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Joe Wong (comedian)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Chinese name, the family name is Wong/Huang.
Joe Wong
黄西
Wong in October 2021
Birth nameHuang Xi
Born (1970-02-16) February 16, 1970 (age 55)
Baishan, Jilin, China
MediumStand-up
NationalityUnited States
Alma mater
Years active2001 – Present
GenresDeadpan, sarcasm, observational comedy, satire
Subject(s)pop culture, everyday life, marriage, self-deprecation, racial stereotypes
Notable works and roles2010 Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner
Websitejoewongcomedian.com Edit this at Wikidata
Scientific career
FieldsBiochemistry
InstitutionsRice University
ThesisThe Drosophila inebriated/rosA transporter: Dual roles in the control of neuronal excitability and osmotic stress response (2000)

Joe Wong (Chinese: 黄西; pinyin: Huáng Xī; born February 16, 1970; academically known as Huang Xi[1]) is a Chinese American comedian and former biochemistry researcher. He received a PhD degree in biochemistry from Rice University in 2000. He started his comedy career in Boston in 2001.

Background

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Wong was born in the city of Baishan, Jilin, northeastern China, into an ethnic Korean family.[2] His family had emigrated from Korea three generations previously. He graduated from Jilin University with a bachelor's degree and pursued a master's degree at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, before he went for doctoral studies in chemistry at Rice University in Texas in 1994.[3] He graduated from Rice University in 2000 with a PhD in biochemistry. Wong's doctoral dissertation was titled "The Drosophila inebriated/rosA transporter: Dual roles in the control of neuronal excitability and osmotic stress response".[1]

Career

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Wong moved to Boston in 2001 and began to perform his comedy at All Asia Bar, at Stash's Comedy Jam. Although he had won numerous awards, he did not attract American nationwide attention until after his appearance on Late Show with David Letterman on April 17, 2009.[4] His multiple appearances on TV, courtesy of Ellen DeGeneres, boosted his reputation further. On February 10, 2010, Wong made his second appearance on the Late Show,[5][6] and appeared again on March 30, 2012. He returned to the Late Show with Stephen Colbert on December 14, 2018.

On St. Patrick’s Day, 2010, he headlined the annual dinner hosted by the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association.[7][8] On June 19, 2010, he placed first in the Third Annual Great American Comedy Festival.

In 2013, he moved back to Beijing, hosting television shows, such as Is it true? (Chinese: 是真的吗?), a MythBusters-like program, on China Central Television.

Awards

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Date Title Source
May 2003 Finalist at the Boston International Comedy and Film Festival [9]
March 2003 Best Short Film award at the Cambridge Fringe Fest [9]
Six-time winner of Standup Comedy Contest at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Drosophila inebriated / rosA transporter: Dual roles in the control of neuronal excitability and osmotic stress response - ProQuest". www.proquest.com. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  2. ^ 小崔说事节目采访黄西 (in Chinese (China)). 2011-11-27. Archived from the original on 2011-11-29. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
  3. ^ Zaino III, Nick A. (2008-08-17). "Looking for laughs in China". Boston Globe. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Joe Wong's network debut on David Letterman's show". 2009-04-17. Archived from the original on 2011-03-16.
  5. ^ Joe Wong- Letterman 2-12-10 on YouTube
  6. ^ "KP Comedy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
  7. ^ Joe Wong, an unusual comedian, kazantoday.com
  8. ^ Joe Wong to headline RTCA dinner, Politico.com
  9. ^ a b Joe Wong Archived 2013-07-30 at the Wayback Machine Rooftopcomedy
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