in Cantonese. It's called yan. hei. Like literally the chi of the. people. Okay. Cuz you walk down LA, there's nobody. Right. >> Like you feel weird walking, you. [laughter] know? I remember when I first. immigrated to this country when I was 13. years old, my grandpa was like, "Let me. I want to take you to my favorite. American restaurant." And we walked 45. minutes down La Cienega. Nobody walks on. La Cienega. >> Hell no. >> Yeah, we looked like like two homeless. people walking down like hitching a ride.

or something. And then we got to this. restaurant and it was an El Pollo Loco. That was his favorite American. restaurant. >> for 45 minutes to El Pollo Loco. To have. fun. I I thought it was amazing. I never. had grilled chicken like that. It was. great. >> [laughter]. >> If you said that you learn if I'm not. mistaken, you learned how to speak. English by watching a BET, right? >> Yeah, BET ComicView, Rap City, everything. I I've heard that because. I've I've heard people that learned. like, "I watched I Love Lucy." Or I.

watched I watched sitcoms and I would. just sit there and listen and mimic what. they say. And because I've heard a lot. of people say. if it's not your native language, English English is one of the hardest. language to learn. Now, Mandarin Chinese. I've heard is the hardest to learn. >> I would think so, yeah. Yeah, yeah, also. the intonation is is very, you know, difficult. But yeah, I learned English. by watching BET because when I came. here, first of all, I never heard of. stand-up comedy. >> Okay. You know? And then when I came to. America, I'm like, "Man, what is this.

ComicView? This is so interesting." And. I get to see all these different comics. And I wasn't just learning about the. language. First of all, I thought like. like whatever they were saying on BET, I. couldn't understand anything. >> Right. You know? Uh so I was like, "If I. can understand this, I can understand. American.". >> when you first came, you didn't speak. any English? I spoke like like like I. said, I learned it on the books, but. like if if you drop a 13-year-old kid. who learned Spanish in the books. in Mexico, he's not going to be able to. communicate with anyone. So, when I. first came, I know like where's the.

library? You know, stuff like that. Like. yeah yeah yeah. >> but to have a conversation. >> conversationally, I just was like people. are talking way too fast. I really can't. understand anything. So, I was like. really foreign when I first came here. and and I had trouble communicating. I. was in ESL classes and stuff like that. But yeah, when I was watching BT, I was. like if I can understand this, I can. understand not just the language, but. also American culture cuz all the. stereotypes and stuff like that, I. didn't know why people like skydiving, you know? And and and and there is comic.

was like uh. Y'all know, you know, black people all. got bad transmissions. I was like I. didn't know that. I was like what? Black people have bad. transmissions in their cars? I don't. even know if that's a true stereotype. But I was like learning new things and. learning about the culture, you know, and then and the people. That's why I. thought it was like so interesting. It's. probably my first inspiration. of stand-up. But I read that when you went to school, that was really the first time that you. had really saw anybody outside of the. Asian community. You went to school, they were all Asians and so now you're.

with black, you're with Hispanic, Latino. and different things like that. So, what. type of like like damn. You looking around like these people. don't look like me, they don't talk like. me. I mean, damn, I'm. Yeah, it was kind of innocent because. there was no race in my mind. I thought. everybody was the same, you know? I saw. some Mexican kids playing soccer. I grew. up playing soccer. I started hanging out. with them, you know? And then the only. Asian kids in my school in LA at the. time were Korean kids. Okay. And even.

they thought I was foreign cuz I don't. speak Korean. They're like oh, China. boy, Chinese boy over there, >> [laughter]. >> you know? So, I I didn't really have a. like a Asian Chinese group to fall back. on, which is good cuz it forced me to. assimilate. >> Yeah. So, I had to hang out with. everyone. And then in high school, my. friends was everyone, you know, like I Persian friends, black friends, Latino friends, white, Asian, like everybody. And I. think that's what I love about America,

you know. Yeah. You said something very. interesting. You said that. being if you're Asian and I got had. Gabriel Iglesias on here and Rafael. Barbosa and they said being Hispanic and. born in America, you're treated. differently by Hispanics born outside of. America. I'm interested like are Asian. is that the same way for Asians if. you're born in America and you're. treated differently from Asians that. were born outside of America? Yeah, you. know, this was kind of sad when I first. came to the country.

I didn't I was like what they call fresh. off the boat, you know, FOB, you know, FOB. And then there's these American born. Chinese, ABC, that's what they call. them. And they weren't really trying to. mess with me because I made them look. foreign. Oh, okay. And that's the last. thing Asian people want to look in this. country is foreign. They really want to. assimilate. >> So, yeah, they they are like, "No, we. were born here. We're Americans and you. are not. So, we ain't really even trying. to mess with you like that, you know.". So, that that kind of hurt, you know, when I first came here. Like it's my.

people that didn't accept me at first, yeah. You had a lot of jobs before you became. what we see today. You were Uber driver, you were a DJ. Let's let's let's let's let's get with. the. DJ first. I don't know. the only only. Asian. DJ is Steve Aoki. So, was that your source of inspiration? No. And you were at a strip club. >> strip club DJ. >> [laughter]. >> It's a little different than Steve Aoki. >> Coming to the stage you want, we got.

beautiful Amber on stage two. That's. right. Yeah, it's We got Danielle. It. was It was really. like people management. It's like. stripper management really more than DJ. cuz I used to make beats. That was my my. first creative outlet. >> Okay. When I didn't have a lot of. friends in America, I had to dive into. something, right? >> Okay. >> To let the energy out. And I was making. beats on like Fruity Loops, Reason, whatever and then I was selling beats. And then from that I kind of know how to. DJ. But when you DJ at a shitty strip.

club, there's not even like a DJ. turntable like that, you know? It's. literally you, a microphone, and a. computer where you're clicking next. song. >> Right. So really you're just trying to. be cool with the strippers like like hey. >> going to tip you know you need to get. tip. Yeah and and also it's like hey. Amber like what song do you want? >> Yes. Yes. Like let me let me play this. for you. And then you got to control the. lighting, you know? Different lights. look better or worse on different skin. tones and really you're trying to get. the customers to go into the VIP room to. get lap dances.

>> Right. Like we had a rule I think every. three girls you have to do like a. showcase where all the girls jump on the. >> Come on the pole stage. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They. walk around and you know you try to get. lap dance. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. >> [laughter]. >> LISTEN. You know I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, JIMMY. YEAH, so like every and then you. have to play like Mötley Crüe Girls, Girls, Girls. And then over the. microphone it's like all right, let me. get all the ladies back on the stage. Amber, Jade, and Milan. And Milan's name. was like Paris last week. Like you know. like these girls be changing names on.

you. And then really your job is like. all right guy in the front like I'm. doing crowd work. >> Guy in the front with the hat, you know, don't be shy. I see you looking at Jade. Take her in the back. It's two for one. lap dances going on or you can get two. girls for the price of one, you know? Stuff like that. And then you're really. just like hard selling them. Right. And. that's to me that was like also my open. mic, you know? Like I was working at a. comedy club at the same time. So I would. do material at the comedy club and then. at night I'll try to do some crowd work. at the strip club. Wow. >> Yeah. So you're like yeah I mean this is. okay. It pays a couple of bills but this.

ain't for me. And then you became So, were you a Well, I I don't know. It was. for me, kind of. I loved being a strip. club DJ. And I was so good at it. The. owner, he was like a biker gang. gangster. Really? >> was really cool. Invited me over to his. house, like all his boys were there. It was like pretty like in hindsight, I. shouldn't have done that, probably. >> [laughter]. >> Yeah, his name his name is Gunner. And. um he was like, "Hey, uh I'm getting up. in age and uh I want you to take over. this place. Sales went up 44% ever since. you came in." Cuz I was like I wasn't.

trying to have sex with the girls. I. mean, I was. I was just wasn't. successful. >> [laughter]. >> What? You know, I was like very. professional. >> Right. >> You know, uh and and and and I ran a. tight shift. >> Right. So, he was like, "I need a. manager. I want you to take over, you. know, uh I'm going to build a new strip. club, blah blah." And then I literally. had a moment where I was like, "Hm, maybe I could be like the San Diego. strip club kingpin, you know?" Yeah. >> Uh that'd be kind of fun. But then I had. a really nice mentor, shout out to my. boy Sean Kelly, who ran the Comedy. Palace Um in San Diego. He'd give me.

stage time and I was working there and. I'd tell him all these stories. I'm. like, "Man, we just got in this fight. Uh uh uh this dude, uh Monster, he was. our security. He took out the stick and. beat the [ __ ] out of this guy. It was. awesome, man." You know, I was bragging. I was like a 22-year-old kid. And Sean. was like, "Yo, I know you think that's. funny. That's not funny, you know? Like. when you're around these dark places, these dark people for too long, you will. start to normalize this. Mhm. >> that's not all right. So, I want you to. get out of here. You're very funny. You. have a future.

>> Okay. Go to LA, develop more of your. comedy, and get on TV." And I took his. advice and I didn't take the DJ job. So, >> the the the strip club management job. So, that's when you like came and you. started doing open mics and you started. doing your own thing. But in the. meantime, you still you were Uber. driver. Yeah, that was that was later. I. didn't even have money to buy a car for. Uber. >> Oh. >> You know, so I was just like living with. my roommate Terrell in like a $500. apartment. Uh. I lived in the room, he had a bedroom, you know. >> Right. And we just doing open mics and.

my buddy Sean uh had this idea um. we opened up a comedy club on the second. floor Hooters uh. on Hollywood Boulevard. Okay. >> And we'll be like New York comics where. we'll bark and like try to get these. tourists up there. So at least every. night we have like five, 10 customers. Cuz in LA it's really hard to get stage. time. Yes. >> If you're not a famous person. >> No, if you're not a name. >> TV credit, a special. So we have to. build our own stage time. >> Right. So that's why we opened up that. Hooters comedy club and we grinded. there, pass out tickets every night just. so we have an audience.

>> Right. Um and then that's the only way. to get good is stage time. Wow. >> Yeah. You mentioned a um Rap City and. BET ComicView and all those things. Did. you understand I don't know if you. really understood the importance I mean. be obviously being from being um. coming to this country and not really. understanding the importance of BET Rap. City and ComicView because they were. huge for the culture. Right. >> Because ComicView and and Def Comedy Jam. that really launched the comics and put. them if you got if you got on there.

Yeah. now you can tour and you could. like and everybody knew who you were. Yeah. >> And so you watching that is that is that. when you really started to say you know. what. that's what I want to do. No, not at. all. >> Really? I started stand-up because I was. just bored. I was really kind of. depressed. That's why I like all these. different jobs cuz I didn't economics. major Yeah. in [clears throat] college. I really didn't want to do that. I. didn't internship. And then I just took. on odd jobs like the strip club DJ, um I sold used cars, I I uh what else.

did I do? I worked at a comedy club, worked at a shoe store just to see what. I like. And then stand-up was one of the. things that I tried and I was like, "Oh, I'm pretty good at this.". >> Yes. And and this gave me an outlet. creatively and also it was it gave me. somewhere to hang out. I wasn't really. cool enough to go to clubs. >> Right. You know, I didn't have like cool. friends that would be like you know. popping bottles or whatever. >> Right. And I was like 20 something, so I. had I needed something. So I would just. hang out at the comedy clubs every night. and. just grinding it out. Like in my 20s I.

really didn't go out outside of the. comedy club. That was my going out. And. luckily from that I I I developed a. skill, you know. When your parents spending the kind of. money to get you an education, you're an. economics major. And and college isn't cheap and your. parents have spent invested this kind of. money. I'm sure they're thinking, you. know what? We didn't come to this. country to have our son be a stand-up. comedian. They have him They have him. working in a shoe store, have him doing. X, Y, and Z and do these odd jobs. When. you finally told your parents kind of. the direction that you wanted to go in,

how did they receive it? >> They They don't really understand it. Like, okay, they might understand. playing football, playing basketball. That's you see someone on TV. My dad is. like, what is stand-up? Like, what is. this? You know, he's never seen Comic. View, he's never seen Chappelle, George. Lopez. So he was just confused. He. thought it was like a phase, hoping that. I would get out. Yeah, and then like every week he would. send me like careerbuilder.com email. Hey man, Goldman Sachs is hiring, you. know. UBS is hiring, Morgan Stanley.

Come on, Jimmy. So he was just hoping. I'll snap out of it. And he finally. understood it when I became a series. regular on Silicon Valley. Cuz that's. TV, that's acting. And now. Yeah, and now there's a contract. So he. understands there's a contract with HBO. Warner Brothers, you know. So okay, okay. Now now he's not worried. When you talk look, obviously like. comedians a lot of comedians especially. if you're black or white, you had Pryor, you had Fox, you have Chappelle, you. have Martin, you have guys that Bernie.

Mac, you have guys Rudy Ray Moore you can. look to. If you're white you got Louis. C.K. and you got Carlin and you got all. these guys that really the only and I'm. way older than you Jimmy. The only. really Asian comedian that I really knew. of back 20 years ago was Mark Curry. Troy. Mark Curry Troy. >> was the only one. Now, obviously there. are more now, but who was your. inspiration because it's not a whole it. wasn't a whole lot of them. It was it. was very special to see any Asian on TV. when I was growing up, you know, even. Bobby Lee on MADtv. That was like.

must-watch TV. I never watched Saturday. Night Live. I watched MADtv cuz Bobby. Okay. >> You know, when Yao Ming came into the. league, you know, Asian brother. Yeah, yeah, so now you watch the NBA. >> Yeah, Ken Jeong, you know, and Margaret. Cho. Many of these people, man. I remember I. think I saw Ken Jeong in like Showtime. at the Apollo. So I'm like, this this. guy is so funny. Or even Last Comic. Standing, the first year winner was Dat. Phan. And a lot of people was like, oh, you know, he's he's pretty green as a. comic or whatever, but then I'm like, I'm Asian I'm so proud of this brother, man.

>> Um so I think you're just grasping for. any any Asian thing. But then for me, you know, stand-up, a lot of my. inspiration came from a lot of different. comics on Comic View, but also Dave. Chappelle, uh Chappelle's Show when I. was in high school was like must-watch. TV. Yeah. You know, like every. Wednesday, if you don't watch. Chappelle's Show, you got nothing to. talk about on Thursday. >> Right. And then George Lopez. >> Uh-huh. Man, me and my buddy would watch. his special "Tort Dark and Chicano" and. then um there there was another one. It. was incredible specials on HBO and he. was talking about his immigrant family. and included some Spanish in his act. I.

don't know Spanish, but then I'll go to. school like and and start speaking like. George I was like, "Hey, Mira Mira." You. know, Yeah. like repeating his jokes. because it resonated. Although I didn't. grow up in a Spanish family, I. understood he was his family is also. immigrants, you know, and and and and. and a little foreign, a little. different. And when he described his. aunt, when he described his his his. grandfather, it it brought you into his. life. >> Right. And I really loved that. So I'll. say George Lopez's um. stand-up was really a great early source.

of information. And for me, that's why I. talk about my family, I talk about my. real life experience. You might not be. Asian, but you you get it. It's like the. mom that gets how much stuff, and this. new special, I shot it in Hong Kong, and. I included some Cantonese. There's. subtitles. I'm not like 10% Cantonese, but I want to be like George Lopez. Like. even if you don't understand Spanish, you'll find it funny. And maybe learn. something in the process. How are your. How were your friends? Were they very. receptive? Did like Jimmy give this up? Bro, you need to You need You need to.

You need to find something else to do, or were they supportive? Because you. mentioned your your your mom and dad, they brought you over here to get a to. be a businessman, to be a lawyer, to be. a doctor, be you know, be a a CEO. They. brought you here to tell jokes. Yeah, I. mean, my friends are pretty supportive. They thought it was really cool, cuz we. like grow up watch Chappelle, watch. George Lopez together, and um. the first way to get stage time in a. real comedy club is bringer shows. So, you got to bring five friends in order. to get five minutes on a real stage in.

LA sometimes. At the Ha Ha Comedy Club, or like. whatever, right? And I remember one. time, like at some point you run out of. friends. >> [laughter]. >> Bring. Like yeah. >> bring the same five friends like you. brought them last week, bro. Get out of. here. Yeah, it's okay if they drink the. two drink minimum, but your jokes are. the same. They don't want to keep. coming, you know? But when I had my. first bringer shows, all my friends. showed up, and it was a pretty special. experience. But then, you're like, man, I need to get stage time some other kind. of way, cuz you literally run out of. friends to invite. One time, I think I. brought four friends instead of five. friends, and they wouldn't let me on.

stage. Really? >> Yeah, man. It's cutthroat like that. >> You like, bro, look here. For the last. three weeks, I've done brought five. people every time. Just one time, I'm a. guy short. Cut your boy some slack. Yeah, I know. And this comic who was. running the show wouldn't let me on. stage. He's like, come on, man, I'm. trying to run a business. You know, it's. a bringer show. I told you got to bring. five. I'm like, I got four. Maybe one is. coming. Can I just get Give me four. minutes of stage time. And he's like, nah, nah. The uh he coming later. Yeah. He had [clears throat] something to do. And now this guy's trying to be all nice. with me. That guy. I'm not going to name. any names, but yeah. That dude.

Um I was talk Who was I talking to? I. was talking to um Brad Williams had him. on. Oh yeah, you him. And he's talked about how Peter Dinklage. when he did SNL in the monologue, no. dwarf jokes. Ah. And. I read some Asian Americans. won't play characters that have an Asian. accent. >> Mhm. Yeah. What about where are you on this? I'm okay with it because I kind of an. accent. I I I I didn't even speak. English when I first came here. How can.

I say no to that, you know? That would. be like saying no to my own foreign. brothers, you know? Um but it depends. I. think if it's sometimes really. it's not to me it's not as clear as like. accent is a no, you know? Like can I do. this accent authentically? Right. >> You know, in Silicon Valley like I I I. made sure to do this character very. authentically and put a lot of myself in. there. I did a movie called Patriot's. Day. It's based on um. the Boston Marathon bombing. Yes. And. there's a character called Danny Ma. He.

turned out to be a hero and he had a. very thick Chinese accent. What am I. going to not play that guy? He's a. freaking hero. He just happened to be an. immigrant. >> Right. You know? So I'm very proud of being an immigrant, you know? I'm very proud to. have not speak English to now where I. can, you know? So I think as long as you. play with nuance, you play it with. dignity, you play it with authenticity, it's all right. Is that why you feel. that it's important to have that and not. avoid it? Like look, bro, we I mean I'm I'm an immigrant. >> Yeah.

I'm I'm Asian descent and just for me to. avoid it, that doesn't make me not Asian. or doesn't make me my my story not. authentic. >> There's so many different types of. Asian. >> Yes. You know, I think the problem was. and still is that there's just not. enough Asian people on TV. When there's only two Asian people on TV. and one of them got a heavy accent, you. know, that's tough. >> Yes. Cuz then people look at it and be. like oh all Asian people are foreign. So that's why we fight for the. representation. There's a critical mass.

of enough, you know? Like on Crazy Rich. Asians, it was also spiritually a very. freeing experience because now I can. just be the funny crazy billionaire. right because there's other Asians in. that movie. You know, it's just people. now, you know, instead of you have to. carry the weight of this one character. representing everyone. So, I think. what's most important is having more of. us on TV, on film so now we can just be. whatever character we want to be. You.

said uh read that you said you want to. make Chinese as sexy of a language as. Italian and French. >> Yeah, like why is Chinese accent not. sexy? Why why why why is a girl. listening like. the Spanish lover, you know, God has an. Italian accent, British accent. The. French. Yeah, why is the Chinese accent. not you know? I I don't know it's I but. I mean I guess it's because of Paris and. there's something about going to Paris. and the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop and. they got this bridge. I don't know if. they still do it where they put the. locks on you you Oh yeah, that's kind of.

cute. Yeah, so Yeah. I guess I mean. you're not going to let anybody put no. locks on the the Great Wall of China, are you? You're not going to. >> No not on the Great Wall but I mean So, you got to have you got to have. something that's iconic and scenic in. the backdrop cuz you just think about it. you go and you got your girl, your wife. or whatever and then the Eiffel Tower is. in the backdrop. Who cares about Paris? >> [laughter]. >> Everyone wants to go to a France or. everyone wants to go to a Paris. >> Who gives a [ __ ] okay? French food. sucks. All right? Like have you When's.

the last time you crave French food? Never. >> toast count? No, come on man. Like you. know. >> What about French fries? No, French. That's not even Who cares, dude? French. fries American. We claim that [ __ ]. already, okay? We've colonized French. fries. But look man, like I think I. think people really need to go to Asia, go to Hong Kong. Everybody speak English. there. Yeah, man. That's why I shot my special. in Hong Kong cuz I'm like I got to put. Hong Kong on the map. This is such a. beautiful international city and most of.

the special is in English, you know, and. I talk about Hong Kong culture, the. people and everything. And it's a. beautiful city. Some of the best food. you ever have in the world. Street food. to like the best Michelin star. >> all that now, Jimmy. Now, you talking. about street food. Street food? Yeah, the street food. You done heard about. some of the things that y'all be y'all. be eating over there, Jimmy. >> See, SEE, THIS IS BAD STEREOTYPING, SHANNON. I'm just saying. Just saying. >> [laughter]. >> This is like me saying this is like me. saying black people borrow money from. me, you know? Like this is bad. stereotyping. We We do. WE DO. >> [laughter].

>> LOOK, China is is huge. There's like. eight pillars of different cuisines in. China. So, Cantonese cuisine is. different than what you eat in Shanghai. And you have very modern, you know, fusion food, western food, and Chinese. food. And the pasta in Hong Kong is. amazing. Yeah, man. >> Nah, MAN. NOBODY GO NOBODY GO TO CHINA. NOBODY GO TO CHINA HONG KONG FOR PASTA. RIGHT, but if you craving pasta, I bet. you you find a bowl of pasta there. that's better than the pasta here. I'm just saying. Like it's a great It's.

a great place and people don't give it. enough credit. And then they're like, "Oh, you know, you eat weird stuff over. there." Sure, in deep China can you find. some weird [ __ ] Probably, you know? But. we don't eat that every day, you know? And then in Hong Kong, you just have. like the best roast duck, you know, char. siu pork, and wonton noodles. Oh my god, it's amazing. And the noodles. Oh my. god, it's amazing. Y'all be having them. leaves and all kind of stuff. Y'all be. cooking like that, man. Do y'all really. cook Do they really cook like that? Not. No, like if you live in a village in. America, there's people that cook weird. People that eat road kill. Do we eat.

road kill every day, Shannon? You know? And then in Hong Kong, like. people have modern kitchens, you know? It's It's the most Like dude, when I. came to When I came to LA, I'm like, "This is country. This place sucks. There's nothing here but cars and. freeways, all right?" When you walk It's. not modern at all. When you go to China, man, like, dude, the the high-speed. rails. >> Mhm. takes you everywhere. And the. restaurant decor inside of Shanghai will. blow your mind. And it's just incredible.

services. That's why I'm saying like. people got to give Asia give give China. a chance, dude. Like, you know, like. like like so many people everyone's. like, "Oh, my top destination is Paris.". All that, man. You know, the hotels are. expensive, the food sucks. Go go to. Asia. >> cheap? Dude, China, yeah, yeah, yeah. A lot of. You can have the highest end of the. highest end. The best hotel chains all. come from Hong Kong. Think about it. Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, the Rosewood. These are the. top of the top hotels around the world, right? All Hong Kong companies. Wow.

Yeah, man. Yeah, people got to know. that. >> Okay, well, tell me. Help me out with this. I'm not the biggest Asian cuisine guy. Every once in a while, maybe once, twice, maybe once a year, maybe once. every other year, I'll eat some shrimp. fried rice. But that's about it. I I. Not shrimp fried rice. Chicken fried. rice. I'm allergic to shellfish. >> [laughter]. >> But I I mean, when y'all when you start. getting to like like that the moo goo. gai pan and General Joe's chicken and. and all That's not EVEN CHINESE FOOD. >> THAT IS. >> NO, NO, that's Chinese-American food. I.

mean, I like it. Don't get me wrong, I. love Panda Express, OKAY? >> [laughter]. >> TO ME, that's a different cuisine than. Chinese food. I love it for what it is, you know? Okay, give me give me give me. some some some solely Chinese cuisine. All right. So, you go to Hong Kong. Let's just talk about Cantonese. Now, I'll give you some other cuisines, okay? Cantonese food on like the basic level, what people eat every day, it's wonton. noodle soup. And it's some of the. freshest noodles that they make by hand. Wontons with shrimp and pork. And then.

for lunch, you eat like tak kai fan. It's like char siu and chicken rice. Just meat over rice. Okay, yeah, that's. that's me. That's me. That's me. It's. barbecue. It's it's they barbecue the. >> the Korean the Korean barbecue. Well, that's Korean. That's a different. culture. But. But yeah, but yeah, the Chinese like Hong Kong. barbecue. Do you have like basically our. own picture. >> Y'all got Y'all got barbecue? Yeah, char. siu is barbecue. That's roast pork belly. and then you have barbecue duck. Roast.

goose is the best thing. Goose is better. than duck and they have that in Hong. Kong. No, no, no, goose ain't better. than duck. No, it ain't. You haven't. tried it. Duck confit. No. Duck, okay, if you like duck, this roast. duck. >> So duck over rice and then they have. this ginger [clears throat] scallion. sauce. It's just chopped up ginger. scallion. They pour hot oil over it and. you pour that over all your rice and. everything. It's some of the best thing. you'll ever have. Wow. Yeah, and then in. Shanghai, different cuisine. You have. braised pork slow cooked with soy sauce. You have crab, you know, this very. famous hairy crab. You don't really eat.

the meat, you eat the roe that's inside. The egg, that's the egg. Uh uh it's not. that I I don't Roe is Is it roe or is it. eggs? >> it's eggs or it's guts. I don't know. what it is, but it's delicious. You mix. it with noodles, with rice and then I. don't know about that, Jimmy. You're. doing too much. I mean, you had me. going. You talking about Yeah. You. talking about the You talking about the. roast the pork and you talking about the. duck and you talking about the goose. Okay, I was doing and the barbecue. the beef and all that. I was good with. you. And then you got to the roe. The. the crab roe? But hey, man, it's choose. your own adventure, you know, there's so. many different cuisines. You can go to.

China and just have McDonald's and the. McDonald's over there is better than. here. How close. is Asian cuisine in America to that what. you see over there in the original. country? In places like LA and New York, you can find very authentic Asian. cuisine really in the Chinese part of. town. Like here, you have to go to the. 626 like Monterey Park, San Gabriel. Valley and you have some of the most. authentic stuff you can find. Cantonese. cuisine, Shanghainese cuisine, Beijing. cuisine, whatever, right? But in in in. most like middle America, I was just in.

Detroit, you know, uh my old roommate. and my opener Terrell, he's from. Detroit. So. he's used to Chinese food that's like. gravy over rice. The American like egg. foo young. I never heard of egg foo. young. >> Yeah, see? You know, when I was in Hong. Kong. So, it's very different. Oh, and. then my other opener Derek. Ross Smith's cousin. He's a black dude from the south from. Texarkana. >> Yeah. And. I. I love taking him to Asian restaurants. here. We went to a Japanese restaurant.

He looked at the miso soup. He saw the. little little white cubes in there. He's. never had it. He was like, "What is. this? Cheese?" I was like, "No, it's. tofu, man." Like he's never had like. pho, he's never had sushi. And he loves. it, you know? It's like a nice culture. exchange. And then he takes me to soul. food restaurants and neck bones. >> Yeah, yeah, that's what I'm talking. about. Yeah, you the neck bone ox tail. Yeah. Delicious. >> Yes. And then I had. Kool-Aid. And I never had something. [laughter]. so sweet in my life. There's more sugar. than liquid inside of that thing. I felt.

like my foot was going to fall off. Jesus, man. You know, but it was. delicious. Yeah, man. >> [laughter]. >> You said you were treated bad by Asian. in American schools. Why were you. treated bad? Cuz like normally I would. think is that they got someone that. looks like them that's from their. culture. They're like, "Damn, we got. It's like if you went to another school. and you got people that look like you, now you don't feel like an outsider, you. don't feel like an outcast." Why did Why. do you think they treated you. differently? Well, because I like like I. was saying, the American-born Chinese.

people or the Koreans, you know, they. they're fighting their own battle, right? Because there's lack of. representation. Although they were born. in America, they still people thought. they were foreign. >> Okay. Some people still go up to them. and ching chong or like, you know, on a. basketball court they call us Jackie. Chan, you know? [laughter]. So, they're fighting their own battle of. assimilating and and. which is which sucks because they were. born in America, they're American. Why. do they even have to fit in, right? So, I get the battle. And then this foreign. kid, me, comes in who can barely speak.

English. If they hang out with me, it. will only make them look more foreign. So, I kind of get it, you know? But it. sucked at the time. Like can you tell. like if if something like if we like. like 20 people in here and they're. Asian. Yeah. >> And obviously some you like you said. they're they're different they're. Cantonese and they're Mandarin so forth. and so. Do you know because a lot of. times and and you like I don't really. ask but I'm still let people look at. like like is he is he Korean? Is he. Chinese? Is he Japanese? Is he South. Korean? Is he Taiwanese? Do you do you.

get do people do do people ever confuse. you and ask you. like what's your ethnicity? It depends where I am. If I'm in. Koreatown and the cashier starts. speaking Korean to me I feel like that's. that's fair. You know, I'm there, you. know. Would you like say I'm not Korean? >> Yeah, I'm not I'm not I can't. >> [laughter]. >> I can't. >> What did what did you say? Yeah, I just. I can't speak Korean, you know. And then. they're disappointed. They think I'm. Korean but I don't speak Korean, you. know. Uh but obviously I'm Chinese. Um. I can kind of tell, I think, if. someone's Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, uh whatever, but you know,

uh. also I guess. just saying someone's Asian that's a big. group. >> Yeah. You know, I think Chinese people. is very different than Korean people. than Japanese people. And then if you go. to Asia then you really learn about the. beefs. >> Right. You know, like the different. countries got. >> everybody ain't cool. Yeah, the. different countries got different beefs. >> Yeah, yeah. You know, and then if you. really go deep like in China like. Shanghainese people got beef with the. neighboring city, you know, like people. just find beef and and you know, it's. >> We don't rock with y'all. Yeah, yeah,

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, these people are. country people are like whatever. You. was born in Hong Kong. What was it like. born in Hong Kong because I you know, you hear these stories like it's so. Americanized. It's so like it's not. anything that you would think an Asian. country would be. And and when you see. it on tele they I look they make. everything look glamorous and I'm sure. it is but what was it like growing up. for you there as opposed to like when. you go back now? Oh wow, that's a great question, Shannon. When I grew up there, you know, I loved it cuz after school you can just.

walk home, it's super safe. And then, um, you know, there's food everywhere, there's people everywhere, there's shops. everywhere. Like, you're very stimulated. as you walk down the [clears throat]. street in Hong Kong, and it's very. convenient. You can take subway across, uh, uh, the ocean to Kowloon side or. whatever. There's so much to do in a. very small place. And it felt like. there's a whole world outside of your. apartment. But, you grow up in. apartments, nobody has houses in Really? It's all high-rises, like New York. Maybe some super rich people have a. brownstone Right. Yeah, yeah. But, we.

all grew up on a 25th floor. So, life. was a little different. Um, and then when I came to America, it was. complete culture shock. Now, you can't, especially LA, you can't walk around. >> Mhm. You got to drive, there's five-lane. freeways, there's no people, there's no. shops. It just felt very. non-stimulating, very boring to me. And. then I lived in America, I moved here. when I was 13, I lived in America for 25. years without ever going back to Hong. Kong. Really? >> Yeah. >> Why you didn't go back? I think.

once I got past like 10 years, you know, there was a fear of like, "Man, if I go. back, it's going to be too emotional. If. if I go back, maybe it changed so much. they won't accept me." So, I waited and. waited, and then I finally went back for. the first time last year, and I sold out. five arena shows. Really? >> Yeah, it was crazy. Tickets were going. in like 20 seconds. It was awesome. Like, I felt like. >> You guys have That's one thing about I. can say about you guys, you guys support. you. You you support. Yeah, they support. Hey, this Hey, we got one play basketball, we.

he tell jokes, he's. Yeah, we're we're there, man. And and. and it was just really cool to go back. now as a stand-up, you know, and tell my. jokes. Mostly, my set was in English. It. was the set that I was touring with, and. I added maybe 10, 15 minutes of. Cantonese. And they loved it, and. everybody understood it. We're all. laughing, and um, I even get to meet some of my heroes. Like, I met Chow Yun-fat, I met Dayo. Wong, who was like the biggest comedic. actor still in Hong Kong. And And these. are just like my heroes and now like.

they almost see me as a peer. Wow. >> You know? It was so cool cuz when I met. Chow Yun-fat, I was like fan-girling, you know? I was like, "Oh my. >> [laughter]. >> god, I grew up watching you. You're like. the like one of the best actors to ever. come out of Hong Kong, you know?" Um and. then he was like, "Ah, you know, you're. doing better than me. I spent a couple. years in Hollywood, you know? It was. okay, but you you start in Hollywood and. you're making it." And I was like, "Oh. my god, I can't" It's like unbelievable. and. that's why I shot this special in Hong. Kong. Cuz at first, I was going to shoot.

it, say for Netflix, Amazon, in like um. Seattle. That was That was the plan, right? Uh but then when I shot this in. Hong Kong, there was just so much I. couldn't recreate. First of all, I came. out like like Beyoncé, like I popped UP. ON STAGE. IT WAS LIKE A ROCK CONCERT. It. was like fireworks. Everything. >> So you had a full production. Full. production. Uh. I sang a couple songs. It was a It was. like a whole thing. But then all my. heroes were there in the audience and I. got emotional at this one part, literally like start tearing up. Just.

all the emotions. after not going home for 25 years, this. >> Yeah. welcome that I'm receiving in my heart. It was just amazing. My parents were. there. We cut to them when I'm telling. jokes about them. And there's so much I. couldn't recreate and it's just a very. special thing. That's why we shot it, you know, ourselves in Hong Kong. I came. home to America, edited for like 6. months. It was the hardest It was like. editing a movie cuz we shot five shows. and it was like 11 camera angles. And. how do I tell the story where it works. for the Hong Kong audience and it works.

for the global audience. So after that, I was like, "This is like my baby." And. then um now we got we're going to be out. in movie theaters. Wow. >> Yeah. When you were in Hong Kong, did. you see any black people? Did you see. any Hispanic people? Did you see anybody. else other than Asian people? Not not really. Um. there's some white people, but like. it was like especially when I was. growing up. This was in the late '90s or. in the '90s. You see a white person, you. like, "Ah!".

You know, not exactly like that, but. it's like, "Oh my god, he's so like. tall.". >> Right. He's like, "Oh my god." Or or, you know, um. it's it's almost like uh. like a zoo animal. You see like a zoo. [clears throat] animal, you know. You're. like, "Oh my god, white white person.". Cuz you know what, Jimmy? I grew up in a. very small uh rural community and I had. a. a buddy of mine. We went to went to. kindergarten and he left and went to a. private school. His name was uh Mark. Sampson. Uh-huh. And so, we knew if we. saw somebody, okay,

he's a his dad's a doctor. Because they. were they were the only ones. >> Ah. in the community. So, we knew like. he ain't just. he was somebody and then you had uh I. think later they had a a doctor named a. Dr. Oh. Uh-huh. >> And his family was So, we we kind of. kind of knew if that when you looked at. white like. I wonder what he does. If you Cuz like. you said, I I don't know if if black. people I don't know if you have a. military base over there cuz a lot of. like Okinawa, if you see black people, you would probably assume that they're. in Japan that they're they're from the. military. That means I mean, okay, look.

Like I Also, that was in the '90s. Now. in Hong Kong, it's all kinds of. different people. You see it in my. special. Like like the audience camera, you see black people, white people and. Yeah, it's very international. Hong. Kong's super international. It's a. global financial hub, like New York. So, usually people, you know, are there. because they're working for like Morgan. Stanley Yes. or something like that. Um. yeah, but you know, I just I just wish. more Americans would go there. Like, experience it. Like you, you know. Uh. but it it it's uh That's a long flight,

man. How long a flight is it from LA? I. think 14 hours, yeah. Shh. But [snorts]. you just. >> Man, you go to sleep for 5 hours and you. still got 9 hours, watch two three. movies and you still got 3 hours to go, Jimmy. >> It's worth it, man. Or go to Japan. first. It's like 10 hours and then go to. China. That's like another, you know, 4. hours. Now, here Macau is kind of like. >> Macau's awesome. Yeah. It's like Vegas. Yes. Yeah. >> Yes. Because you hear a lot of the. casinos Yeah. are opening up in Macau. Oh my god. It's um.

it's bigger like the casino I played at. I played at uh Galaxy. Uh and it was like a 10,000 people arena. over there. And the casino itself within. the Galaxy casino, there was 11 hotels. The best of the best. There was an. infinity pool ON MY BALCONY. WHAT? YEAH, MAN. It's That's what I'm saying. Like. it's it's America is like. country bumpkin compared to like. >> [laughter]. >> Hong Kong and Macau, dude. You know, when you go there, everything is so. opulent. Right. You have the best of the.

best. And you have like $5 street food. You know, it's amazing. And within like. the Galaxy, they have like Ritz-Carlton, they have Capella, they have like all. the big brands. Um but gambling is a. little different over there. Really? Like I live in Vegas now, and uh you. know, I I go gamble, you drink. It's. it's fun. Right? Like a couple hundred. bucks here and there. You play. blackjack, you go from game to game. But. it's more like a party. In Macau, people. are serious. And it's really hard to. find like roulette or even blackjack. Cuz it's they're all playing baccarat. Baccarat. They're all playing baccarat. And they don't really do drinks. They. they focused. Yes. It's like they going.

to work. They actually there to try to. make money, you know. It's not so much a. party. Wow. >> Yeah. You know what? I want to ask you this. about cuz you you guys Asian have a very. strong sense of community. Were your. relatives, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins, were you guys in close. proximity? Yeah, so that's very. interesting cuz my parents are. Shanghainese. They're from Shanghai. Okay. So they moved to Hong Kong. >> Okay. So even their family was in. Shanghai. So in Hong Kong, we're a lot. of family friends. >> Okay. But not a ton of relatives.

>> Okay. Okay. And then not until I was. like 10 years old, we went to Shanghai. for the first time. My dad took me to. Shanghai for the first time. I met my. cousin and stuff. Yeah. And that was. really cool. I didn't even know I had. cousins. >> Right. You know, um and then when I came. to America, a lot of my family has. immigrated before us. So, some of my. cousins were actually born here and I. met those cousins that are in America. So, I guess I got family like. everywhere. Yeah. Could when you went to. Shanghai to meet your cousins, did they. speak English or you had to speak to. them in in Cantonese or. >> So, they don't even speak.

Cantonese. They speak Shanghainese and. Mandarin. Oh. >> So, I I have to kind of change all my. So, in my house, even within one. sentence, it could be three, four. different languages. It could be. English, Shanghainese, Cantonese, Mandarin. And different regions you can. communicate differently. There's so many. different Chinese dialects. But, Mandarin will be the main one. Because. you I hear a lot of a lot of times when. it comes to communicating is that. you communicate with your parents in a. certain language, but outside you speak. American you speak American. Yeah. But,

they want you to communicate, but they. also want you to understand a language. And so, like a lot of Hispanic, you. know, people, they'll talk Spanish when. they talk to their parents, but outside. they talk American. Or same thing with. you guys, you speak Cantonese or. Shanghainese or or or whatever. >> Shanghainese. What what what is. Shanghainese. Shanghainese. The language. that people even younger generations in. Shanghai don't speak Shanghainese. It's. like an old dying language. They speak. Mandarin now. >> Oh, okay. But, then like people are. like, "Your Shanghainese sounds like, you know, an old person Shanghainese.

from like the '50s or something.". Because I learned Shanghainese from my. parents and my grandparents. And I only. speak to them in Shanghainese with other. words mixed in. >> Yeah. >> Can they speak Can they speak English? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, but we don't. really speak English because we didn't. grow up speaking English to each other. But, sometimes there are words that I. can't think of that can only be. communicated in English. And and it's. very interesting cuz um. I I was speaking Cantonese from zero to. 13. Okay. And then from 13 to now 38, mostly English. But, then my.

Shanghainese and my Cantonese. I that I speak to my parents, sometimes. I can't think of good vocabularies. If I. if I'm like trying to tell my dad about. some mental health stuff, I don't know. how to say it in like. >> In in your native language? In in my. native language. And then also how I. communicate with my family, that doesn't. translate to how I communicate with my. friends sometimes. >> Correct. >> And there's your brain gets split in. half and there's almost a disconnect um. of of growth. Yeah. >> You know, I'm like, man, I'm growing so. much as an American, Right.

>> you know, and I'm my linguistic skills. is growing. And I'm leaving a little bit. of what Yeah, but then, you know, I'm I. I my Shanghainese, my Cantonese is like. I kind of stuck in like a juvenile. stage. And I sometimes have trouble. communicate, you know, with my friends. and then my parents. Did you ever think. about say, you know what? Okay, yes, I. spoke Cantonese from zero to 13. And. when you came to America, did you think. about, you know what? I probably need to. keep speaking this in order for me to. stay on top of this. Cuz a lot of times. you get that people like, well, you know.

what? In order for me to conti- Cuz if. you don't use it, you'll lose it. Yeah, I think that happened to me, you know, uh and my Cantonese when I first went. back to Hong Kong, it was bad. It was. like I sound like a foreign person. speaking my first language. Right. And I. talk about this in my in in this. special, I found my diary that I wrote. when I was 9 years old in Hong Kong. Really? All written in Chinese, right? And I can't read a single word of any of. it. >> [laughter]. >> Isn't that like the saddest thing? Like. how how can you not read your own. handwriting, your first language, you.

know? >> And but you might have a like, you know. what? You got to save what about $100 in. it and you can't understand that you. don't know what to save for. Right, right, right, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, man. So, that was. >> Really? Yeah, that kind of like messed. me up a little. >> you can't unders- you can't understand. anything that you wrote at the age of. nine. You got this diary and it's like. here you are all in in about to turn 40. in a couple years and you're looking at. it like, damn, I have no idea what this. is. >> Gibberish to me. Yeah, it was crazy. And. now I've learned a little bit, but I. have had give it to my dad to like.

translate it for me. So, my dad started reading my diary and. just start making fun of me. He's like. >> [laughter]. >> So weak. You're always sick. Always. complaining, you know? Man. >> [snorts]. >> Uh. When you What was the biggest culture. shock when you left when you came from. Hong Kong and you moved to the States? What do you think the biggest culture. shock? What was the hardest thing for. you to assimilate? Wow. Um. I think. just life. Cuz my nuclear we stay very close and we.

still have like Chinese food at home and. every weekend we go to San Gabriel. Valley and eat at a Chinese restaurant. But I think just day-to-day life cuz in. Hong Kong like I said, you walk home. from school and uh there's just. things everywhere and and you don't even. have to go to a club to have fun, right? You can just walk the streets and it's. super fun. There's shops and everything. But here like it's like what I do for. fun, you know? Like school after school.

I actually tried to play a little. football, you know? >> [laughter]. >> I mean that My dad would never sign a. waiver. I thought I would play like kick. return or something cuz I was like quite. fast. I was like But I was like 100 lb. and and he was like, "No, you're going. to die out there." So, I was like trying. to assimilate and like find American. stuff to do cuz it becomes increasingly. hard to replicate life in Hong Kong. It's just impossible, especially in LA. So, um even now I'm having trouble with. that. >> Really? Yeah, cuz You've been here 25.

years, Jim. Yeah, I know and I still. feel like I'm I'm fighting. >> You feel like you're an outsider still, huh? >> Yeah, sometimes because I'm like, "Man, why am I so bored?" Like like Saturday, I don't really want to go to a club, but. there's I can't really walk outside the. street. I feel like I haven't talked to. anyone, you know, in like the whole day. And then I went back to Hong Kong and my. life just kind of like made sense. I was. like, "Oh, I was never like a you know, going out, you know, Saturday night till. like 4:00 a.m. person. >> Right. I was just enjoying like getting.

food, meals, and then just walk around. at different shops, and and I'm good, you know? Do you ever see yourself going. back? Um Full-time. Full-time, I don't think. full-time, but I do think maybe I'll. split my time there, and I've been doing. that. I'm actually going to Hong Kong in. a week, and uh So, when you go when you. go, how long do you stay? 2 weeks? A. month? A week or so, depends if it's. work. Um, the first time when I went. back, I stayed there for like a month, and. it was it was a great experience. Like, usually when you travel, after a couple.

weeks, you get homesick, you miss the. food, you want to go home in your bed. I. didn't feel homesick once. Uh-oh. Because I was home. Yes. You know? So, it was it. It was a really nice feeling, and um. I want to spend more time there. Right. Uh, but also. >> family there? A little bit, and friends. I found my elementary school friends and. everything. Really? >> Yeah, it was really cool. I'm like, oh, maybe this is my life how my life would. be if I never left Hong Kong. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah, and like they had gone through, you know, this is like one thing I kind. of like, I'm like, maybe I missed out. I. never really had a party phase in my.

life. >> Mhm. cuz I was doing stand-up. And also, I was just a foreign kid, you know, trying to assimilate when like my high. school 17-year-old friends are like. going out. Right. >> I was just trying to learn English on. BET, you know? But then, all my Hong. Kong friends, they already had their. party phase, and like, you know, they. went out in Hong Kong, and now they're. settling down. >> Now they settling down, they getting. married, they got kids. So, it's pretty. cool to see that. I was like, oh, maybe, you know, there was a reason why I. missed out, cuz I moved, and I was. fighting my own battle, you know? And. and my life maybe would have ended up.

like them, which is great. Uh, a lot of. them. like like I think if I never move away. from Hong Kong, I don't think I would. have ever done stand-up, or been an. engineer. >> Really? Yeah. I think it was too Really, doing stand-up was really filling a. creative void, and also the void of. being an immigrant and not fitting in. I. felt like I fit in in a comedy. >> comedy space. Because in the comedy. space. the weirder you are, the more different. you are, the more you fit in. Yes. >> you're funny. Uh-huh. That's not true. anywhere else. >> Right.

>> Right? Uh if I would just stayed in Hong. Kong, I would have never had that kind. of um uh foreigner kind of void in my. heart, you know? And I would have. probably just been happy living my life. in Hong Kong being finance or something. Could you could in Hong Kong and and I I. hear that it's very strict over there. Could like kids could you like drink and. smoke and do things like American. teenagers do? Oh, totally. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um I mean not a lot of drugs. I. don't I don't think. I don't know. But. uh yeah, people drink, you know? People. go on party. There are like awesome.

clubs. >> But you don't have Do you all have Do. you all Did you you guys have like. American Do you have American beer and. stuff like that? You have like Chinese. >> Every beer. I mean I'm telling you Hong. Kong is like New York. But it just. happened to be in Asia. And even more. opulent than New York. So they have they. have everything. Yeah. I want to ask you this. Do you. communicate with your parents in in in. in Chinese. >> In Shanghainese mostly. Yeah. And your. parents are here, right? Yeah. So you. don't So you don't ever really talk to. them in English. You talk to them in the. in your native language. >> Yeah, which I find sometimes difficult.

like to bring my friends to my house. >> Right. Cuz then how do I code switch? >> Cuz I feel You have a conversation and. they have no idea what you're talking. about. >> Yeah. That's why I think sometimes a lot. of immigrants are really funny. Cuz we. can make fun of people in the restaurant. right next to us in our language, right? >> Right. It's like you learn to roast. people. But then when I bring my friends. to dinner with my parents, sometimes I. have trouble because I feel bad speaking. forcing my parents to speak English. >> Right. >> But at the same time, I don't want to be. speaking Chinese the whole time. Then my. friends don't feel included. >> Included. Correct.

>> Especially also in relationships also. becomes very hard, you know? Like say. dating an American girl or somebody that. don't speak Chinese. >> Right. >> And then it becomes like an awkward. interaction with my parents. And my. parents, you know, they don't care who I. date, you know? But. >> They don't want you to They They would. They You think they would prefer you. today or today? >> they would prefer. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And. and they communicate better. But you. know, my mom's always has been always. very kind to any girl I've I've brought. home. So So well, my dad's a little more. judgmental. >> [laughter]. >> He's like, she didn't even call me.

uncle. Like, which is not in American. culture to call a straight But you call. any elder uncle and auntie. Really? >> Respect, yeah. Oh, I didn't know that. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. But but I mean, black. communities do that too. Like, you call. somebody miss something, right? Or miss. Mister Mister Miss Yes. Right? Or sir? Yeah, uncle is a term of endearment, someone that's older and you like, "Hey, hey, uncle, what's going on? Hey, auntie, what's what it is?" There's a. sense of respect that's in the language. >> Yes. And that's very important to the. older generation, like my dad. So when I. bring like a very westernized girl that.

don't call him uncle or like don't try. to pour him tea or open a door for him, he gets mad. Really? Yeah. The Asian you guys are big on respect. That's it. That is huge. >> Huge, huge, yeah. I I think if if if one. thing, that is the the big that is the. foundation of the Asian community is. respect, above all thing else. Yeah. And. I think it's so important, you know? And. you have a responsibility to take care. of the elders, be nice, respectful to. your teachers, to your elders. This is.

all an early teaching in our school. And. I think a lot America lacks that. >> Yes. You know? Even even at the highest. level. I'm not trying to get into politics or. anything, but our president is one of. the most disrespectful person on the. planet, >> [laughter]. >> you know? And then there's just no sense of. respecting the elders and listening to. the elders advice, which I think is very. very important. And you can learn a lot. You know what? A lot of a lot of times.

like. in the Asian community as as your mom. and dad or parents get older, they. generally would would move in with you. guys. And And is you feel like is Is. that Is that the male's responsibility. the the son. to take on the the the responsibility of. caring for the parents or is that a. daughter or how does that work? I think. yeah in the old school like old school. Shanghai how my family grew up they all. grew up within one roof. The. grandparents the kids you grow up in the.

same house with your cousins and nephews. you know and I think that's pretty cool. But then modern day I think you know. some some could be very westernized they. go live on their own but by and large I. think just like Europe also. you as a young person don't really move. out until you get married. >> Okay. Really? Yeah yeah yeah yeah. So. you might be there for 30 40 years. I. mean some of it is social economics. You. just housing is incredibly expensive in. Hong Kong. So you can't really afford. your own place. and then and then yeah when your parents.

get old you take care of them you know. whether it's visiting them often moving. in with them buying them a house like. it's almost unfathomable to put your. parents in like a home. You know I like. that that's crazy to us. and there's a innate responsibility to. take care of them. >> Right. You know I I always joke that. we're all born with a financial debt to. our parents. We're all born with a. student loan debt to our parents and. it's true and it makes me very happy to. take care of them. >> Right. Have you have you guys had your.

your siblings have you guys had a. conversation if if when my when mom and. dad get older. who steps up to the plate and says okay. I got them. No they're still very like they're in. their 70s but they're all very spry like. my dad swims every day you know they. take care of the dog and they travel. so we haven't thought about that but um. yeah I. mean one of the one of the goals I have. I set goals like every year and it's. always been like financial career goals.

but now as I get older you know it's now. personal goals. >> Yes. You know I want to you know be. closer to the family I want to you know. I took them to Macau, I took them to. Hong Kong. I want to take more family. vacations and stuff like that. And And. my brother. uh he he he's doing great, you know, um. and he really sometimes he'll call me. Like we we don't talk too much, but. he'll call me and be like, "Hey, Dad. said this, maybe call him about it." You. know, like he's very nice about that. So, we kind of keep each other in check. about checking on the parents and stuff.

like that. Coming to this What is What do you think. the biggest difference is in what you've. seen because you've been both places and. you've been going back and forth? What. do you think the biggest difference is. in between American culture and Hong. Kong culture? Oh, wow. So so many, like where do I even start? Um I think. living-wise you get you get a little. more space. You know, uh you can freely have a. house, a pet, whatever, >> [laughter]. >> you know, whereas Hong Kong it's it's. quite hard to have like a big dog in a. small apartment.

Um and uh culturally, I think we um we. really reward uh. creativity. Mhm. Uh especially early on. in school. Right. >> You know, in the arts. That's why I. think uh there's so many great. musicians, comedians, actors, uh because. we you are um encouraged to do that in. America, especially if you have the. talent. Uh in Hong Kong it's more. academic, you know, and schooling is is. very hard. Uh I remember.

like I I wasn't a straight A student in. Hong Kong at all cuz it was just really. really hard. And then they rank you. every year. I remember like "Number one. is this guy." And I was always like. number 11, 12 in like a classroom of. like 30. Like you kind of like a beast, you know. >> Um cuz I was always drawing or like. trying to do something different and. creative. But that's not really. encouraged or rewarded, you know, because at the end of the day Hong Kong. is a finance town. So, you're encouraged. to go work for Goldman Sachs when you. graduate or be a lawyer, doctor, stuff.

like that. But now I do see more and. more creativity, you know, coming out or. even, you know, creativity in the. restaurant space, interior design, stuff. like that. So yeah, that that's one. big difference. And then I also find. dating to be very different. >> Really? >> I never really dated in Asia, right? But, you know, obviously there's. westernized dating as well. But I find. when I first came to America, okay, when. I was in Hong Kong when I was a kid, I.

just imagined, okay, when I'm 18 I'll. find a girlfriend, and then 22 I'll just. get married. >> Right. >> You know, probably just sleep with one, two people, whatever, just get married, settle down. And then when I came to. America, I was bombarded with MTV Spring. Breaks, Jay-Z Big Pimpin, American Pie. And then they were like, oh, even on the local news it says the. average age for American teenagers to. lose their virginity is 16. I'm like, I'm 17. >> [laughter]. >> I'm a loser. You know, I haven't even.

talked to a girl, I never kissed a girl. So I was trying to overcompensate. I'm. like, oh my god, how do I get laid? Like. like getting laid is like so important. in American culture. >> like that in I don't think so. I mean, I'm sure there is that thought. Like who. doesn't want to get laid, right? We're. all [clears throat] human beings. But I. think there is more of a slow courtship, dating is less chaotic. Here, you first. and ask questions later. >> [laughter]. >> Right? You you sleep with someone, maybe. there's a situationship, and then you. figure it out, right? Like I think over.

there, like if you got to seriously. date, you you probably court someone, you know, go out and like, you know, hold some hands. >> you meet Like if you if you like in in. in Asia, do you meet the parent? How How soon do you meet the parent? Because people ain't trying to let you. meet their parents early on. You might. be a It might be 6 months, it might be a. year, it might be a year and a half, 2. years before you meet someone's parents. How soon do you meet people's parents if. you're in in the Asian culture? Man, all. right. You might have to meet the parents first.

before Damn. before you stick it in, you. know? I don't [laughter]. I don't I don't know. I don't know. I. don't know. Uh. I I think there's different different. people also have different paces. >> Okay. You know, I'm sure you can go to a. club in Hong Kong and try to get laid, one night stands, whatever. I'm sure. that exists. >> That exists. >> But I think by and large the dating. culture is a little less chaotic. You. date someone, you you you you know, you. you talk about your intentions. Mhm. Maybe you even define boyfriend. girlfriend Right. before you really jump. into something physical. Uh but once. again, uh I I am new to that culture.

like coming back as an adult. So, it's. it's new to me, but I find it very. refreshing. >> Right. >> You know, um. yeah. Uh. the dating, you're like, okay, I got a. slow start, you know, I'm looking at, you know, how how it is in Asia, and. then I come to America, and then, you. know, you see these statistics and where. how soon and the average age, and you're. like, okay. When you got to America, and obviously. there there are there are Asians around. you, probably grew up in an Asian. community, but did you like, okay, this American culture, did you find.

like, okay, I hadn't seen a whole lot of. white girls, and and now I see a lot of. them, and that, you know, what? And you. mentioned your parents probably want you. to If you were to get married, your. parents are going to want you to. probably marry an Asian. >> No, I think they would prefer that. But. there there's no pressure. Yeah. >> Do you So, you don't feel pressure? You're like, because But I noticed this about in your. community. You guys really don't want to. upset your parents. You really You You. You guys I mean, it it is. >> And so But sometimes that's hard cuz. parents aren't always right.

>> No, they're not. And I think especially. if you're creative, like you you you. sometimes need to challenge you know, the authorities. And and I found that. very difficult when I was younger cuz. you were taught whatever your parents. say It goes. >> are right. But I think there is probably some kind. of middle ground. Yeah. You should. respect your parents, but you should. challenge some of their ideas cuz. they're just human beings. >> Correct. And and they're not. >> And it is your life. Yeah, it's your. life and especially they grew up they. have trauma too, you know, and then they. don't talk about mental health or. anything, you know, and maybe you as a.

generate a newer generation you want a. therapy and stuff like that and then you. want to communicate with them, but then. I remember whenever I would try to. challenge my dad or like step up. I'm. like, "Well, wait, that that's wrong.". He was like, "No, I'm your dad. Whatever. I say is always right.". >> [laughter]. >> And I had to challenge that and I found. that very difficult. Well, you you. probably had to be a become an adult. before you could do that. You probably. couldn't do that before [laughter] you. became 18 or 21. >> and I feel like, you know, my adulthood. was a little stunted as well because. because my parents were my parents and I. didn't really have my own thoughts and.

and was, you know, I was afraid to. challenge their thoughts until I was. probably like mid to late 20s, you know. Yeah. Help me understand this. Why do. Asians live so long? >> [laughter]. >> Uh I think diet is one thing, you know, in Hong Kong you have a variety of. seafood and everything and then also we. don't eat like big chunky meals. No, you. don't. Everything it's like little. small, you know, uh Yeah. I mean that. that's not variety. Yeah, I can't I. don't know how I most I could survive. off that. But also genetics, you know,

what they say, black don't crack, Asian. don't raisin, you know, we all look. quite young, you know, and. it's just genetics. um. and. yeah, I think maybe that's why. maybe that's the advantage of dating an. Asian girl or black girl, you know, like. if I date You dated I I should. I should not I HAVE DATED. >> WHAT? YEAH, I DID. GOD DAMN [screaming]. JIMMY. YEAH, MAN, I DATED EVERYBODY, MAN. I Man, I used to have the hottest. uh. girl um I met her I met her at Hooters.

Oh, no. There's this black girl that. like came in like second place Hooters. bikini contest. It's a black girl who's. just beautiful. And I was kind of like a. dorky kid just like doing open mics, but. somehow she liked me, you know, and then. we started like hang out going out a bit. and I remember I walked down the street. and like brothers would give me high. fives. I'm like. I don't know, is that insulting? Like. are you saying like. >> That mean you got a winner. If the. brothers give you high fives, you got a. winner. It was cool. I I yeah, I felt I. felt good about myself, [laughter] you.

know. I felt good about myself. Uh but also, you know, I I think you. know, growing up in Hong Kong, since you. don't see a lot of, you know, white. people and then in the movies it's. always like white people, white girls. Like that's like, you know, when I first. came to the country I'm like, oh man, if. if I can date a white girl it seems like. the prize. You know, so I think I was. more attracted to. white girls. Well, I just I was just. trying to not date Asian girls. It was. just so stupid. >> Right. Right, for the longest time when. I was trying to assimilate, right? >> Right. But now I'm I'm way back on Asian.

girls. Asian Asian girls are beautiful, you know, they also speak my language, they're respectful. I mean, there's some. crazy ones also, but um I'm I'm now back. on uh the Asian sisters. >> Yeah, I I think the thing is is that if. if I if I remember correctly, you guys. date within your race, marry within your. race. one of the highest. I think Indian is. the highest. But you guys are wide up like two or. three. I think so. I think so. And now, I mean, when I was younger I was just.

trying to date like a hot girl. It. doesn't matter. I don't even know what I. wanted. But now I get it, you know, culturally. dating someone similar is very. important. Uh dating someone that also. went through the same trauma, that went. through the same uh had the same type of. parents, you know, had the same type of. discipline and respect. I think that's. all very important. Do you guys have. You mentioned that you guys have a lot. of American restaurants in in Asia, Hong. Kong, and in China? Um.

like do you guys have Panda Express in. in Hong Kong and China? No, I don't. think so. >> I don't think so either. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But. there's all kinds of different. >> got But you got like McDonald's, Burger. King, Starbucks. >> They should do that though. They should. do like an American Chinese food. restaurant in China. >> No, they ain't going to go over there. They ain't going to go over there. >> be kind of funny. I don't I don't think. they're going to let that happen, you. think? >> Yeah. I'd never seen orange chicken. growing up. >> [laughter]. >> Never, ever. Better barbecue, Asian barbecue Ooh. or American barbecue? Ooh.

I love American barbecue. I love Texas. barbecue. But, I got to give it up for. Hong Kong barbecue. It's all about the. meat. It's very different. >> We invented barbecue. Y'all didn't. >> I don't think so. I don't think so. It's. a different type of barbecue. >> Y'all are a little older than we are. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's an older culture. Uh but, it's it's two different. cuisines. And I think, you know, I can. enjoy both. Right. I I get it. Um you. had a black roommate for 6 years. >> Yeah, Terrell. So, what what was that like? And it was. all like I mean, think about now. You. you this Asian guy, you came from Hong.

Kong, you you're assimilating here, you. you get out on your own, and you're like. a black roommate. That had to be like. How did that How did that come about? Um. I think it's just comedy. It doesn't. matter what your race is. If you're. funny, you're funny. We came up. together, do open mics together. We're. just two comedians. And I think, you. know, within inside the comedy club, you. see the most diverse, beautiful. friendships. >> Yes. You know, um yeah. And Terrell, he's from Detroit. He's 10 years older than me. And. >> Okay. we grew up not so similar, but at.

the same time, we're both pursuing the. same thing. We're just worrying about. how to get stage time or how to get. girls. So, like stuff like that. And uh. it was fun, man. Uh I actually just went. on the road with him. And. when I go on the road. I would say most like half of my openers. are black. Really? You know, I That's. funny is funny, man. You know, and and. and also I find black people and Asian. people do have a lot in common. You. know, what we're talking [clears throat]. about the respect for elders. Um. and then also, there's a general sense. of um.

not fitting in sometimes in America. And. I think that that that's important. That's why I think black people. gravitated towards kungfu movies. I. Asian people gravitate towards rap music. because there is. and like. like a. like a rebellious outsider point of view. almost that. this America is is white America and. we're the outsiders looking in trying to. fit in get a piece of this. And I think I think there's a lot I.

actually a lot similarities. What is. What is the one thing that. is that living with a. a black guy for six years? What did he teach you that you probably. didn't know or you would not have known. about black culture and what do you. think you taught him that he probably. would have never guessed or understood. about Asian culture? Wow, that's a great. question Unk. Uh. Because I think the thing is Jimmy is. like when you don't grow up around. someone you don't I mean cuz you from. the outside you look okay, this is how.

they are and then you get in their. presence and you're around this person. every single day. You learn something. that. they ain't nothing like that. Yeah, they. like that. Oh man, I can't believe. It. is like. cuz I like I said I I grew up in a small. town and there were not a whole I didn't. have a I didn't have any Asian like I. said I had one in kindergarten and that. kindergarten that was it. But after that. I didn't really have a whole lot I went. to an an HBCU there were not a whole lot. of Asians in my hometown and there were. not a whole lot of Hispanics and so it.

was either black or white. Yeah. And so. that was what I assimilated with and. then you know you hear these and you try. to like figure out okay when you. get out on your own you get to choose. your friends like okay. what's what's this person like? What do. they like? What's their culture like? What do they like to do? Or how similar. or how different are we? Man. Because you said something very. interesting. You said you know what. blacks and Asians have a lot more in. common because the respect that they. have for the elder. Yeah. Respect is a. big thing in the black community too. I. would say um.

I just went to my buddy Derek's wedding. in Texarkana and it was like one of the. most fun weddings because there was no. stress. All the family just. came through and. there was like just catering and. everybody just danced the night away, you know, and and it's it's very chill. but it's at the same time very. family-oriented. And I think that that there's a lot of. similarities in that. >> Mhm. Uh uh the family orientation. of it. Man, I don't even know what I'm.

talking about here. Just cut this out. Uh man, but that this. is such a good question. I I need to. find an answer for this. What is something I learned? Well, you'll put it in your next. special. Yeah. Huh. What is something. I would say. maybe it's this. Like in the beginning of the show, we. talked about, you know, to where I wasn't very good with money, you know? And you're saying tomorrow's not.

promised. >> Right. Growing up, I don't think I have that. mentality because there's safety in Hong. Kong. Yes. You know, you don't ever. think about, oh, I might not make it, you know? But I think. for. someone like Terrell who grew up not in. the best neighborhood in Detroit, tomorrow is not promised. Right. People get killed. People go to jail, whatever, you know, bad stuff happens. and you live life more in the moment.

>> Mhm. and you spend money more in the. moment. >> Yes. and you know, you have to live. every day like it's your last. Whereas I think for me growing up, I. future cast a little bit, you know, I. have a lot of anxiety about the future. I plan ahead a lot more because. I. I never think that I'm not going to be. around in 10 years, you know? So, maybe. he teaches me to live in the moment a a. more and I teach him, you know, maybe. >> To project and think more about the.

future. >> Maybe save some money. >> [laughter]. >> Because I think I I think the thing is. is that when you look at it, you're. like, if I knew I was going to live so. long, I'd have took better care of. myself and I'd saved a little more. Yeah. >> But because I didn't think I was going. to be live as long as I did. So, so. growing up, you really didn't think. you're going to live past whatever. Well, I think that yeah, because. longevity wasn't something, you know, my. grandpa My dad died at 39, my. grandfather I've only had one uncle on. my mom's side reach the age of 70. I had.

an aunt die at 47. My dad brothers died in their late 40s, early 50s. So, seeing death around me. I mean, I've outlived my grandfather, I've outlived, you know, two of my. uncles. I've lived I've lived three I've. outlived my dad and two of and two of. his brothers. I've outlived them and I'm. 58. Oh, wow. So, you know, you don't you. don't think about it, but as as you got. as you get older, Jimmy, and you start. to have kids, you start to.

we were able I think the thing that. helped me is that I played a. professional sport and I'd say did good. with my money and I was able to have. health insurance. Mhm. Because back. then, your family wouldn't burden you. So, if. they had an illness, they just died because they didn't want. to put you in debt. Oh my god. >> Yeah, they didn't they're not they're. not they're not putting you in debt like. that. Wow, I I mean, if if you think. growing up that you're going to live. till 40 or 39 or whatever,

I'm I would live my life very. differently, you know. I'll go buy 10. cars right now. >> [laughter]. >> And I wouldn't be able to pay my. mortgage. You like you I I get it, but. you know, I think there is a happy. middle ground. >> Yes. You know, of living every day like. it's your last, but also that doesn't. mean you have to, you know, not think. about the future. You mentioned that um. your friend in Detroit had to worry. about a lot of different things. He had. to worry about crime and there were. situations. Was Was Is Was crime ever a. problem in China or Hong Kong? Not at.

all. It's so safe. You can walk down You. can be a woman walking down a dark alley. at night. You're totally fine. Yeah. >> Cuz they don't play over there. You do. something over there that you do. something bad. Well, yeah, but also it's. just a culture thing. You know, people. don't really commit crimes, you know, uh, uh, cuz I I don't I don't know what that. is. Maybe it's it's, uh, school. teaching, family staying together. I. have no idea, uh, but it's generally. incredibly safe. Yeah. >> How are your parents, uh, as far as.

love? I mean, did they hug you? Did they. say, "Jimmy, we love you"? Did they I. mean, so how. That's not an Asian Asian thing? >> Not at all. Yeah, we never say, "I love. you." They never There's no physical. touchiness. I never seen my parents kiss. each other. Yeah. Really? Yeah, cuz I think that's. not, you know, with the love language. >> Yes. >> don't think that's how they express. But. they're always there for each other. Like now they're in their 70s, they. might argue, but my mom's always there. to pick up my dad, you know, from the. airport. They're always there for each. other when they need something. They.

cook for each other every night. So I. think it's more like an act of service. type culture. Okay. And I find that. difficult, too, you know, uh, in in my. dating life when people is the I love. you part. It's very hard for me to say. Not that I don't love anyone. It's just. I have a hard time saying that, you. know, um, uh, I would rather make a meal for you. That's how I show my love or like I. would rather, you know, uh, uh, give you. a ride or like help you out with. something. Help you build a piece of. furniture. I don't know, you know. Um, so, yeah, that part is very different,

uh, how how people show their love and. affection in Asia and here. It's funny. that you say that. Now that you mention. it, I don't think I've ever seen my. grandparents kiss. Huh? Mhm. I mean, the the love is that you. got food on your table, you got clothes. on your back, you got a roof over your. head. That's how love you. That's it. Yeah. That's That's love. Yeah. I'm. taking care of you. Yeah. Not to say. that I love you or not to give you a hug. or anything like that. And because like. you said, I knew my grandparents loved. me. I had food. I knew I had the best that they could.

afford to give me. Yeah. But this I love. you I love you and come here and give. your grandpa a hug or greet That ain't. That ain't That ain't how That ain't how. I was raised. And so it's like old. school also. It's a generational thing. >> Yes. And also I I do think that that's. one thing like. like the mental health of it all. Like. it doesn't it doesn't hurt to say I love. you or or give your kids some credit. And I think Asian people can do a better. job of that. >> Right. Uh cuz man, I remember when I.

first got on TV, you know, like just two. lines here and there. My dad never said. good job, anything, you know. And I was. just waiting for that. Um. And it was when I first got on I think. Arsenio Hall, it was my first talk show. >> Yeah. And then my friend. Julian, his mother who's a school. teacher, shout out to Melinda Weatherby, left me. a voicemail saying I saw you on this. talk show and you were so eloquent, you. did a great job. >> Wow. And it was like a 50-second.

voice message that I still have on my. phone. And and it makes me emotional cuz. nobody's ever said that to me, you know, weirdly. Right. And it was my friend's mother who's a. school teacher I met twice. Left me that voice message and I still. save it on my phone. >> And it's important. Do you think. you received your dad's approval? I think so. Yeah, I think so. Um. and uh.

they just they don't say it, they don't. show it, but sometimes it is nice. >> know he's proud of you. Yeah, yeah. You. want to hear it. You you be like, "Dad, you boy did you boy did good, didn't. he?" Yeah, true. True. I do I I think. maybe Asian parents can do a better job. of. There is unconditional love. There is. They they love me a lot, but. they can do better with unconditional. love even if your kid. doesn't make money or like doesn't have. a great career, you know? Just be a. little more encouraging instead of only.

measuring, you know, by success. by. success. Cuz. everybody's not going to be Jamie Dimon, going to be the CEO of Goldman Sachs. Right. Exactly. >> or JP Morgan. Every- Everybody's not. going to have a something that, you. know, your parent- Cuz your parents- I I. think the thing is parents like to. gloat. Look at what my son did. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so everybody's not- Everybody child. is not going to have something that you. could be proud of him. Oh, he or she is. successful. But I I think sometimes we we put so.

much pressure because if you're not a. CEO, you're not a professional athlete, you're not X, Y, and Z, like, "Well, well, no, he's not in- He or she is not. in trouble. They got a good paying job.". He could be a great human being. >> Yes. Everybody ain't meant to make. $500,000, you know, and and and make a. bill- a billion. Everybody ain't meant. to be Elon Musk or this. Yeah. And and. and I think it can be just a little more. encouraging. I think every Asian. [clears throat] kid is dying for a hug. Every Asian kid is dying for that voice. message that I got from Melinda, you You. You when you when you have kids,

I think you're going to have to break a. cycle and you're going to have to start. a tradition that wasn't passed down to. you because probably your parents didn't. get hugs or pats on the back or. words of encouragement or affirmation. So you're going to have to be the first. one in order to start that when you have. a family and then pass that along and. then your kids pass along in X, Y, and. Z. Yeah. And that's how you wash away. the generational trauma and grow from. it. And I think to me because I wanted. that so bad, you know, I'll be. particularly sensitive to that. I'll.

probably over-hug my kids, you know, and over-encouraging. And then they're. probably going to do drugs and. and become a natural baby. You know. [laughter] Did you ever tell your dad. Did you ever tell your dad. Did you ever ask your dad, "Dad, why you. never told me you love me? Dad, why you. don't give me hugs? I I I I know you're. proud of me, but just telling me that. that you're proud of me and to give me a. hug and to say, "Jimmy, you done a great. job." Have you ever asked your dad that? I don't know if I've asked him, but I. think.

through my comedy I was talking to him. Right. You know, cuz I I make fun of. him. I make fun of the trauma, whatever, but really I'm trying to say that to him. sometimes. >> You know. In a way that's funny. Yeah, and I think he Yeah, and I think he gets. it now. I think maybe my mom even talks. to him like, you know, and um. Now they do say it. Now they do give it. up. You know. Uh They tell you they love. you. I don't know if it's in so many words. >> [laughter]. >> BUT LET'S NOT LET'S NOT GET CARRIED away. now. Let's not get carried away. >> they are like, "Hey, that was a great. show. That was awesome.".

>> Oh, okay. Okay. Is this a start? That. was amazing. And I think my dad's. overcompensating now. It's like, "Oh my. god, you're such a good actor. I just. want to watch this movie. That guy. sucks. You're a way better actor than. that guy." You know, like so so so that. feels pretty good. >> Okay. Yeah. That feels all right. Yeah. What type of student were you in school? Um. I was I. B B plus B minus C I was a B student in. Hong Kong, but then when I came to. America, I was like, "This is a layup. This is so easy." Oh, you turned into an. A student. >> A super A student. Honor roll.

>> Damn. 4.something GPA, you know. Uh it. was. >> [laughter]. >> Because. like. Math here is a joke, okay? Like I I. wasn't in any genius classes. Like. people are like, "Asian people are good. at math." No, Americans are just. horrible at math. >> [laughter]. >> All right? Cuz I was in Asia when I was in when I. was in Hong Kong 12, 13 years old, I was. already geometry, algebra. I learned all. of that stuff already. >> then when I came here in eighth grade, they were still learning basic math and. whatever. And then my dad had talked to. principal and was like, "Hey, man, he.

learned all this. Can you put him in. whatever the top. >> Yeah. magnet classes, right?" And then. the principal was like, "Okay, our best. class was algebra. Have you learned. that?" And I kind of lied to him. I'm. like, "No, I never learned it." But I. learned it 2 years ago. And then I would just ace it. I would just ace it. I mean, it was so. easy. It's [laughter] just Come on. I read you almost lost your Asian Asian. card after getting a 2.7. Oh, that's a. joke. I I became a really bad student in. college. That's actually not a joke. In.

college, I did have a 2.7 GPA. Cuz I. want to do music. I was making beats, right? So, I started taking minor. classes in music. I took some minor. classes in theater. >> [laughter]. >> Like, I think I was so blocked. I was. like, "Being a creative is not possible. because of my upbringing.". >> Right. >> You know, but I I'm such a creative. I. would be at dinner and like mess with my. chopsticks and build like a little tower. or like mess with my food and like make. something. And I think what got me going. was like making beats, creating. something. And then creating a joke. later on. Um but I never allowed myself.

to believe that. That's why I was just. like here and there taking some minor. classes. Those are the classes I got A's. in. Right. But then all my classes in. economics class, you know, uh uh. engineering class, I never even went to. class. I was not interested. And I would. just show up. I'll cram, you know, right. before the midterm, right before the. finals. >> Yeah. And I'll show up. I'll get a C. Right. >> You know, and and get by and graduate. But I literally I I got a 2.7 GPA in. UCSD. It was terrible. Just cuz I wasn't. interested. Were you hyper the kid that.

did your parents ever say, "Jimmy, calm. down"? Uh because it seemed like you're. at the dinner table and you're building. tower with chopsticks. And you seem like. you have a very creative mind. And and. it's hard and sometimes when you have a. creative mind, parents don't understand. that. Parents want you to sit there just. like a I mean, you're talking you're. asking a a a a 5-year-old or 8-year-old. or 10-year-old to just sit there and. have the same demeanor as someone that's. in their 20s and 30s. Yeah. You are a. child that's mind is just racing. You. you just feel like I can do this. I want. to do all of this. And your parents like.

Baby, where did we go wrong? >> [laughter]. >> No, they were fairly encouraging. My mom. would be like, "Don't be so messy when. you eat." Um but I was you know, I was. in art classes. I was in violin classes. in Hong Kong. But that's. more like academic art. Like right, you. know? And I I didn't love it, but I. excelled at it. You know, and my dad was. always very proud I scored a very high. score in his violin test. But it's like. a violin shouldn't be measured in a. score. Art shouldn't be measured by a.

score. Um. but you know, uh. I think it's it's not them. I think for. Asian parents, they were fairly. encouraging. I think it's the culture of. it. Growing up in Hong Kong, yeah, making art is probably unlikely. You. know, it's probably a bad idea. You. probably wouldn't be able to afford. housing. Like, [laughter] you know. So So I don't I I don't blame them. Uh. but. I think for creative people, like I can. excel at something that I really can put. so much energy and and time into.

something if I'm interested. Yes. >> But once I'm disinterested, I I will be. an F student. >> Yeah. Yeah. Jimmy is your American name. What is. your Chinese name? Man Shing. Man Sing. That means 10,000 success. Wow. They they they gave you the right name. >> [laughter]. >> Thanks. 10,000 success. Yeah. How did you come. up with Jimmy? It is just It's Jimmy. Cuz everybody in Hong Kong you need a. you need an English name. Oh. >> They just name it anything, you know?

Like my brother was. Roger. I think he was named after Roger Moore, the James Bond. >> Yeah. And then he was like, "This sounds. like an old white guy." So he changed. his own name to Roy. So now he sounds. like an old black dude. >> [laughter]. >> He just Roy Rogers, you know? Uh and. then my dad is Richard. I was like, "Why. did Do name yourself Richard?" He's. like, "Because I want to be rich. >> [laughter]. >> So it's like it's sometimes as simple as. that. Or there's Asian people named. Jackson. Really? >> love Michael Jackson. A lot of a lot of.

people in Hong Kong, their first names. are American people's last names. Like I. know a lot of Johnsons. Their first name. Johnson Lee. You know? >> Really? >> Yeah. So in in Asia, you have two names. You have a you have a Chinese, Mandarin, or Cantonese or name, and then you have. an American name. Yeah. And then. American name is more like a nickname. Yeah. Jimmy wasn't on any of my IDs or. anything until I came to America and I. put it as my middle name. Yeah. I was just like, yeah, just call me.

Jimmy. So when the teachers call roll in. in America. >> Yeah. you know, they're like, man, they. always mess up your name and you show. them Baron Man Sing. and I'm like, just call me Jimmy, please. >> Jimmy, you just say Jimmy. >> me Jimmy. >> Jimmy here. Yeah. >> [laughter]. >> When did you know you were funny? When. did you when did you get your voice in. comedy? I think I was always kind of funny. My. dad was very funny. >> Okay. Always loud, fun at the dinner. table. And I would say I wouldn't say I. was like the class clown, but I was.

always, you know, funny amongst my. friends. >> Yes. But then when I came to America, I. really had to be funny. I was such a. small kid, nerdy, Asian kid. I would. have totally gotten bullied, but but I. can talk. You know, right when I learned. a little bit of English, I can talk and. I was kind of funny and I think people. appreciated that and. I avoided bullying because of that. >> Right. So. I think funny was. part of how I assimilated, you know, and. how I fought for myself was with my. voice. That happens a lot cuz a lot of.

times like. when you're funny, people are trying to. make fun of you, is that you start. making fun of somebody else or you make. people laugh, they forget that they're. like, oh, we were just we were just. talking about him. But we laughing we. don't forget we don't forgot all about. him and we just laughing at what you. said. So. >> that was that was your way of. integrating yourself and keeping from. getting picked on and keeping from. getting made fun at. Is that to make. other people laugh and they forget they. were supposed to be talking about me? That's right. Wow, yeah. Yeah. And. you build up these defense mechanisms. and I think that was one of them and for.

how small I was I was fairly athletic. People were like couldn't believe I like. jumped up to catch a football. You know, I didn't know what football was until I. was 13. I I didn't know what to never. heard of Super Bowl. You know, um and then, you know, I try to be good. at sports. I try to, you know, be good. at uh. humor. Yes. >> Um cuz getting good grades you still. going to get bullied, you know. But if. you good at sports you you can cuz. everybody get good grades in Asia. Yeah, yeah. >> most part. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. I mean cuz in in that. culture grades are everything. It's like.

in in sometimes in America if you good. at sports. but there is the opposite. They want you. to get outstanding grades. >> Which I don't think is the ideal thing. for a kid that you get graded on. everything and everything comes down to. a score. >> Right. Uh I think it's it's it's more. important to be more well-rounded. Like, you know, even getting into colleges. here at the good colleges they don't. just just look at your grades. They look. at the extracurricular, they look at the. sports, the community service. >> yep. Absolutely. It was funny though. I. remember senior year high school I.

wasn't on any sports team or anything. like that and then they're like you have. to do community service. I'm like what. what why? I'm just forcing myself to do. community service just so I can get into. college. It's like tricking someone. It's a very weird concept. >> [laughter]. >> The Arsenio Hall Show. How did you How. did How did you get How did you get on. the Arsenio Hall Show? Man, I I think. somebody dropped out and they needed a. comedian last minute. And then they called me they're like can. you do Arsenio on a Thursday and it was. a Wednesday. I was like absolutely, let's do it.

Um and I've been grinding on like open. mics, bringer shows, just different. shows and also San Diego for years. So, I was ready and I did I was so nervous I. did. I think you're only supposed to do like. 7 minutes and I did like 12 minutes and. I got a standing ovation. >> Damn. And it was my very first ever. standing ovation. It was on TV. Um and Arsenio was so nice. I mean, he's. one of my heroes. And backstage he was. like, "This is the last time you're ever. going to talk to me. You're going to. You're going to be great after this.". And that was a really, really nice.

moment. And I'm like, "No, come on, Arsenio. I'll come back on the show. anytime. Like, thank you for giving me. this opportunity.". And then the next Monday he got. canceled. Really? >> Yeah, so I guess I don't Damn, you you. messed the man's SHOW UP. I DON'T. [laughter] KNOW, MAN. I don't know. I. screwed him up, man. Yeah, he got. canceled. Yeah, it was I mean, everybody. wanted to be on Arsenio Hall show. You. were in the Excuse me, you were in the. movie Patriot's Day with Mark Wahlberg, Me Time with Kevin Hart, opening act. with Cedric the Entertainer. Very different. Obviously,

uh. Kev and and Ced are comedians. Mark. Wahlberg started his career out as a as. uh. a rapper, >> Mhm. model. What's I mean, what was it like What was. it like being on the set with those. guys? It's awesome. Like, I'm still I. pinch myself, you know, I was in Space. Force with Steve Carell and John. Malkovich, you know, and sometimes when. they're doing a scene, I'm just like, "Oh, [ __ ] I'm actually in this with. them." You're like, you know, I just. It's unbelievable. And I think that's. the coolest part. Seeing you, this is.

unbelievable. This is really awesome. I'm a huge fan. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> But then like we get to chat and I get. to be on this show. Uh so, you know, I I don't ever want that to go. away, you know, I still want to be fans. of people. >> Yes. Um so, that that's really cool. And. I think for me what gets me excited is. uh I get to do different things. When I. was doing stand-up, I want to act. When. I'm acting in comedy, I want to do more. dramas. And then once that's done, I. want to do my stand-up show where I pop. up on stage. Nobody's ever done that. >> [laughter]. >> And instead of just going the easy route. and put it on Netflix, I want to put it. in the movie theater. Yeah.

>> I always want to do something different. That's what gets me excited, you know. Uh I'm sure I can make more money if I. just keep doing the same thing, but it's. not exciting for me, you know, I might. as well go work in finance then, you. know. >> [laughter]. >> What role haven't you done that you'd. like to do? Um. Huh, that's a good question. I want to die in something. >> [laughter]. >> without people laughing. Like I want to. like I want to die in the in like a shot. or like like in a fight or like fall off.

a building, but it's not funny. Right. You know. They're like, "Well, damn, that didn't last long, Jimmy.". >> [laughter]. >> Well, don't do a horror movie cuz you. know. Asians and blacks, we go out first. >> [laughter]. >> So don't do the horror movie. You know, open the credit, damn, Jimmy gone. Yeah, they're gone. I would I would love to do. like, you know, like a real film, like. Scorsese, like like a Tarantino, like. gangster film. >> Oh, oh. >> be really cool. >> Yeah, yeah. Wow. Um is there any roles that you turned.

down that you like, "Damn, probably should have probably should. have went with that one." Mm, >> [clears throat]. >> man. Um there's some indies and stuff I think. I would have like, "Oh, okay.". But. I wish. I would have been less. obsessed about being an actor and focus. on comedy more. Mm. Cuz I think there. was always a thought of. oh, stand-up the next step, you know,

the Eddie Murphy route, right? >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Robin Williams. You know, um and I was. obsessed with that, but now I can. actually be very honest with myself. I'm. a stand-up. Stand-up is so much more. fun. It speaks to me, it's live, it's. beautiful, it's a sprint every day. Yep. >> And if you're not good today, be better. tomorrow. >> Yeah. Whereas acting, it's a marathon. and it's such a different muscle. It's. almost uh masochistic. It's almost. self-torturous at times and it takes 6. months and then you don't even get the. audience reaction.

Uh so part partly it was like my ego and. like I want to do something different. I. want to act. But now, it would take a. very special project for me to. to accept or working with friends or. stuff like that. But I am. very proud to have reached this finally. reached this uh thing where like I'm. like I'm a very good stand-up comedian. and I want to keep doing that. Yeah, I. think the thing is that you mentioned. something very important. You said the. instant crowd reaction. That's what you. get in stand-up. In the movies, you. don't know. You like this line might I I.

think this line is going to be good, but. you don't know. because it's not instant. You have to go. to the movies like, "Man, I saw you. there, man. That such and such was. really really funny.". >> I used to get so stressed, man. When I. first started acting, I mean, I didn't. have that much experience, right? So, I. was just really worried. Uh I remember I. shot an episode of Always Sunny in. Philadelphia. I'm a big fan of Danny. DeVito and all the guys, right? Uh and. and and Kaitlin. Um and I was just so. nervous and I stressed out. I lost sleep. after that because I'm like, "Did I do. well?" They told me I did well. But how.

do I know? And then I had to wait like 6. to 9 months for the show to come out and. I lost a lot of sleep in that 6 to 9. months. It's it's a weird It's a weird art to. operate in. Because it in the movies, what what's so. so so hectic about it is that you hurry. up and wait. Uh-huh. Yeah. And then. like, "Okay, get to the set at at 5:00. Your first scene's not till 10:00. Could. you not Could you Could you Let me get. here at 8:30, 9:00?" Yeah, and it's it's. so long like Those days are long. Oh my.

god. Like 12-hour days are like normal. Yeah. Oh, if you work in Asia and China, it's like 20-hour days, you know? Uh. they don't have like SAG union rules. necessarily. So, it's it's a grind. everywhere like in acting around the. world. That's why I think a lot of true. actors, they still prefer theater. Yes. >> And I think stand-up is my theater, you. know, because I do think shooting. movie TV shows is an incredibly. exhausting, arduous, and inefficient.

process. I would say on Patriot's Day, Peter Berg. kind of cracked the code. He used to be. an actor, so he's a very. actor-friendly director, awesome. director. >> Yeah. And he would just have camera. guys, he who wouldn't mess with the. lighting, he shoots practical, shoulder cameras, just like shoot it, and then you just act it out. He. wouldn't give you any marks or anything, he shoots fast, and it was very exciting. to do that. >> Oh, you like it like that. Yeah. Uh in. Love Hard, you catfish the woman. Have. you ever been catfished in real life? Um I guess lightly, you know, not like.

full-on. >> Right. catfish, but, you know, the goods don't match the picture, and. then I just leave. I mean, I don't. leave, I still would sit down, have. dinner, I guess. You do a dating app? Are you a dating app? Uh I have I have a. dating app. I have done dating apps, but. I find that very. eh. It's something you It's something. about meeting that person in person. And. at the gym, or at Starbucks, or wherever. the case may be, there's something. um organic and holistic.

>> Yes. And also, when you're on a dating. app, you're out with a person that you. met on a dating app, you know you got 10. more matches at home. She got 10 more. matches. So, any little crack, any. little thing that doesn't work, you have. too many options. >> yeah. Like you want to meet someone that. like it's fate, right? I I want to meet. a girl that is so disgusted by men, but. somehow puts up with me. Oh, okay. >> I mean? Like. they they don't even got like 10 roster.

options, or like whatever, but like we. met somewhere at a restaurant, and now. we're talking. I like that. >> Cuz I think that and maybe that's the. problem, that's what's happened that's. what social media has done, is allowed. us to have too many options. Yeah. You. remember when you you know, you're 19, 20, there was no social media, and. you didn't know what the girls look like. in California unless you lived in. California. You don't know now you just. screw you like damn Miami got it going. on. Ooh, Minnesota, New York, Houston,

Dallas, day off. >> Right, it's such a blessing and. >> overseas, yes. >> and a curse because it's never enough. >> Nope. >> Like now we're famous. We're like maybe. if I DM this girl she will reply back. This is the hottest girl I've ever seen. >> Yes. And then it's it's hard to then. settle down but then at some point you. got to be like this is not real. >> Real. Real. And then also you meet. enough these people that you think is. super hot. They might also be super hot. in real life but there's. it's it's it's it's odd. It's not right.

>> kind of like a buffet. It's just too. much. Yeah. >> It's just too much and you just like. just let me go to the restaurant. Let me. just order one or two things and I'll be. satisfied but when you got an option of. 50. >> You can't like be like Costco. They give. you two options. >> Yeah. That's why they do so much. business. >> Yes. And then you get decision paralysis. and people don't know how to settle. down. >> Yeah. Unless you got hopefully you got a. family of 15 because when you get 10. pounds of mayonnaise, ketchup, and. mustard with 100 hot dogs. And also that that if you only have one.

hot dog a year. >> Yes. that hot dog's going to taste. pretty good. >> Yes. If you have an option of hot dogs. every day. >> Yeah. I don't know why we're using hot. dogs as an example, you know, [laughter]. but. you know, it's it's too much and I think. we all got to pull back a little bit and. uh I don't know. Like for for for me in. the dating thing it's important for me. to know what I want for myself. Cuz if. you don't know that. >> know exactly what you're looking for. >> I'm getting better at that, you know. I. have a list of stuff but then also.

sometimes it's fate, you know. You can. have a whole list of like this is what. you want in a wife and somebody checks. all that but then you don't really have. fun with that person, you know. Or you. have fun with someone that like brings. out the inner child in you but then she. don't check any of the boxes. >> Yes. So Then what do you do? That's why I'm not married. That's why. I'm single. >> [laughter]. >> What do you do? You're right. You're absolutely right, Jimmy. Would you date someone taller than you? Of course. Yeah. Everyone's taller than. me.

>> [laughter]. >> I my options would be really limited. >> So so like. I don't have a dating app. I've never. been on a dating app. So what do you you. set up a profile? Okay. You. You use your real name? >> have a dating app. >> [laughter]. >> I just somehow don't believe that. >> No. So you have So okay, you you use. your real name. You're Jimmy O. Yeah, sure. Okay. You're you're 5' and you. blah blah blah. You got this kind of and. you you match. You want someone between. the heights of say 5'7" and what? 5'5".

and 5'8"? >> I think they have apps like that where. you can put in details. I don't think. You don't put in You don't put in the. Okay. You're you're I don't care. I. mean, you know, a person's a person. Right. >> Yeah, if you're attracted, you're. attracted. It's fine. You put down the. education. I love when somebody have at. least a bachelor's degree, you know, master's wouldn't be disappointed. Doctors, okay, you're really appealing. to me. I I don't think that way, but I. do I I just want to have a good. conversation. You can be a college. dropout, never graduated high school, and be one of the smartest people. And. we have great conversation. But I do.

find that very important if if it's. someone, you know, I can't have a. conversation with, then then. You know what, Jimmy, what I've never I. don't think I've ever seen. and you you can I mean, this is your. This is in your background. Asian men date women with kids. Oh. Huh. Interesting. Yeah. You might be right. I don't think I've. ever I don't Like I said, I mean.

I don't know I don't know if I've ever I. don't know if I've ever heard of it. I'm. not saying it doesn't happen. I'm sure. it happens somewhere. There's Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Or maybe unless. like the guy also has kids. Like their. second marriage or something like that. >> But yeah, I I I mean may I mean this is. just speaking for myself. >> Yes. I would like I think maybe we. really care about, you know, our name. and our blood being passed down. >> Right. So, to me I always thought it's. really awesome when people adopt kids.

and take care of other people's kids and. things like that. But for me, I think I. I I want my own kids to have a. >> You want your You want your own You want. your own blood line. >> Yeah, and I think maybe that's a very. old school Asian thing maybe. Um. but yeah. When you dated, did you ever bring like. when you dated someone outside of your. race, did you ever bring them home to. meet your parents? Oh, yeah. I'm not. precious about meeting my parents. I. almost want my mom to meet some. opinions, you know. Damn, Jimmy. I mean. off the rip? You got to let it wait. You. got to build up. That's not a thing that.

you You're right. You're right. But. sometimes it's like. my parents are picking up something in. my house and the girl's there. Oh, Jimmy. You can't let that happen. >> Really? No. Oh, man. Okay. >> my [clears throat] mom my parents are. coming over. You got to leave. Oh, see. I'm really bad at talking. >> Because now she thinks she's special. She's meeting your mom and dad. Oh, is. that right? >> Yes. Yeah. >> Everybody don't get to meet mom and dad. You're right. >> He's like then they come back like. Jimmy, where is the nice young lady that. we met last week? Oh, mom. She.

My mom stopped asking that. >> [laughter]. >> But uh you're right, huh? Cuz it it will. it will send the wrong signal. Yes, you. you you're really serious. When you meet. someone's parents, Mhm. you're serious. They're serious about you and you're. serious about them. Man, I'm giving people like false hope. Yeah, Jimmy. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, you're. right. You're right. Cuz sometimes I. want my dad or my mom's opinion cuz. sometimes you don't know. Like you've. been hanging out with with this girl. You want her to meet your friends first.

Yes. What if your friends are like, "Yo, you're blinded by this. She sucks.". >> Yeah. And then sometimes I want my mom. to tell me that, too. Or what if you. What if you with your friends like, "Hey, Jimmy, let me check. Man, I went out with her last week.". >> [laughter]. >> Uh that hasn't happened or maybe they. haven't told me that, but it has. happened when they're like like I was. super super into this girl and then. like, you know, and then my friends like. met her and I was like, "You You sure about this one?" Like. ain't nothing wrong Like ain't nothing. wrong with it. It's like, you know. But. I want my friends to tell me that.

>> Right. Sometimes I'm mad. I'm I'm saying. a bad relationship or something. I'm. like, and then after we break up, I'm. like, "Why didn't you tell me this. earlier?" Like I got my friends, you. know. >> true. Let me ask you this. Because you. are your family means so much to you. >> Mhm. If your family didn't approve of. someone, but you were madly in love with them, >> Mhm. what do you do? I would like to think. >> [laughter]. >> my parents are so desperate for a. grandkid.

Anybody. >> every Anybody is okay at this point, you. know. They just want Like my mom She's a. old school 70-year Chinese woman. >> Yeah. She was like, "You know, you don't. have to get married. Just have some. babies." I'm like, "That is crazy.". >> NO, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THE THAT'S not. the Asian way. Yeah, no. No. No. Um but. yeah, man. I think they just want. grandkids. >> But you But you you But you're you're. you're you're planning your your. you know, path. Yeah. I want to get. married and I want to have kids. Yeah. I'm I'm giving myself 2 years. 2 years?

>> 2 years. I think you got to set some kind of a. timeline or goal. Otherwise, you know, you get in trouble. Yeah. What about a a What Could you date. Is it Is it very Is it common that in. the Asian community that the the woman. makes more than the man? Um. I don't think it's common, but it could. happen. I don't mind. You okay Your wife. make more than you? >> Let me retire, man. It's fine. Why work. this hard? I'm okay gardening at my. house, raising some kids. It's fine. I.

work too hard. Are you a private. Do you date in private or do you date in. public? Um. I think I date in private. I just don't. think people care about me enough to put. me on blast. I would say I would say. whenever I was in. Hong Kong. If I go like it's it's like my team is. like don't don't go out like don't get. be seen with like a lot of girls. >> Right. Cuz now in Hong Kong I'm like. Taylor Swift in Hong Kong. [laughter].

And like there's paparazzi. >> Right. You know and like I'll get. snapped with a picture with even like a. friend of mine or like something and. people are like oh who's that? >> Right. Yeah. Yeah. So but here in. America I don't think people are as nosy. about me. So I think I'm okay. So where. are you on like okay you with this. person and y'all got all these posts up. on and you guys break up and then all of. a sudden you don't say anything but all. of a sudden she's deleting posts and. you're deleting posts and then. everybody's like well what happened? Now. everybody knows your situation. Yeah. Um.

You leave it up or do you like. >> No I delete my stuff. You do? Yeah. Why. you put it up? Why did I put it up in. the first place? >> Yeah. Well cuz I mean you thought it was. going to work out maybe, you know, or or. sometimes it's like uh. It's like a It's like a comfort thing. Comforts them to assures that your. partner. >> Yeah. That you not that you not trying. to hide her. Yeah. Exactly. Uh but yeah I ever since my last. long-term relationship I've been more.

careful about that. >> Yeah. Uh cuz even now sometimes like. people like I talk to girls they're like. I thought you were married Are you still. married? I'm like I was never married. I. was in a committed serious relationship. >> just never like, you know, announced the. breakup or like whatever. I just deleted. pictures. I thought people would get the. hint. And then I'm like maybe this. This messed up my game, man. Maybe I. shouldn't I shouldn't I should have had. [laughter] an announcement, you know, but then in my new stand Also my last. stand up special I talked about the. relationship. In this new stand-up. special, I do say like and that's how I.

became single. Like there's a thing. about that. So, I think people will get. it now. Do you part as friends or. enemies? Uh. It depends. Uh I wouldn't say enemies. I would like. to not think I would like to part on. good terms. All the time. Jimmy, don't. ever call me again. You you gross me. out. You make me sick. I hate you. Uh. that's maybe happened once. >> [laughter]. >> And and and it sucks. I I don't I don't. want that cuz a relationship I find it. very weird. With friendship, you might. fall out slowly, yes, but you still talk.

to each other and rarely do fall out in. a friendship. Family, you talk to. forever, right? But in a relationship, you can be talking to someone every. single day for years. And then one day, you guys become strangers. That's very heartbreaking to me even. just on a human level. I'm like, why. don't we at least stay some some kind of. friends or Because I think the thing is. it's easy to grow apart than grow. together. Yeah. Yeah. It's so sudden. Mhm. Cuz. this is literally you sleep with this. person. You hang out with this person.

for years. This is your closest. person. Mhm. And then boom, it's gone. Yeah. That's that's tough. But you got. to work to stay together. You hear me? It's so it's so easy now to just say. effort because guess what? You got. options. That that's the thing. Yeah. [laughter] Back when we didn't have the. options that they have now. And there's. a there's there's a part of the brain. that's like. there's something better. That that's the part. >> looks better. She has a better body. She. has a better job. X Y and Z. And then.

oh, she said one thing that you didn't like. and then all of a sudden it's beyond. repair. I know. That's the part that I. think all men got to be better about cuz. there's always something better. And. then after you're in a relationship for. a year or two, of course like the sex is. not as exciting, you know, uh uh I don't. know who told you that, Jimmy. >> You're looking what what nicely. >> [laughter]. >> But you know, like you start you start. looking elsewhere, but then it becomes a. cycle and you're never going to. you're never going to be satisfied. So,

I don't know. Right now I think I'm I'm. I'm going to. >> You're in a good place? I'm in a good. place, I think, you know, uh. and I want to. I want to take things slow, maybe like. the more the Asian way that we're. talking about. >> And uh and that sets you up to get hurt, you know, also. >> yeah. But at the same time. >> Cuz you invested a lot of time, yeah, a. lot of energy, you doing all it because. you're taking it step by step. You're. doing it very very methodical. This is. not a speed dating situation. You're. like, I'm taking my time because I see a. future with this and then and who.

>> And then when that doesn't work out, man, your heart is not right, dude. Especially especially. if you're not the one that wants to end. it. It doesn't hurt as bad if you're the. one that wants to end it. Yeah, true. >> But if somebody wants to end it and. you're not ready for it to end Yeah. Man, you know you know, I was just I. mean, now we're getting deep like like I. was just talking to my therapist about. this. I I have always been the one breaking up.

with someone else. And I think there's some kind of. avoidance or something with that. Uh and. then my only real heartbreak that. someone broke my heart is from things. that didn't come to fruition, that. didn't happen. So, maybe cuz I go after. unavailable people or something like. that. So, I'm trying to address all. that. >> Right. And and uh you know, find find. like a real girl I can settle down with. I'm I'm trying to date seriously, but. >> Right. old habits die hard. They do. You.

know. Give me your Mount Rushmore. comedians. Wow. Wow. Um for me? Yes. See, I don't want nobody get offended. This is just what. >> That's your opinion. This is for me. >> Right. >> who who are who influenced me the most, who made me laugh the most. Uh. Chappelle. Uh Cat. Yep. Chris Rock. >> Yep. >> And I got to put George Lopez in there. Okay. Yeah. How was it when you met Chappelle? Oh, wow. It was I mean, I don't I don't think he.

understands how impactful that meeting. was. I was at the Netflix Is a Joke. party. It's the greatest party That's a. couple of years ago, right? >> Yeah, for the stand-up comedians cuz you. go to Ted Sarandos' house. >> Yeah. And just his front lawn can fit. like a thousand people. >> Wow. And and and and this is like the. who's who of comedy. >> Mhm. Chappelle's there, uh, Rock is. there. Anybody you can think of, Jon. Stewart, you know, every. >> Everybody that's somebody is there. is there. It's just insane, right? And I. saw Chappelle there, but he's so my.

hero. I have never talked to him and I. was really nervous. And I was chatting. with Jon Stewart a little bit and then. the party started dying down. There was. maybe four of us left. It was like Ted. Sarandos, Bert Kreischer, uh, Jon. Stewart and Chappelle. And I was just. going to say my goodbye. Stewart was. sitting next to Chappelle. I was like, this is my chance. I'm going. to say bye to John. And then maybe I'll say hi and bye to. Chappelle. Just just just just. you know, manage my expectations. And. then I was like, hey John, great talking. to you, man. I got to go. And then. Chappelle's there and I was like, okay.

Hey Dave, I just want to say you're such. like an inspiration. You're my hero. Like, you know, I I didn't get all the. words out and he was like, yeah, I know. who you are, man. Yeah, I I watched some of your stuff. You're doing great. And then I I I I I I. just like malfunctioned. You glitched. Yeah, and then I tried to. act cool and like we were actually just. like joking Right. for like 10, 15. minutes. Wow. >> Yeah, it was so cool and then I got in. my car and I drove and I started crying. I was like, I can't believe Chappelle.

knows who I am. I just I couldn't. believe it. This is my hero growing up. >> Wow. You did a. You recently went back home to Hong. Kong. We talked about this early and you. called it the special is finally home. Mhm. Yeah. Um. it was something I said off the cuff in. the special. I was like, I felt like I'm. finally home and I got quite emotional. in that part. And it was a very. im- it this is a very important special. for me because it's shot by the people. of Hong Kong. I performed it in Hong.

Kong and it's 90% English with some. Cantonese mixed in. At first I was going. to make a long version. I was like, yeah, 90 minutes with 30 minutes. Cantonese whatever and then a short. version for the American audience. But. then I'm like, no, it's actually. important to make just one version and. let pe- people can learn about uh you. know, Cantonese, Hong Kong just like I. learn about Spanish culture from George. Lopez. Correct. Um and. I just want to make it a very special. special cuz so many specials aren't. special anymore. Right. >> a dude built an- another hour and he's. talking about the same [ __ ] And I.

wanted this to be so different. This. kind of like a rock and roll film, you. know? Um and there's so many elements. and it's just really meaningful for me, hopefully for the people of Hong Kong. and just globally. >> Right. Um and at the end of the day it's. not just for Asian people, not just for. people in Hong Kong because the themes. are very universal. It's about going. home. It's about, you know, family and it's. about meeting your heroes, things like. that. So. I just wanted to like of course it's. still funny, but I wanted to have a.

little more storytelling and a little. uh uh uh solid emotional core. Um So I. want people to see in the theaters. I. read the tickets were 100 times harder. to get your tickets than it was Lady. Gaga's in Hong Kong and scalpers was. marking them up 140%. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's true. Um I really. didn't expect that um reaction and I was. super happy, but the same time it's a. new level of stress I never um. experienced cuz I want all my fans to be.

happy. Right. And then when they can't. get tickets or they're buying 10 times. more expensive tickets then. I I don't know what to do. I get sad, you know? I want to serve them. And I. even did this thing where it's like I'm. I'm adding a fifth show, but you guys. can sign up my email list and then get a. link, so make sure scalpers don't get. it, you know? And then we're trying to. fight all the bots with the scalpers. But it's it's a tough situation, and. it's it's a good problem. But at the end. of the day, I never expected my comedy to be that. big, you know? And and.

and I want to give them a big show, but. that comes with a certain amount of. stress, for sure. And sometimes, you. know, now I do arenas in in in some. markets, like 10,000 people, 12,000. people. But I do find stand-up to be the most. fun. The sweet spot is about a 2,000. people theater. >> Yeah, yeah, I was about to say that, because I hear people say, "Look, the. arenas is is fine, stadiums are great, because you have a loyal fan base, but. but when you do arenas and you do.

stadiums, the intimacy Yeah. >> isn't there. Yeah. Yeah. You can still. find it. You It's a performance now. Yeah. It becomes a different thing, and. that's why I got fireworks. That's why I. pop up. I want to give them something. special. Somebody drove to a arena to. watch me, right? But it's more bigger. scale thing. >> Right. And of course, there's still. stand-up comedy, but it's not. as. as as fun as intimate as. a smaller theater. Yeah.

>> After the comedy special, you said. you're going to do an arena in a. theater. You're going to put it on. YouTube. Why? I don't know yet. We'll see. Um. it's going to come out in theaters, and. then we'll see what I do with it after. The cool thing about this is I own 100%. of it. Yeah, I shot it, you know, I. edited it, I pay my producers, my. editors, the license the music myself, and I think that's important. That's. what's going to be really important, especially in the upcoming years, I. think, with how technology is coming. through entertainment. Um so, we'll see what I do with it, what.

how the reception is in the theater. So. far so good. It's coming out March 20th. in Hong Kong, March 27th in US and. Canada. And we have the same distributor as. Taylor Swift's movie. Yeah, so it's. pretty cool, man. I I just I I never. thought and I'm the first Asian comedian. to have a a movie in the theaters. Wow. Yeah. Did you think about releasing it. on Amazon or YouTube or it was always. okay, we're going to release this in. theaters? >> So, my first two special I did with. Amazon. They're great partners. And then.

this one actually as I was editing the. special. we got a deal from Netflix. Um. but I think they want me to like shoot. another one in a different city in that. Netflix spec. Right. Right. And I I love. Netflix. But then I'm like this is too. special and too close to my heart. People need to see this. There's just so. many elements in the special I cannot. recreate anywhere else. I don't care if. it's Radio City, Madison. I just cannot. recreate this. There's something. emotional about this, you know. Um so I.

think my next one I'll do with Netflix. We'll revisit that deal. Money's got to. be right, you know. >> [laughter]. >> Ted Ted Robbie, the money's got to be. right. No, yeah, so I I think the next one, you. know, hopefully I'll do it with Netflix. Um and this one I just I just want to do. something different. Right. Um. representation Mhm. is uh. you spoke to this earlier. is that. you don't feel in some situations. there's enough representation. Yeah. In.

in the film industry. Um how do we go. about and to have representation? Mhm. I think talking about it is important, but at the end of day it it can't be. forced, right? I think it has to come. from talent. It has to come from enough. Asian kids thinking this is possible. Right. And that's by me or anyone. showing them that it is possible. Doing. crazy rotations, uh that movie being actually successful, the product has to be good.

>> Yes. You have to make money. >> Yes. You know, um whatever show you. write, whatever stand-up special, it has. to be good. >> Right. People ain't going to. fight for representation for. representation's sake. People's going to. fight for representation when there's. box office numbers, when the Netflix. show is getting viewership, when K-pop. Demon Hunters winning everything. >> Right. You know? That's when. representation matters, but it it really. it just like any thing in the arts it. has to be good. >> Right. Yeah. Are there any Asian. stereotypes that just irk you as like.

we're nothing like that. That is so. outlandish. I'm I'm just so over you. guys. Yeah, yeah, uh the the small dick. one. >> [laughter]. >> I hate that. First of all, not true. First of all, not true. I I did this. joke in my first special. Like I find it. insulting like um uh say say I hook up. with a girl and she's like, "Oh my god, the stereotype's not true. You don't. have a small penis." And then I was. like, "Thank you, but you just insulted. my entire race of people. But thank. you." Yeah, yeah, yeah. And and also. like like what do you want? You want a.

fortune cookie or something? You know. what I mean? Like what kind of you know? But uh not true. Right. Yeah. Rush Hour. Mm. Um what are your thoughts on Rush Hour. movie coming out with the content. disclaimer? Do you have a content disclaimer on your. comedy? I don't I don't think so. Yeah. Well, maybe I should think about one. Probably should. Is there content Oh, yeah, I um. I saw it on TV on like a TV thing and. then they were like, "This is now old. stereotypes that might not be, you. know.". >> Yes.

Yeah. Well, I mean it's neither here. I. I thought it was funny. I thought it was. a great movie. >> like when you watch a movie and um and. then I think people are trying to get. away from that now. I mean Yeah. movie. studios and directors and producers and. direct all those are trying to get away. from that. But when you go back and you. look at it and there were used to be a. lot like in '70s, '80s movies, not even. there were a lot of stereotypes. When you look at old movies like. I think this movie would have still been. just as funny. had we not had the stereotypes.

Or do you think sometimes like because I. go back and look at old sitcoms like. Archie Bunker and the and the things. they would say ain't no way in hell you. could say that now. >> Right, right, right. But I think comedy. evolves and comedy lives in that time. and you got to watch that for what it. is. >> Right. Okay. Rush Hour if those jokes. came out today it just it might not. resonate with people but at that time it. resonated. Yes. When I was watching. Comic View those jokes might not work. now, you know, but it evolves and.

and whatever new jokes new. funny stuff is built upon those jokes. So I don't think we should like delete. it forget it, you know, I think there's. a place and time for everything. Where are you on. when non-Asians. play Asians. in your culture? Yeah, that that's kind of sucks, right? Cuz we already don't have a lot of roles. man and then you know. >> You couldn't find one Asian. Yeah, come. on man. You play Genghis Khan, you. couldn't play you couldn't find.

to find one famous you couldn't find one. Asian. >> Like back in the day they had a. Swedish dude like tape up his eyes. Oh, my goodness. You know, like [ __ ] like. that like Charlie Chan I think he was. like he was a white dude. He just taped. up his eyes, you know, so I I I think at. least I think studios are aware of that. now. They don't do that hopefully. Wait, a last couple questions. Have you asked your parents. Mom, Dad. why do you think you guys have been. married so long?

Um. yeah, I I don't think I've asked them. but I've observed it. >> Mhm. I mean I don't like like I said it's not. like they kiss each other every day they. argue all the time. >> [laughter]. >> That may be the key. Yeah, but it works. because. it doesn't matter how bad the argument. is, they're not leaving each other. >> No. Just just that in itself is super. important. >> Yes. Just knowing there's safety in this. relationship. It doesn't matter how bad. this fight gets.

We're each other's person. We built a. family together and maybe it's not overt. love. I'm sure there's love in there, but it's a care and this is my family. that I built with this person. >> Yes. Um. and that's important. And options, you. know, I'm sure my dad's not on Instagram. DMing chicks. >> [laughter]. >> Maybe he is. If you were to ask your dad, "Dad, what. do you love most about Mom?". Mm, wow. Maybe I should ask him that. >> What do you think he'd say?

Um. I man. I don't know. I think. You probably Mom and Dad probably been. married 40 years. Yeah, something like. that. Yeah. Probably I mean, my dad definitely. scored. Like. >> [laughter]. >> my mom was and still is like very. pretty. She looks very young. >> Oh, he got plenty of his coverage, huh? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He kicked his. coverage for sure. Yeah, yeah, kicked. his coverage for sure. >> [laughter]. >> Um but I think, you know, my dad's. my dad's a funny guy, but he could also.

be difficult at times. >> Right. And Women like funny. Yeah, my. mom puts up with it, you know, and and. at this point, I do see more a little. overt show of affection in their acts. Like they really try to take care of. each other. >> Mhm. Which I think is really nice. And. and and I do think when one of them. travel and the other one doesn't, they. miss each other. Right. >> So it's it's cute to see and they're. quite happy together. Man, Jimmy, thanks for coming on Club. Shay Shay. Is there anything you want to. promote? You got anything going on? Tell.

them about the special that's coming. >> Yeah. New comedy special is going to be. in movie theaters only. It's called. Finally Home in Hong Kong March 20th and. in America March 27th. Make sure you go. check it out. Jimmy O. Yang. Thank you. Appreciate you both. Thank you so much. All my life [music] I've been grinding. all my life. Sacrifice, hustle pay the price. Want a slice, [music] got to roll the. dice, that's why. All my life I've been. grinding all my life. All my life I've been grinding [music]. all my life. Sacrifice, hustle pay the price.

Want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life I've been. grinding all my life.