In support of KoreAm Journal, some of the comic community’s funniest talents came out to perform at the Laugh Factory in Long Beach, CA on Thursday, December 11. The event was moderated by Kollaboration’s PK (Paul Kim) and featured actor James Kyson Lee, of NBC’s Heroes, as the guest of honor. The musical line up of acts included Bobby “Big Phony” Choi, Caroline Kang, Dumbfoundead, and Samuel Geunjin Kang.

Tearing up the comic stage was a string comedians: Andy Hur, Walter Hong, Eliot Chang, and Kevin Shea, as well as PK. Hur, a self-professed “former fatty,” had no trouble cracking jokes about his recent weight loss, which made for some good – albeit typical – chuckles. For the most part, he pretty much screamed throughout his whole set, and I found myself wondering if he was using this act as a forum to air out hunger pains. Not bad, but mostly disturbing to watch.

Next up was Walter Hong, who was introduced as “The Cleanest Act in Town,” which is totally true if you scrub down with mud and grime, then rinse off with motor oil. Yes, dirty is an understatement when it comes to the rollicking humor of Hong, but that’s what’s so brilliant about him. Most of the time, the funniest things are the things people are afraid to talk about, and Hong understands this well. Nothing about the human body is off limits to this guy.

Angry One, check. Grubby One, double check. Now it was time for some serious gut busting: what would I call Eliot Chang? Probably the Metro One. Chang is a self-professed cheater, and while I desperately wanted to write off his material as d-bag fodder, I couldn’t help but get caught up in his tsunami of an act. His is the kind of act that can bait you in on charisma alone. And then once you’re reeled in, you end up thinking cheaters are just a misunderstood lot. Besides, how do you stay mad at a man that makes you laugh? Wait, what the hell am I saying…?

Comedian Kevin Shea

Last up, but certainly not least, was Kevin Shea. Shea brought down the house with a lethal combination of self-deprecation, lip and wit. What is particularly interesting about Shea is that he doesn’t share the perspective of the I’m-so-Asian comedian. Shea is of Korean descent, but was adopted and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He was pretty much the only Asian in town, so he can’t exactly bank his act on imitating his Asian parents’ accents. This guy’s just straight up funny. My favorite bit was about the state of the economy within his apartment: in order to recoup losses, the studio’s coming in and eliminating the walls, but the couch doesn’t have to freak out about the bed – he’s letting the bed go and planning to promote the couch to futon status. If there’s one thing I can appreciate in a comic act, it’s commiserating about our brokenness.

Attendees Esne and Tiffany

Musician Dumbfoundead

Musician Samuel Geunjin Kang

Far*East Movement's KevNish

Far*East Movement's KevNish compliments Kevin Shea on his brilliant comedy performance.

Comedian Walter Hong, Far*East Movement's James "Prohgress" and KevNish