2020 hasn’t been a lighthearted year. But when the going gets tough, that’s when laughter is needed most. Give yourself permission to smile this month with stand-up comedian Josh Johnson, known for his work onThe Daily Show, Kevin Hart’s Hart of the City, The Tonight Show and stand-up routines on Comedy Central and Netflix. Johnson will be performing at Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse this month. We spoke with him before the show to find out what fans can expect.
What type of jokes will attendees hear at your show?
I talk a lot about my life. Like a lot of people, I’ve been cooped up for months in quarantine. I have a lot of stories about my experience in coming out of a lockdown and about other people’s reactions to the state we’re in. So, it won’t be a political show or anything like that. It’s mostly just about life experience and about some of the reactions people have had this year.
Why is humor important, especially during a year like 2020?
Humor puts people at ease. Anyone, whether it’s myself or another comedian, trying to help you make sense of what’s going on around the world … in a way, that is helpful. There’s a certain level of worrying that is absolutely essential to the human condition, and then there’s a level of worrying that’s just tapping yourself out. What I hope my comedy does for people is it leads them right to the line without going overboard with their worry and understanding that things change, the world’s evolving. I want people to just be happy and be able to be as laid-back as possible. There are times where it’s incredibly important to have those “smell the roses” moments. Comedy provides that to people.
What do you love about performing in the Northern Virginia region?
There’s a deep savvy toward comedy, whether it’s political or otherwise. People [in the region] really catch onto different types of humor. I think that’s a nod to the diversity that the DC area has and its rich history. // Oct. 9 and 10, 7 and 9:30 p.m.; Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse: 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington; $20
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