| Comedians -- United States -- Biography |
| Filipino Americans -- Biography. |
| Koy, Jo |
| Filipino Americans -- United States |
| Philippine Americans |
Available:
Library | Shelf Number | Shelf Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Wareham Free Library | B KOY 2021 | BIOGRAPHY | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
A stunning, hilarious memoir from Jo Koy, star of the major motion picture Easter Sunday, creator of the Netflix specials In His Elements and Coming in Hot and "far and away one of the funniest people out there" (Chelsea Handler). Mixed Plate illuminates the burning drive, celebration of his Filipino heritage and the brilliant comedic talent that make Jo Koy one of the world's most successful comedians. Includes never-before-seen photos.
In a memoir that is both surprising in its honesty and not surprising all for being laugh out loud ridiculous, Jo Koy delivers his life story for fans, and for anyone who has defied the expectations of their family and maybe even themselves. If you've ever seen Jo Koy's standup, you know that his road to success has been...well...bumpy. As a half-Filipino, half-white kid with a mom who didn't think much of his comedy career goals, Jo had a lot to prove. Add in the realities of the immigrant experience, alcoholism, poverty and mental illness and you can understand why Jo Koy found solace in the VHS tapes he made of Eddie Murphy and George Carlin specials. In the end, Mixed Plate is his path to achieving his version of the American Dream, one that he lives out loud today while celebrating his heritage, the life he's been able to provide for his son Joe, Jr., and all the wonderful craziness of his great big Filipino family ...that also happen to be universal.
Just like Hawaii's favorite lunch, the mixed plate, this book takes a little bit of this, a little bit of that from a few cultures and creates a delicious whole.
Reviews (2)
Kirkus Review
A sincere memoir about growing up an immigrant and overcoming adversity through hard work and humor. Koy, the star of numerous Netflix and Comedy Central specials, tells the stories behind his jokes, promising in the introduction to get real and personal in a way he never has before. "I never really opened up about all the barriers I had to overcome in the racist entertainment industry as I built my career brick by brick and show by show," he writes. "I never really opened up--until this book." Readers familiar with the author's stand-up will still find the swagger, foul language, and family-inspired humor intact but also genuine care for his storytelling. Koy relates the difficulty of navigating his own identity as the son of an American military father and Filipino band-managing mother. "My mom is where I get all my talent from, no question," writes the author--in addition to his meticulous study of the comics he loved as a child and Filipino upbringing in general, a community with "entertainment in our blood, running through our veins. People as poor as us, all we've got is entertainment." When his older brother's schizophrenia prompted his father to leave, Koy began to struggle with this unstable home life and lackluster academic ambitions. After listening to Richard Pryor on cassette and seeing Eddie Murphy: Delirious, he decided to become a comedian, a winding journey that eventually led to success after battles with prejudice and his own initial shortcomings. Throughout, Koy is candid and heartfelt about his family and personal life, and he provides an illuminating behind-the-scenes look at his artistic process, which involves not just joke-writing but real introspection. Featuring countless moments of hilarity, the narrative also serves as an opportunity for the author to connect with his audience beyond the stage. Koy goes behind the funny, showing his wide-ranging comedic talent and abundant wells of perseverance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
Koy's words almost accost readers with the tastes and sounds of the bifurcated world he inhabited as the son of a white, conservative military father and a Filipino mother. His childhood prepared him for his career in comedy; as he explains, he became used to entertaining friends and family since they couldn't afford to go to shows or movies. It's this bold desire to fill the spaces left empty by poverty, by need, by marginalization that Koy fills with the stories comprising this remarkable memoir, beginning with his childhood growing up on military bases in the Philippines and elsewhere. Koy candidly recalls the culture shock of adjusting to life in the United States as an 11-year-old, eventually settling in Tacoma, WA, where his mom longed to find a Filipino community. Koy is personable throughout, whether describing idolizing his older brother while simultaneously watching him struggle with mental illness; trying to become as American as possible by developing a love for the mall; and turning toward comedy to help cope with grief and anger. Koy includes occasional recipes of his favorite dishes, including lumpia and chicken adobo. VERDICT A beautiful exploration of finding hope, humor, and a voice. A must-read for fans of memoirs.--Emily Bowles, Lawrence Univ., WI
Table of Contents
| Introduction | p. ix |
| 1 The american way | p. 1 |
| 2 My great escape | p. 25 |
| 3 This crazy thing called divorce | p. 47 |
| 4 "I was right. you should've died." | p. 69 |
| 5 Fred and titty baby | p. 95 |
| 6 Looking for gold | p. 119 |
| 7 The first laugh | p. 143 |
| 8 Live from the hustle | p. 169 |
| 9 King no more | p. 195 |
| 10 The tiny game-changer | p. 209 |
| 11 You're the fucking man | p. 231 |
| 12 Immigrant revolution | p. 271 |
| Acknowledgments | p. 295 |