Third Thursdays

Thursday, August 17, 2006
7:00-9:30pm
Japanese Cultural & Community Center
1840 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

Ever have that nightmare where you are the only Asian person in a bar somewhere in the middle of nowhere America? Now imagine being on stage trying to make everyone in the bar laugh at your jokes. It might seem like an impossible task, but every year more and more young Asian Americans are popping into the world of stand-up comedy and drawing a strong fan base. With the success of rising star comedians like Dat Phan, winner of the first season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and now with “Asia Street Comedy” on the International Channel — the first Asian American comedy show of its kind on television — it is clear that race-infused comedy is becoming one of the main ways that people are introduced to the Asian American experience.

Come and hear from our panel of Bay Area-based comedians who will share their experiences being young rising comedians in the stand-up comedy world. Find out how, or if, they incorporate their API identities in their routines and what goes into making those decisions. The panel will also attempt to explore the broader topic of race-based comedy and where some of the fuzzy lines are with regard to comedy and stereotyping.

Panelists include:

• Tessie Chua
  http://www.tessiechua.com/
• Nitin Kant
  http://www.nitincomedy.com/
  Co-Host of
  The Mock Cafe
• Tapan Trivedi
  http://www.indiancomedian.com
  Organizer of:
  Pundits With Punchlines
• Ali Wong
  http://www.aliwong.com