Joe Coe on Netflix’s New Hollywood Special ‘Damaged’ and Post-Split Plans

Joe Koi is ready to laugh again, and it’s a pretty safe crowd too.

He’ll put that theory to the test on September 13, when the best-selling comic makes its fourth Netflix special. a clock called Live from the Los Angeles Forum, explores her struggles in Hollywood, where she and her Filipino heritage were not always celebrated. It was directed by Shannon Hartman and produced by Coy, Hartman, Joe Melosh and Michelle Caputo.

During a brief stop at her Los Angeles home, newly single Coe spoke about telling jokes in an increasingly painful climate and why she’s grateful for Steven Spielberg.

You are about to release your fourth Netflix special. What was important to you this time?

This is the biggest I’ve ever photographed. It was at a big forum in the West, so it had to be important on that forum.

What does it mean to be “big”?

I worked at Nordstrom Rack in Sepulveda [Blvd.]And I used to live there too, so I was always doing the Great Western Forum, now called the Kia Forum. It’s just iconic and you think in your head, “Oh, that’s never going to happen,” but then you convince yourself that one day you’ll come out. Fast forward 20 years later and here I am on that stage, so I had to mention that. We sold about 28,000 tickets, which is huge, and I knew I wanted to go dancing, and keeping that energy for so many people is a lot.

What did you mean by this set?

My main focus was my business struggle. You watch an hour on Netflix and it’s me on this big stage, but it’s not what it was a few years ago. was a A lot of after that- Netflix initially turned me down, and it turned into not having to listen to them and pay [a special] I produce and edit it myself and then bring it to you. [They ultimately bought and released Jo Koy: Live from Seattle in 2017.] It was a big deal, but we live in a time and a generation that reacts differently to being told no, and I wanted to show people that none of this would happen if they took no for an answer. So I talked about Netflix, I told the Netflix story about Netflix, and I thought it was great, because my relationship with Netflix hasn’t always been rosy.

There are a lot of people who will tell you that going on stage right now is scary, both because you don’t know what can happen and because you don’t know how your material can be taken out of context. Are any of these worries driving you crazy?

Not. My whole style is storytelling and I like to be in my pocket: it’s about me and my family. So I’m not afraid of him. I can always say, “Hey, I’m honest and this is my family and this is my truth.”

Whitney Cummings recently announced that she will be releasing the stand-up special, but will keep her ownership so she can do whatever she wants in the future. Does this strategy appeal to you?

with straight from Seattle I was one of the first to do so. Now this was the specific year I wanted to be in [Netflix]. it was a year [2017] That they made that first push with all the great comics and I thought I belonged on that list. I was like, “No, you’re not giving up on me. I belong here and I’m going to shoot myself and you’ll see why.” So that was my main reasoning, I wasn’t going to turn down the place, but having full control was another benefit and also knowing there were other places I could go. .

You’ve said in the past that Hollywood didn’t know what to make of you in a long time. When do you think it changed?

when be straight from Seattle Fell out [in 2017], we literally felt the difference in ticket sales that night. I broke that record in Hawaii. I sold more tickets than Mariah Carey. There were 12 sold-out shows in a row: we sold about 23,000 tickets, the most I’ve ever sold. Then we started noticing it across the country and then abroad and it was crazy.

And what about Hollywood?

Hollywood just wasn’t biting. That’s what I’m talking about on the special, so I don’t want to give too much away, but I was like, ‘What are you doing that you can’t see? Or what can’t you see? These numbers are clear as day. I am an act of sand. I’m on the list of non-comic people who fill stadiums. These are Elton John, Billy Joel, Joe Coe and Coldplay. Like, what can’t you see? And it hurts, it hurts a lot. Yes, it was an insult that he had yet to convince many people that what he was saying was relevant and funny. Later [his 2019 Netflix special] arriving hot He fell, and that’s when Steven Spielberg saw me, and when Steven saw me, he said, “I love this.” And when Steven says that, everyone in the industry is like, “Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.” (laughs)

And the next thing you know is pushing you to create Easter Sunday–

It’s crazy. I struggled for 32 years figuring out who would notice me, then Steven Spielberg notices me and then he wants to make a movie about what I’m talking about and he’s my biggest fan. No one will believe this story, but thank God for Stephen.

when are you going to do Easter Sunday What was particularly important to you?

The most important thing for me was to finally be able to represent my people, my culture, my mother, and I didn’t want to make a movie where they laughed at me, where people laughed. inside we. I wanted to celebrate my culture; I wanted to represent my people and I wanted to make sure they were proud to go to this movie and see everyone laugh with us and not at us, because over the years they’ve laughed at us to the point where they’re like, “We don’t know what do with you in Hollywood.” And now we have to change that and show that, “Hey, this plan we’re making can work for everyone. It’s just Filipinos here, but there are many voices in this country that need to be heard and celebrated.”

What is your ABC pilot status? I know it was delayed this spring, but there seem to have been rumors about trying to find another way.

Let’s keep throwing things at the wall until they disappear. I don’t mind trying; That’s what I’m here for. I want to keep telling my story and I want to tell other people’s stories.

What else is on the list?

More movies. love. I also want to direct and produce more and I want to find other talent. I know what I went through, so now that I have the door open, I want to let more of these people in.

When I spoke to you and Chelsea Handler in December, you both talked about the idea of ​​potentially starting a production company where that would be the focus. Is that still the plan? [Editor’s note: this interview was conducted before Handler and Koy announced they’d split.]

Well, no disrespect, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do as Joe Coy because there are a lot of friends and comedians I’ve worked with for a long time and it’s something I’m passionate about myself. And I want to talk to Joe Coy first. So yeah, it’s always been my thing and I can’t stand it. For example, we already have some that we will announce soon. I’m really, really excited and I’m definitely going to call you first.

This interview has been edited and summarized for clarity.