Glendale comic keeping the funny going during social isolation
Brian Kohatsu writing, staying busy even ‘without laughter’
Jokes and one-liners are everywhere. What isn’t, for one comedian in these days of social isolation, is the flipside of jokes.
“Comedy seems to be so weird without hearing the laughter,” Brian Kohatsu said, communicating through email from his Glendale home on March 27. “I’ve been approached to try and do some online shows, but I just need to figure out what that is going to look like before proceeding.”
Mr. Kohatsu was born and raised in Glendale (“I am half-Japanese, half-Caucasian,” he says in his comedy routine, “so I do appreciate some of you guys speaking Spanish to me in the parking lot”), and he still makes his home there.
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Jokes and one-liners are everywhere. What isn’t, for one comedian in these days of social isolation, is the flipside of jokes.
“Comedy seems to be so weird without hearing the laughter,” Brian Kohatsu said, communicating through email from his Glendale home on March 27. “I’ve been approached to try and do some online shows, but I just need to figure out what that is going to look like before proceeding.”
Mr. Kohatsu was born and raised in Glendale (“I am half-Japanese, half-Caucasian,” he says in his comedy routine, “so I do appreciate some of you guys speaking Spanish to me in the parking lot”), and he still makes his home there.
Having spent 20 years as a director, he stepped away from the camera to begin a career in comedy, and found success in radio as the host of his own show, “The BS Factor with Brian and Stephanie” on the All Comedy Radio network, where many of his sketches were featured on National Lampoon Radio on XM/Sirius.
More recently he has trained and performed with various improv troupes like The Mixed Nuts, Innappopriov, CrossEyed Comedy and The Improvonauts that he co-founded with comedian Mike James. He’s a stand-up regular, including at Stir Crazy Comedy Club, at 6751 N. Sunset Blvd., Suite E-206, in his hometown of Glendale.
His impressions and riffs on pop culture and the like have added to his comedy career.
But like everyone around him and beyond, things have suddenly stopped.
Mr. Kohatsu had just signed a contract to record a special with Dry Bar Comedy, and the next day everything was postponed due to COVID-19.
“Basically, all of my shows have been canceled through the first week of April,” he said. “I have a feeling my other shows out of state in late April will be canceled eventually. Everything on my calendar past May will be a wait and see situation.”
Not that he’s idle while at home.
He’s part of a small group that meets once a week for writing online via Zoom.
“We’ve been meeting for about six months, so this has been great to keep in touch with friends,” he noted. “Everyone lives in states outside of Arizona, so it’s interesting to hear about what is happening in their hometowns. It would appear that most comics have kept their sense of humor intact.”
Humor may be in high demand in fact for audiences overwhelmed by depressing headlines about coronavirus casualties, the economy, and even a lack of socialization as residents hunker down at home.
“I still continue to write weekly and post on social media when I have a funny thought,” he said. “I’ve been really entertained by what people are posting on social media. At times, the non-comics are funnier than the comics. I haven’t really been writing any Covid-19 jokes, but I do think it’s funny that toilet paper has become the equivalent of prison cigarettes.”
As a video producer for more than 30 years, he has other ways to keep busy remotely these days, including helping other comics with everything from CDs to scripts to demo reels. He’s also working on his own media projects, in between “keeping my teenage kids busy and entertained while my wife is working.”
“I know that the job of a comedian appears to be deemed nonessential, but it’s actually more essential now,” he said. “My ‘non-comedian’ friends have been telling me about all the comedians they’ve been watching online to pass the time. Laughter really is the best medicine. It won’t cure the Coronavirus, but it might help you live longer.”
Steve Stockmar News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment
YourValley.net @stevestockmar
Meet Steve Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.
Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.
Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.
Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.
Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.
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