These days, we could use a good laugh, and what better way to satisfy that need than with a comedy special or maybe even a sitcom? We’ve got a number of Chinese comedians worth watching, so grab some popcorn and a soda — or a cocktail, if you’re allowed — and get ready to cry from laughing.
1. Ali Wong
Source: Netflix
This Chinese-Vietnamese comedienne is a hoot and a half. She’s owning the comedy game, voicing characters in shows like Big Mouth and Tuca and Bertie. She’s been a story editor on Fresh Off the Boat, and she has not one but two comedy specials on Netflix right now. Ali Wong: Baby Cobra delves into her sexual encounters, her pregnancy, and more.
She followed this up with Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife 2 years after having her first child, talking about breastfeeding, how parenthood isn’t fun, and why all women deserve 3 years maternity leave. Did I mention she did both of her comedy specials while she was very pregnant? Yeah, if that’s not dedication to your craft, I don’t know what is.
2. Constance Wu
Source: IMDb
While Ali Wong was a story editor, Constance Wu starred on the comedy TV show, Fresh Off the Boat. It’s a hilarious glimpse into a Taiwanese family making their way in America in the 1990s. Unlike a lot of immigration stories, these characters are fully formed and actually feel like real people instead of just actors with a script. A definite must-watch if you ask me. And if you’re wondering what else you might have seen her in, Birds of Prey or Crazy Rich Asians is the answer.
3. Awkwafina
Source: IMDb
She’s Peik Lin Goh! Rachel’s best friend in Crazy Rich Asians. She also starred in the movie, Ocean’s Eight alongside big names like Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, and Rihanna, among others. You can also watch her on the TV show, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, where she navigates adulthood in Flushing, Queens in the USA with the help of her dad and ahma.
4. Ronny Chieng
Source: Netflix
Another Crazy Rich Asians alum is funny man Ronny Chieng! His comedy special, Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America, is up on Netflix! In it, he talks about his experiences as an Asian in modern America.
5. Jimmy O. Yang
Source: Amazon
Yes, he is also a Crazy Rich Asians alum. It’s not our fault they scouted great Chinese talent, okay? In Jimmy O. Yang: A Good Deal, which is up on on Amazon, he tells you how he feels about Asian representation, learning English from rap videos, and disappointing his Chinese parents by pursuing his dreams. If that doesn’t sound like an hour of laughs, I don’t know what to tell you.
