Meet JR De Guzman From ‘The Comedy Lineup: Part 2’ on Netflix

Netflix Comedy Lineup 2

The Comedy Lineup‘ is back with a new batch of comedians ready to impress you in only 15 minutes. The Netflix stand-up comedy series returns on Friday, August 31. Quick wit takes on a whole new meaning when this group of fiercely funny, emerging comics take the mic live in front of an intimate crowd at Atlanta’s historic Terminal West.

The diverse mix of comedians bring a fresh take on life’s issues, big and small, in a series of solo sets and includes up-and-coming comedians Josh Johnson and Janelle James.

Backstory: Born in the Philippines and raised in California, JR De Guzman began performing comedy while working as a music teacher, which he quickly learned just meant teaching Taylor Swift songs to teenagers. He has entertained all over the world, having performed for Stand-Up Tokyo and ROR Comedy in Japan, the Jokers Ball in Indonesia, the Badaboom Comedy Series in Amsterdam, the Edmonton Comedy Festival, and countless other international shows.

Combining music and comedy, JR serenades the audience into laughter with songs, jokes, and stories of traveling the world, life after college, and family. He has shared the stage with Tim Allen, Margaret Cho, Daniel Tosh, Jerrod Carmichael, Iliza Shlesinger, and more. Winner of 2016 Stand-up NBC & named as a prestigious “New Face” at Just for Laughs 2017, you can catch his quarter-hour Netflix special on “The Comedy Lineup,” and catch him on Coming to the Stage Season 2 on Hulu, Comedy Central’s Kevin Hart Presents: Hart of the City, and MTV’s Acting Out.

Also, check out his debut album on Sirius XM Radio’s Laugh’s USA which debuted #1 on iTunes and Billboard.

We got JR to weigh on what brought him to comedy and some of his passions outside of performing stand up

From the outside looking in, who is JR?

I am a stand-up and musical comedian, as well as a writer. I am currently creating a show. In my free time, in my daily life, I am just a regular guy.

What brought you to the entertainment industry, comedy specifically?

I was a comedy nerd. A lot of people start comedy thinking they are the funniest guy at work or at the bar. I was just really obsessed with the craft of comedy. Being that one guy on stage that can make a bunch of people laugh is just amazing to me. At my college, the theater program had a stand-up comedy elective and that’s what got me started.

What is it about daily life that inspires your commentary?

I think finding stuff that did bother me at one point and then making it really silly. When you are close to a negative situation you feel very emotional about it but once I look at it from a mile away it can be funny.

Tell us about your experience with your first Netflix outing!!!

It was amazing in so many ways. It was everything I dreamed of and more. Finding out that I got it in a submission process, I was actually in the Philippines on vacation and that just made it even better. Working out the set and then actually doing the show, it was like I was in a dream. Which sounds so cliche but it was true. There was a crazy electric energy the whole night. Whenever I am on the road and need inspiration, I think back to how amazing the taping of my Netflix special was.

It takes quite a bit of intestinal fortitude to bare yourself, no matter how cleverly concealed, to an audience who may not quite know how to interpret the nuances of your routine…how do you deal with that as you prepare to step on stage?

One of the classic ones I heard was reframing nervousness into excitement so your body is preparing you to go on stage. For the Netflix special I made a pre-show playlist that had 20 songs on it that would get me in the zone. I also try and keep in mind that I am not trying to kill, I’m trying to connect on stage.

Tell us a bit about your work and passions OUTSIDE of comedy…

I am really passionate right now about Jiu-Jitsu. I think it’s important to have other hobbies outside my profession. I think doing martial arts is so humbling because you know you’re going to get your ass kicked every day. I am also a very big family guy I need my family and close friends in my life. I take a lot of time off to go back to Sacramento and the Philippines and see my family.

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Tags: #WheresTheFunny, @jrdeguzm, @jrdguz, comedy, Conversations, entertainment, JR De Guzman, Netflix, The Hype Magazine

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.