Johnson’s humor has deep roots in native San Jose.
Anjelah Johnson will likely see some familiar faces in the crowd when she performs seven shows in four nights, today through Sunday, at the Improv in San Jose.
It’s a homecoming for the San Jose native, who came to widespread fame in 2007 after her stand-up comedy clip “Nail Salon” went viral on YouTube. She then went on to become a cast member on “MADtv,” where she became well known for her audacious filter-free character Bon Qui Qui.
She’s remained active over the years, taping high-profile specials for Comedy Central and Netflix, as well as appearing in such films as “Moms’ Night Out” and “The Resurrection of Gavin Stone.” Plus, she remains very popular on the stand-up trail, so expect full houses when Johnson performs at the Improv. Several shows are already sold out.
I recently had a chance to talk with Johnson — who now splits her time between Los Angeles and Nashville — about her homecoming trip to San
Jose.
Q
Do you look forward to playing hometown shows?
A
Oh, yeah. I love it. I get to see friends who I haven’t seen in years and they come out to my shows and support. It’s always nice to see the support of the hometown. It’s like a sense of community — you know? — like, “We did it!” Hometown girl coming home. It feels like I am one of them and they are me. Q
What will your guest list look like? Will it be packed?
A
Definitely! (Laughs) At the very last minute, I’ll get lots of phone calls and text messages, and then my sister will be getting phone calls and text messages from people we haven’t talked to in years who want to get on the guest list. I did an Instagram story the other day that was like, “Hey, if I met you one time, or we went school together 18 years ago, I don’t have room on my guest list for you. I’m so sorry.” Because I will get a lot of DMs, “Hey, remember me? I’m trying to get five tickets.” Q
Where did you grow up and go to school in San Jose?
A
Wegrewupnorth of downtown, right when it starts getting to technology row on First Street. I went to a bunch of different high schools. I went to Gunderson. I did Liberty independent studies, which is at Willow Glen. And I graduated from Lincoln.
Q
How does the Bay Area factor into your humor?
A
IamwhoIambecause of how I grew up. San Jose being very diverse,Igrewuparound a lot of cultures, ethnicities. I feel that I am able to relate to a lot of different people because of my upbringing in San Jose. I think that reflects in my comedy, when I am onstage and I am able to connect with a lot of people on a human level because San Jose is so diverse and celebrated in that way.
There are a lot of different places around the country that are diverse, but they are still segregated. And I feel that San Jose is pretty mixed up — at least when I was growing up. Q
When did you first start to realize that youwerefunny?
A
I didn’t know that I was funny, because my whole family is funny. So, we would always laugh and poke fun at each other. My dad is very quick-witted, so I grew up with zingers — just zing, zing, zing all the time. If somebody asked you a question, the first response is a quick-wit zinger before you get a serious response. Q
You also worked with the Oakland Raiders as a Raiderette during the 2002 season. How did that happen? Did you do cheerleading in high school? A
I grew up cheerleading Pop Warner for Santa Clara Lions. We grew up — my sister, my cousins — we all cheered for Santa Clara Lions since I was 8 years old. I did high school cheerleading. I did college all-star cheerleading for Legacy Allstars.
My friend was a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders and she asked me to come try out. I actually wasn’t interested at first, because it’s a whole differentvibe.Igrewupcompetitive cheerleading with stunts and tumbling and this was more, like, pretty and dancing.
I wanted to be an actress. I kind of used it as my sign from God to pursue the entertainment industry.
I was like, “OK, I am going to try out for the Oakland Raiders and if I make the squad, I’ll do it for it for one year and then I’ll move to L.A. and try to be an actress.” So, that’s what I did.
Q
And what a great year to pick! The team ended up going to the (2003) Super Bowl at the end of that season — and you got to go with them and perform at the game. A
Exactly! What an amazing year to pick. Q
What are your thoughts on the Raiders moving to Las Vegas?
A
It wasn’t my favorite. But at this point I feel a little detached anyway, so I was like whatever. But it was not my favorite when I heard they were moving. I was like, “Now, I can’t do all my Bay Area lingo when I root for the Raiders.”
Q
After the Raiders, you go to L.A. and really come to prominence as a comedian after posting the “Nail Salon” video. That bit, via various postings, has garnered something like 75 million views on YouTube alone. Why do you think that struck such a note?
A
I think because it is relatable and accurate. I think a lot of people have had that experience, because that joke is really just the story of me going to get my nails done, from the time I walk into the salon to the time I walk out.
It connects with people on a human level. I think that’s why it blew up.
Q
Was that bit inspired by an actual nail salon in San Jose?
A
Oh, yeah — all over San Jose. I’ve been to so many nail salons all over San Jose. That story is based on all my experiences, but mostly this one salon my mom took me to — my very first time to get my nails done when I was like 12, I believe. I went there for years and years and so this woman saw me growup.
I remember when I became a Raiderette, I came back to her salon and I brought her my Raiderette headshot so she could put it on her wall. And she was so proud. That’s where the line comes in in my joke where she says (Johnson gets into character): “You look like model, cheerleader, something.”
Q
From the “Nail Salon” you’d join the cast of “MADtv,” where we’d first meet the character Bon Qui Qui. Was that character based on anybody you knew in the Bay Area?
A BonQuiQuiisbased off two people. One is a girl that I met at a Burger King drive-thru in Memphis, Tennessee, many, many years ago. The other part of Bon Qui Qui is my brother Kenny. He’s sober now, but he wasn’t for many years. So, he was a kid that had no filter and would say whatever he wanted to say.
Q
Cancel culture and argument culture is such a huge part of today’s society and people are so worried about saying or doing the wrong thing — something that might offend. As a stand-up comedian, how does that factor into what you do now?
A
I know that different comics have different feelings about it. I have some friends who are like, “I don’t care. I am still going to say whatever I want to say.” I think my personality is that I don’t like offending and hurting people. But, at the same time, I know that you will always, always offend someone.
My personal take on it is as long as I know my heart’s intentions, and I can sleep well at night, then I’m OK. Because I know that someone will always be offended or upset. You can’t please everyone. Q
It’s a really tall task, that’s for sure.
A
I tell this story about my biggest fear being death and the time that I thought my husband died. I walk the audience through this whole night where I thought my husband died. I go through everything — and it’s hilarious and it’s kind of dark, but it’s what I was thinking through this whole thing.
I got messages from widows upset about it: “You can’t make jokes like that, because it’s insensitive to us who have actually lost our husband.”
So, I’m like, “Wow. I can’t even talk about my own fear in life — because that is going to offend someone?” But I still do the joke, because that’s where I say, well, I’m actually OK and I can sleep at night with this, knowing that my truth is in my story.