Our favorite funny APIs who make us laugh, think, and feel
These up-and-coming comedians are giving us something to laugh about during these wild times
Clockwise from left, Jr De Guzman, Leslie Liao, Irene Tu, Jenny Tian, Sabrina Wu, and Jason Cheny.
Photo illustration by Ryan Quan
Words by Ashley Packard
In a world where punchlines are currency and laughter is universal, comedians from the API diaspora are leading the comedic revolution with fierce, witty banter and unapologetic voices through stand-up, Netflix specials, and crowd work. They’re diving into the honest truths about sex, double standards, and family dynamics and traumas with relentless criticism. For them, the art of comedy is a love letter to the world, pushing boundaries, bringing big belly laughs, and even bigger insights to the stage.
But comedy isn’t just an artform mastered by these trailblazers—it’s how many of us navigate the craziness of life. Beyond being a genre, it’s a lifeline of entertainment. By its very nature, comedy explores (and sometimes exposes) the quirks of human behavior, social norms, and the essence of daily life through irony, sarcasm, satire, exaggeration, and absurdity. Whether through sharp punchlines or subtle observations, comedy challenges us to see things differently, from a new perspective, step outside our comfort zones, and more often than not, laugh at ourselves.
And while we’ve already seen household names such as Ali Wong, Hasan Minhaj, and Ronny Chieng do this, here are some up-and-coming API comedians who are outstandingly relatable, mercilessly hilarious, and frankly, really funny. So, grab your popcorn, get comfortable, and get ready to laugh out loud.
Jr. De Guzman
Jr. De Guzman skillfully blends musical comedy, storytelling, and sharp anecdotes on everyday life, family, relationships and identity. He often uses his guitar on stage to serenade and perform original songs that are both hilarious and heartwarming for his audience. A former music teacher who was born in the Philippines and raised in California, De Guzman’s comedy is refreshingly authentic and consistently engaging. He has entertained worldwide for Stand-Up Tokyo and ROR Comedy in Japan, the Jokers Ball in Indonesia, and countless other international shows. Winner of StandUp NBC in 2016, and named a New Face at Just for Laughs 2017, his quarter-hour special is now on Netflix’s The Comedy Lineup.
Jenny Tian
Jenny Tian exploded on social media and has likely appeared on your “For you page,” amassing more than 900,000 followers combined on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The Chinese Australian, born in Finland and raised in Australia, often touches on family dynamics, cultural expectations, identity, and dating mishaps, among other topics. With her deadpan charm, she is irresistibly funny. With her quiet yet confident stage presence, she delivers quick one-liners with impeccable timing, and occasionally includes elements like PowerPoint slides into her sets. Last year, Tian sold out her debut solo show Picture This and released it as a YouTube special, which has more than 740,000 views. Recently, she performed at the 2024 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, and was cast in season two of Taskmaster AU. In addition, her latest stand-up hour, Chinese Australian: A Tale of Internet Fame, sold out across Australia and brought her to Edinburgh, Scotland as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Leslie Liao
Leslie Liao is a-Netflix-HR-employee-turned-comic who describes her journey into comedy “like a Superman-Clark Kent thing.” She would work her 9-to-5 shift, then perform late at night, and need to be ready the next morning for Zoom meetings. She made her TV comedy debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Show when she was promoting her feature on the Netflix comedy showcase Verified Stand-Up. Liao’s bosses were “so cool and supportive,” and encouraged her to pursue her comedy career. Raised in Orange County, California, the Chinese American uses self-deprecating, matter-of-fact, introspective observations to chart her collective global fame. She was selected as a New Face of Comedy at Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in 2023, debuted her set Fixing Straight Men on YouTube in 2023, and performs at venues such as The Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv, Laugh Factory, Flappers, and many more across Los Angeles.
Jason Cheny
Jason Cheny combines his bubbly playfulness, sharp wit, an optimistic vibe, and dry humor to tackle complex topics like societal quirks, family dynamics, cross-cultural themes, and more, making him relatable and entertaining. He describes himself as born and raised in Taiwan, re-raised in the United States, with a goofy personality. When on stage, he points out his frustration and confusion with social absurdities, daily observations, and finds humor in the mundane. He has opened for Chieng and Iliza Shlesinger, has appeared on Comedy Central’s Featuring, Don’t Tell Comedy, and Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Radio on SiriusXM. He’s also won a few stand-up comedy contests including The World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas.
Irene Tu
Irene Tu describes herself as having “Big they energy” and “a really cool lesbian who skateboards.” She has been praised by Paste Magazine for her “quick wit, relaxed stage presence, and hilariously off-the-wall observations.” Using a playful, self-deprecating tone, she pokes fun at her own androgynous style while balancing her material with a playful, dark, and subtly grumpy Millennial twist. She tackles topics like coming out, family, societal expectations, and cultural stereotypes in a relatable way. A queer Chinese American born and raised in Chicago, now based in Los Angeles, her first comedy album We’re Done Now debuted number one on the iTunes comedy charts in 2022. She has opened for comics like Taylor Tomlinson and Patton Oswalt and can be seen on After Midnight, Hulu, Comedy Central, Netflix is a Joke: The Festival, and more.
Sabrina Wu
Sabrina Wu notably blends their quirky, irreverent, and boundary-pushing humor into insightful performances. Their off-beat humor, refreshing energy, and sharp critique on societal norms and expectations create a unique point of view through their experiences as a queer Asian American. Born and raised in Michigan, their parents emigrated from China and Wu began their comedic career performing at high school talent shows and as an undergraduate at Harvard University. They have been featured in comedy festivals such as the New York Comedy Festival, been in Netflix’s Verified Stand-Up and Netflix is a Joke Fest and have been a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Wu was also one of the four lead actors in the feature film Joy Ride.
Published on January 9, 2025
Words by Ashley Packard
Ashley Packard is a freelance writer covering travel, lifestyle, sustainability, beauty, culture, and more. She is an American expat living in Germany with her husband and their two cats. When she’s not writing or researching her next trip, she’s outside hiking, cycling along the river, buried in a book on her Kindle, or eating her way around a new city. To view her portfolio or to collaborate check out, www.ashleypackard.com.
Art by Ryan Quan
Ryan Quan is the Social Media Editor for JoySauce. This queer, half-Chinese, half-Filipino writer and graphic designer loves everything related to music, creative nonfiction, and art. Based in Brooklyn, he spends most of his time dancing to hyperpop and accidentally falling asleep on the subway. Follow him on Instagram at @ryanquans.