A few years ago, I was lucky enough to produce a one hour special for the super talented Dwayne Perkins called Take Notes. (If you want to check it out, it’s on Netflix). It was a fun and great project to work on. That’s why when director/producer Quentin Lee and I were trying to figure out our next project, doing a stand up series featuring Asian Americans made sense. Comedy InvAsian is what came out of those conversations.
Comedy InvAsian, a six-part live stand-up series featuring some of the country’s top Asian American comedians as well as talented newcomers, each performing one-hour specials. Our first season includes Paul Kim, Atsuko Okatsuka, Kevin Yee, Joey Guila, Robin Tran and Amy Hill.
I decided to ask them all 8 questions. Next is, Paul PK Kim.
Paul “PK” Kim (PK stand for Paul Kim and Preacher’s Kid) is a regular at The World Famous Laugh Factory in Hollywood. He was the Grand Prize Winner of The Uncle Clyde’s Comedy Cup at The Pasadena Icehouse sponsored by H2F Productions.
1. On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you rate your childhood and why? (With 1 being the perfect All-American childhood and 5 being completely and utterly traumatized.)
A 4. Only Asian in all majority white elementary school. Only Asian in white little league team. Really skinny kid with Sora. Raised in extremely conservative Christian family.
2. Tell us about the moment you knew you wanted to be a comedian.
6th grade. Friends Cassette tape what was taboo to listen to. Eddie Murphy. Delirious.
3. How did your parents react?
They knew when they came to my Pasadena Ice House show when I was 33 and my dad past away soon after he came to the show. They weren’t happy but they said if you’re going to do it then do it all the way.
4. If you weren’t a comedian/actor, what would you have been?
Teacher
5. How funny are you in real life?
Funny with friends
6. This isn’t a question, but a statement. Make me laugh.
You in a library with Will Farrell and Bobby Lee’s face. That’s it.
7. Tell us about your worst troll or heckler and how you responded.
A guy said I need more drinks. I said go get it then. It didn’t end well.
8. What advice would you give to young Asian American comedians?
BE DISCIPLINED. Or you’re wasting your time. Be focused.
PK will be performing on Friday, February 10, 2017 at 7:30 pm at the Japanese American National Museum. Click here to buy tickets.
Follow me on Twitter @ksakai1
