0:00 Out of everybody in your life, or even fictional characters, who played the strongest role in developing your sense of humor? >> Jim Carrey definitely was one of my biggest inspirations. [laughter] Why are you guys laughing? >> Dude, it just sounds funny. It's cuz I know this isn't what you mean, but it sounds so much like like I'm as funny as this guy. >> [laughter] >> No, no. I just I thought he was talking about like real people in our life, and then so that's why I was laughing, but >> [laughter] >> but go on. Go on. >> Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, that too. >> No, no. Jim Carrey's a really good one. >> He said fictional character, too. >> hear you. >> Oh, so it would be like Ace Ventura. Anybody. But no, just Jim Carrey as as all of his roles as all of like from In Living Color. >> So you used to act you used to like act like him? >> I I wanted to I I pretended to be Fire
0:50 Marshall Bill. >> Oh, yeah. >> Let me tell you something. You know, like all that. >> [laughter] >> Let's say that. And then I would die laughing as a child watching him get more and more hurt trying to teach fire safety. And I just thought that would that blew my mind like he's supposed to teach you safety, but he's getting hurt. >> It's so bad. >> I loved having those early on like understandings of comedy. Yeah, dude. >> And then doing like um yeah, like Ace Ventura. >> It's the kung fu teacher that he was. Remember he was a karate teacher? >> That the the the >> Yeah. [laughter] >> And I was taking karate at the time, too, and I was like that's so funny. >> Yeah. >> Cuz you're like no, you have to punch me this way. >> Right. [laughter] Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah, um what was the other one? The Mask? That was a big one when I was growing up. >> Great. Yeah. >> And then like I just loved all of his big characters. That was like a That was
1:41 a big one for me. Yeah. >> Was there anybody Is there anyone funny in your family? >> I I would say my whole family's pretty funny except my my dad. But my dad has a good sense of humor. Like he he laughs, but he doesn't make that many jokes. >> you're like watching Jim Carrey with them, are they also laughing? >> Oh, yeah. They They watch Japanese comedies and stuff, too. So, they're really big on comedies. A lot of comedians in Japan end up being um like hosts for random travel, food, reviews, all that. So, like because of that, I think I think yeah, we would watch a lot of comedians. But, um my cousin and uncle were really ████ funny. Like, my uncle would dress up in an outfit like a with a wig and like like glasses and like try to be in disguise when he picked us up from the airport. >> Oh, that's cool. >> He'll have like stupid signs and stuff
2:32 and try to embarrass us. Yeah. >> Oh, that's dope. >> Yeah. And then, um when we he So, he moved up to San Francisco and then so, him and my mom thought like normal ████ like gay people were like really funny. Like, they would be in tears. >> Just cuz someone's gay? >> Just cuz someone's gay or like a guy a guy would be acting girly. Like, they would start laughing like crazy, like uncontrollably. But, I think it's because like You know how you said there's like gay Filipino comedians? >> Yeah, hell yeah. >> In Japan, they kind of have like these gay performers that are like theater actors and like >> They're just like like hard gay? >> Yeah, like no, he's not actually gay, but >> Oh. >> It's not like a >> That's a person. >> It doesn't come from a place of hate. It's just like childish humor. It's like, oh, he's he's acting like goofy and he's like flamboyant.
3:23 >> Ah, okay. >> But, there's just a lot of that. But, I think for them, they're like they've never seen it before. So, the openly gay stuff was like those two guys are HOLDING HANDS. >> WHOA. >> [laughter] >> LIKE >> WHAT'S UP? >> PEAK ENTERTAINMENT for them. No, like one of the things that my uncle would like to do is be like, guys, you want to go to Castro District? Like, there's gay people there. >> Wow. >> And then, we're like, uh okay. And then so, like we're they're driving around like maybe we can spot a gay couple. And then like he'll be driving he goes, "Hey look guys, there's one right there." Like it's literally like we're driving through the San Diego Zoo and we found a lion and everyone turns around and they're like, "They're holding hands." And then one time this one guy threw his boyfriend up against the wall and then they just started ████
4:13 making out passionately. And my uncle stops in the middle of the road and he goes, "Hey, THAT'S YOUR FRIEND. THAT'S YOUR FRIEND." saying that to me. Every single time he saw some gay dudes >> It's your friends. >> Your friends. It's your friends. And my mom would be like tearing up laughing and then um you know, and I'm just I'm just like that's funny. It's It's It's funny seeing two guys kiss. I was like 7 years old or something. >> It was a punchline in the '90s I guess. Yeah. >> I just never seen it before. >> [laughter] >> But then they're just like that's so funny and then that's it. >> Imagine if this whole time your uncle's just gay. >> [laughter] >> He could be, man. >> He's like, "Let's go look at the gay guys." >> [laughter] >> Come on, it's funny. >> laugh at gay guys. >> [laughter] >> That's actually such a good cover. >> Yeah. >> And I didn't realize how funny my mom
5:04 was until I spent time with her in Japan. So I was maybe around 14 or 15 when I went to Japan with her for like a couple months and now she's even crazier than ever, but in America I my image of her is the shy intimidated person that doesn't like talking to people and all that stuff, right? And she's always like, "No English." >> She avoids conversations. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> But I always remember her Another thing that made her laugh crazy was fat people. >> Oh. >> Cuz she's never She says, "When I came to America, she's like I didn't know people could be this big." >> to be freaking night and day difference. >> And so she said two things that made her laugh was guys shirtless and fat guys. >> Wait, just any guys shirtless?
5:54 >> Well, she said that when she was at the beach, I guess like do you know jogging was a new thing, right? So everyone was jogging shirtless. And then so she was shocked. She was like, "Yo, there's naked freaking people just running everywhere." >> Yeah, I can see that. >> Yeah, so she thought that was funny. >> You don't really see shirtless jogging in Asia. >> Nope. >> Yeah, they wear like a tank top. >> Well, don't they also discourage that in Japan? >> I don't know. Me I mean people are jogging now, but even jogging was a new thing back then. For even Americans, I think it was a new thing, right? >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> So like um Anyways, so like fat people too, like growing up she would just see one and she she like it at Walmart or whatever and then she just would want to like follow them through the whole shop and just laugh. >> Aw. >> Like no, like not like not mean like that, but just kind of like, He's fat. And [laughter] then like
6:45 And then I'm like, "What?" And she goes, "Look, look." And I'm like, "Yeah, they're fat." >> And then he's like, [laughter] "Okay, >> All right." >> Because she thinks they're so cute. Like they're big toddlers, you know? She she she she feels like they're giant babies. >> Yeah. >> But by the way, >> Giant babies. [laughter] >> There's not There's no fat people in Japan. >> How about like sumo wrestlers? >> But it's not normal, right? It's like They don't even take public transportation. They're Yeah, they don't because it's just um >> Cuz it's rude? >> It's rude. Like they take up too much space. >> Yeah, because Japan's so good at being considerate. >> taxis and stuff. >> They're like, "Why would I take up space of two, three people?" >> Yeah. >> So can they fly on airplanes? >> I mean I'm sure, but like >> Take taxis. >> They don't also leave their like circle, like their sumo district. Anyways, so my mom loved fat people, like absolutely loves them, right? But when I went to
7:35 Japan, I saw the roastmaster in action. I've never seen her talk so much ████ to random strangers. To them? Well, talking ████ is mean. But she's like she treats everyone like fam. Like she's your auntie. And she will start roasting the ████ and other aunties will join in on the roast. And they would start roasting people and laughing. Like and I was like Oh, ████ >> Yeah. Like a auntie would hear like, "Hey, [clears throat] boy." Like like she'll be she'll she'll make fun of some guy. Like maybe cuz he's fat or whatever. And another auntie would jump in and then they would just like not high five, but like emotionally high five in the air on the train. And I'm looking like, "I've never seen you do this and you are hilarious."
8:25 It's not and it's not mean-spirited. I don't really know how to explain >> Is this the same time the same time period when you were like I think you were like you had your head on her shoulder and then these people start making fun of you? >> Yeah. >> [laughter] >> I was jet-lagged. And I was like, I don't know, like 15 at the time. And then we're on the train and then like I was falling asleep so I just like used her head I mean shoulder to sleep on like this. [laughter] >> Her head? >> Uh And then these uh these like 12-year-olds were looking over at me and they were laughing. They were like like there were tears and then my mom was like "Yeah, like we don't do that here." Like America's fine. Like it's >> Cuz it made you look like a baby, huh? >> Yeah. >> But that's such a sweet moment. Yeah, but she didn't even like it? >> No, she was fine. >> Oh.
9:15 >> But but it's just culturally it's like >> Wow. >> "Bro, you're still tied to your mom's umbilical cord? Like you can't like your mama's boy. Like you can't >> [laughter] >> You're you're just going like that. >> Aw, so sweet. >> ████ those 12-year-olds, dude. >> So sweet. >> They were roasting the ████ out of me. >> My son can do that when he's 15. >> Yeah, cuz we're American, right? >> Yeah. >> Like here here's the sad part. You know, moms stop hugging and kissing their kids publicly and all that once they start going to school, especially boys. >> Oh, Chinese moms never hug. >> Well, yeah. That's Oh, yeah, that's right. Never happened for some Chinese. But, okay. So, we're at we're at this retirement home because of my grandma. And then, um there's like this caretaker. He's like pretty big. He's a big boy, right? And then, um I was taking care of my friend's son at the time. And then, he was like they're all like, "Oh, he's so cute." And then,
10:06 the big guy goes, "Hey, make sure you tell your friends you meet ninja, okay? I am a real ninja." And then, my mom's like, "You mean sumo?" And everyone starts dying and laughing. And then, she tagged it and she goes, "You can't even climb up walls. How can you even be a ninja?" >> Oh. >> [laughter] >> The place is just laughing at him. >> Everyone and then, she's like, "You can't lie to this boy. You can't ninja. There's nothing believable about being ninja." But, in Japanese, it sounds cute. >> Right. >> It doesn't sound mean. It's It's hard to Yeah, okay. It's just a It's the roast amongst friends, you know? And then, everyone's just laughing and I'm like, "Dude, that's that's ████ good. Like, I haven't heard you do that ████ in ever. Yeah." >> Yeah, maybe you take after her in a lot of ways that you didn't realize.
10:57 >> I don't know. >> [laughter]
// end of tape
