James Austin Johnson On Leaving Christian Comedy
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- Опубликовано: 16 сен 2024
- Famous for his Trump impression, James Austin Johnson talk about growing up Christian and beginning his comedy career. Sam Seder and the Majority Report crew discuss this.
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Loved his observation at 4:30 about these so-called libertarian, individualistic places where everyone must conform and be normal to be socially accepted. So true.
Did you ever watch the movie 'Easy Rider'? Just like the famous scene where Jack Nicholson's character, George Hanson, ruminates about what is wrong w/ America. And that was 1969!
And sometimes the opposite is true.
Do you mean being polite and caring and thoughtful about what comes out of our mouth and how it affects others? You mean not insisting on my personal right to do whatever I want, say whatever angry, insulting thing pops into my head, wherever regardless of who is present. Yeah - can't figure out why it's so hard for these Christians to be part of a normal group of people.
@@gregruland1934 do you not see the disconnect between the virtues you claim to hold on one hand, and the behavior of Donald Trump on the other? Please, by all means, explain to me how Trump has garnered so much "Christian" support. Go ahead, I'll wait
@@christheghostwriter Well it has been 2 months and Gregg still hasn't responded. I guess he is still trying to come up with an answer, :-)
Most impressions are pretty good, but this dude is *spot on exactly* like Trump.
It's uncanny.
even good trump impressions like his were rammed into the ground years ago.
@@p.chuckmoralesesquire3965 tbh there are so many had ones that the good ones are appreciated
This is actually disturbingly good.
A good impression would include showing how much of an evil bastard the guy is.
I'm so glad I decided to watch this video. As someone who broke away from mainstream Christianity in my adulthood it feels very affirming to hear someone echo the same things I was thinking. I don't recognize what's going on in in the church I grew up in anymore.
I was never super into Christianity and really never went to church after about age 16 but still considered myself Christian. And then came Trump and the tight association of the Evangelicals and Catholics with him. That caused me to look at what religion in general was, examine why I believed and I learned that since the dawn of humanity, no one has ever been able to logically justify or show real evidence of a god, any god, the hypocrisy in the bible is astounding and people will suspend logic and reality to believe it.
When Trump speaks more softly it creeps me the fuck out. I respect that this guy appreciates that.
He’s gonna be on SNL. This guy is so talented. Excited for what he’ll do in the future!
Just saw it last night and he killed it. So happy for James. He was so funny
Best cold open to SNL in literally years. JAJ is single-handedly saving SNL. Hope they are paying him a boatload of money.
And his Biden is good too!!
His Biden's and Trump have been killer. He doesn't quite have the face for Trump, but his voice and mannerisms are spot on!
@@UberTheRandom - Make-up can cure that.
I'm here after seeing James on SNL last Saturday. Holy crap he nailed it. And now hearing his story, even better.
I grew up christian and have no idea what christian comedy is.
The whole Christian thing is a bad joke!
No one does, not even "christian comedians".
Consider yourself lucky. :)
I went to a Campus Crusade event in college because my friend kept on bugging me to go and there was a Christian comedian there. It was really weird. It's like trying to be funny while dodging a million different rules protecting the actual funny stuff. The whole reason comedians are funny is because they are politically incorrect. "Christian comedian" is a complete oxymoron.
I remember guys like Mike Warnke, before he was revealed as a fraud... telling 'funny' stories about people in his imaginary home town. Kinda like Green Acres.
Mostly just 'clean' humor... but then some preaching at the end.
This guy is not only bloody funny, but he is also bloody smart.
That’s the key to being a good standup. The intelligence is far more important than the funny.
@@tawdryhepburn4686 yep. The intelligence to stand back and observe people and events and make observations.
say bloody one more time
James Austin Johnson is by far one of the best New hires in SNL history, such an intelligent and talented guy
His story regarding the choice he made in his faith and family hits close to home for many of us. My Catholic Church gave in to Trump and it was maddenining for me and ~70% of my extended family. Its created a schism that is going to take years to heal.
Then here comes "deeply devout Catholic" Biden who votes against one of their bedrock beliefs: No Abortion.
@@JB-ti7bl Catholics voted >93% for JFK, same platform - only thing that has changed is that the Catholic Church is now a cult beholden to Fox News and not the Pope anymore.
Oh you mean your priest and parish, not the Pope. Pope is pretty left on issues that matter most, i thought.
I'm what in the US is called Episcopalian. I cannot understand RCs supporting Trump. What is there in his behavioir that is on any way compatible with Catholic theology? Dorothy Day is spinning in her grave.
@@wfcoaker1398 I'd say 40% of the support is cultural bourgeois white Republican partisanship, and the other 60% is ... well still a lot of that, but primarily and sincerely motivated by the anti-abortion veneer. The prolife cow really seals the deal for a ton of Christians who otherwise dislike him. In my experience.
I feel this guy man. Im from knoxville and am literally the only one in my family that didnt vote for trump and it's rare that you run into someone who doesnt like him around my area. I usually ask a couple questions to feel them out and if I find they dont like him it's like having a secret conversation. They love him here. Although january 6th changed some folks like my parents.
Good for them.
Ughh so much stupidity here in the South, it’s embarrassing.
Can we see more of James, please? I loved this conversation. Greetings from Australia :)
See him every week on SNL!
Never heard of this guy, but found what he had to contribute fascinating. Thanks!
Loved this interview. Thanks for it. Please have this guy on again. ❤👍
The reason there aren't "conservative" comics is the same reason the Right can't meme. As Johnson notes, the premises of right-wing "humor" are not based in reality. And, ironically -- given the typical accusation against Lefties -- the Right has become darkly humorless. Trump himself famously doesn't laugh. What passes for humor among Right-wingers is so dark and mean-spirited, it ceases to be clever or funny to anyone but low-minded bullies.
Yours is the best analysis of this topic I’ve ever read. Bingo!! Now I know why I never laugh at Maher’s jokes.
I'm here after Johnson just performed one of the best cold openings and best Trump impressions in SNL history. The fact that he's also a cool guy makes me all the more happy for his success. I almost want Trump to run in 2024 just to give Johnson more material -- and more exposure on SNL.
When this 1st aired I had no idea who this dude was. Now, he's like a huge rock star on SNL + good for him, he's hilarious 👏
Christian comedians.
Thank you, I’ll be here all night..
Meanwhile, Norm MacDonald has been feted all week.
James Austin Johnson is talking to Sam and Emma Very Strongly
I can really relate to him on all of the religious issues. I’m from the south and I’m so anti politics in religion. So I get it!
JAJ is a really smart guys, I wish nothing but good luck to this young man.
I know why they called it "Christian comedy" because it feels as you are being crucified by a bunch of Roman soldiers.
👏😂🍻
I would rather be crucified along the Appian Way than sit through a 2-hour Christian comedy set.
I daresay you nailed it.😜
Is it coincidence that the word 'church' can be found phonetically in the phrase 'torture chamber'? (tor church aim bur)
@@johnpjones182 Sorry but a crucifix it's a torture instrument invented by the Ancient Romans and that is a Christian symbol.
He does a good job of explaining how much conservative Christianity has changed from my childhood. How that orange unchristian man could take over Christian republicans shows how shallow their belief system is.
@TheMightymolar - "orange unchristian man" - HA! I have been collecting euphemisms for the president-reject ever since he first announced his presidential intentions (except for the truly disgusting ones). I must have 100s of them by now. Just when I think that there can't possibly be any more, some smart wag comes up with another. I shall add yours to the list.
@@MossyMozart Typically I only refer to him as Spanky McBonespurs.
Wow, thanks TMR, this is interesting. And JAJ's impression of the former resident is uncannily excellent.
Christian Comedy is an oxymoron I hadn't heard before
So often when hearing "X does not represent Christian values" I wince internally, like many being raised in that variable culture and eventually, painfully, reasoning my way out, only to be constantly reminded that so many more never did~
This interview was brilliant. I became aware of JAJ when he became a cast member of SNL and I recognized him as the best new cast member in a very long time. This interview shows me that I need to look up more of his work. He speaks the truth and when you can do that and make people laugh at the same time, he is going to have an amazing career. Thank you folks for this video.
I feel ya dude. I grew up in a tiny rural town where they burned harry potter books. I went to school in a fairly liberal city in my red state and have been living here for almost a decade. Every time I drive home, especially in the last 4 years, it's felt like driving into Innsmouth or Jonestown pre-massacre.
Gosh that’s a powerful description. Are they so gripped as that you think? Trump’s magic powers over people baffle and scare me. He’s channelled stored anger against liberalism and whipped it into a maelstrom of fear and anger.
Was this the guy on the call with Judy Gold? He was fucking AMAZING
yes
Great interview. Love the honesty about his home and the family/community conflicts. Trump has divided families all over the world. As an irish person most Christmases since Trump (and Brexit - same movement really, think Nigel Farage) have had at least one huge family political row. Also, horrifying to me so many of my irish American aunties and cousins worshipping Trump and going into a tizz on his talking points. Particularly when I hear them becoming hysterical about the need for a wall against immigrants. Have they forgotten their own history? Hannity and Bannon have names that tell me their people travelled to America as lowly Irish immigrants. Also, no conflict for them being practising Catholics and Trump lovers. Worse, Trump worship hasn’t waned for them. And he could still return to power. That would cast a huge beacon for the far right in Europe. Same anti immigrant hysteria fuels far right moving to mainstream in Europe. (UK Tory party, in power now, over a decade, also have swung to far right values). Every economic shock seems to scare people into supporting authoritarian types of rulers. Also cannot believe how victor Orban is lionised by gop. Blatant fascist. Scary times. Lessons of ww2 have been forgotten.
james has a beautiful soul
For anyone who's ever watched the classic 1969 Road Movie 'Easy Rider', what he said @ 4:31-53 is just like the famous George Hanson's speech at the bonfire scene, when Hanson ruminates about what's wrong w/ America. 'The Man' talks the talk about 'Freedom', but its'a all talk, they don't walk the walk. Namely when those folks see someone who is really free they get scared, and quickly get violent, because they realize that deep down they themselves are just cogs trapped in the machine. They live in a simulacrum of freedom.
Leaving this here for myself to remember to rewatch Easy Rider. Thank you, sorry, and a possible thank you once again.
This is a great interview, thank you both for allowing him to speak his mind.
If you grew up in the church and among conservatives and never heard the term "evangelical," you were probably a mainline protestant - Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian. We got pushed out of the evangelical club when we started doing "repulsive" things like ordaining women. Maybe earlier.
@Lucinda Breeding-Gonzales - Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) STILL don't allow women to participate in their priesthood and therefore are blocked from entering the church hierarchy and administration.
.................
NOR did they did allow men of African descent the same privilege, either, UNTIL they wanted to expand their missionary activities into Brazil. Then the "prophet" suddenly got a "message from God" that they could NOW be given the priesthood. So conveeeenient! These are the reasons that I am now a thrilled Former Mormon. (Once I uncoupled from the church, I grew to embrace atheism, or as I prefer to put it, reality.)
Congrats on joining SNL!!
Awesome conversation. This guys is hilarious and this conversation was really fascinating.
Love James. Please keep having him on the show!
I know exactly where this guy is coming from he’s correct.
having grown up in the midwest, i'm painfully familiar with the conform or die mentality of certain regions.
The south, too. I'm fourth gen Georgian, although I've lived all over. Georgia is _finally_ getting a peek at progressiveism - a phrase that I was resigned to never utter. TFG shitting all over our current ultra-conservative governor is a delightful hoot. I'm cautiously optimistic, although realistic... Ain't nothing gonna happen fast _enough_ 😄
Amazing conversation!
This was excellent! Insight from one who carries the lessons of their youth and belief (be kind) into this craziness. I enjoyed his story and his view of what was his world in the bible belt. Refreshing to know the veil has fallen from his eyes. Comedy contributes to better mental health. There are many who do not have this hand-rail (comedy) to support them through the adjustment to the real world. Some will suffer without relief. Good Show!
The interviewers seemed disconnected. James had it spot on
Feeling like you need to bring this guy into the Majority Report family..
I enjoyed interview that so much!
I thought this was a parody interview. James looks like a deepfake Sam.
Emma looking fine in this video though.
🤣
At 2 minutes and 18 seconds when he talks about Trump and his calm down move, I always call that the seal. He put his hands ✋, like whoa there betsy, so defensive.
Christian comedy can actually be funny if it's jokes that poke fun at their own culture. I know this as a former Christian who heard jokes that only Christians would understand.
I also second his notion that I don't recognized the Christian subculture I grew up in. There were elements of what exists primarily today, but they weren't dominant.
10:30 This is something I have tried to explain to some younger people I know. So much was kind of 'settled' in the 90s when I was a teenager that now is up for a debate. Like we were given serious sex ed. Gay people, while not liked and generally insulted, were kind of ignored and not seen as a threat (at least where I lived) to the point where we even had an openly gay state leader (clearly not the USA to be fair) who was reelected multiple times. There was talk of more than two sexes (a lot of the language wasn't there). Trans people weren't really understood but they were a thing. etc etc etc.
But then in the naughts and especially 10s, suddenly it wasn't enough for people not to like someone or something. Now they had to prove it or at least argue their case. With a lot of the louder 'rights' groups being a response to the right wing politicisation of peoples existence.
In some ways I wish the alt-right or whatever we are calling them would just admit there is no science or reason behind their position. That they just don't like x or y group. Or its a matter of faith. I hate the dishonesty and all the anguish it creates.
Well said.
James, like me 'you've been spared' ! I thank God! You're great! Maybe you can reach Maga! I have 3 sisters and a brother who have fallen for the big lie. Will they ever wake up? I love you. Thank you!
WOW! That's a GREAT impression of Trump!
It was so cathartic seeing him do Trump impressions!!!
This guy is amazing!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I like the comparison he makes about the four years of Trump and yes Trump was like vomit.
'Excuse me Glen excuse me, excuse me Glen" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍
@13:38 There used to be a saying something like, "2 things you never talk about in mixed company, religion and politics." Gearheads might say Ford vs. Chevy. Oil or spark plug preference....very polarizing and personal topics. To push them to the front is to make them a badge of association and tribal fealty. It leaves no room for compromise, and ultimately, any attempts to achieve progress through discussion becomes unfeasible. *_"Without dialogue, there is only war."_*
Brilliant 🤩 jaw jaw not war war
Leftist aren't immune to this but this happens to conservative comics a lot more. They completely ignore the basic structure of what makes a joke a joke in the first place. They just kind of rant about stuff that pisses them off. Before we can ask "was the joke funny", it has to be a joke in the first place.
that impression is bone chilling...
James is so aware!
James learned the lesson of the Dune Saga. Never trust your leaders.
I remember this dudes Scooby-Doo rant
Look up his bit on chapo trap house its somehow even better
Scooby doesn’t do.
Ok, good impression of DT, but the words donnie trump and sexy should never be used in the same sentence, unless it has the word NOT in between the words.
James got the call! Headed to NYC&SNL!😎
He killed it as Biden, though I still think James Adomian's Biden is better.
Fantastic dude
So well articulated.
You can tell this guy is much smarter than the interviewers.
Sam and Emma are pretty smart IMO.
@Brent Thomas - How so? They are quite smart, you know.
Evangelical doesn't actually mean speaking in tongues or megachurches . It's a term describing a general movement amongst protestant denominations who are categorized by how the read the Bible and how they worship and organize. My family in Upstate NY are Methodists and technically evangelical Christians but they are not like what we might expect of midwestern or southern church groups. Doesn't mean many evangelicals aren't detestable, it's just not universal.
Yeah, it is why people often say fundamentalist evangelicals. It’s morphed into terminology about an extreme religious voting block that is primarily in the south or Midwest. If you look at polling, it shows that this form of classification shows that >90% vote R
@@mckenziebraswell-miller2327 While I do understand that I just think it oversimplifies things, kind of like saying all Democrats are leftists. It's not really true and doesn't adequately explain what's going on. But I don't know how many people really want to get in to a discussion of protestant theology and how it lead to Christian fundamentalism today, so I get why the oversimplification occurs for polling and discussion reasons. Though, evangelicalism is founded on the principal of literal interpretation so it does tie into fundamentalism based on the state and local religious traditions of the group. And that's where I'll stop so as not to prattle on.
Man I miss Michael Brooks.
He truly understands the impression...unlike Alec Baldwin...weird impression, hateful
Baldwin was doing his own uncensored self, IMO.
I think JAJ is right in saying that ultimately dt was good for Christianity because he exposed the hypocrisy of right wing Christian, separating those who use Christ for their own selfish ends from the right from those who promote the compassion of Christ and caused these progressive Christians to reclaim the name.
I know there's some video delay, and that plays a part. But I'm not used to just how much they kept interrupting him, in the first half of this video.
Isn't it just that everything has become political? Evangelicals think George Carlin is very political if they look at his stuff today, but back in the day it was comedy, or sometimes "controversial comedy", but it wasn't seen as particularly political - even though he was clearly left of center.
Comedy is generally about the uncomfortable space between convention and transgression. Politics will always have roots in that space. Comedy unseats power through ridicule, after all.
@@lucindabreeding well said
Nothing new. I remember when CBS shut down the Smothers Brothers for being openly anti Vietnam war. They brought on Pete Seeger who sang “ Waist Deep in the Big Muddy” and their fate was sealed. Back in the 60’s.
We are going thru another permutation of McCarthyism now- with all the anti abortion and gun fanaticism going on.
@@lucindabreeding well said. “ unseats power”. Not funny when it punches down on the marginalized, however.
YES I love this guy!
A big mistake that SNL makes is that they make Trump look funny, but
they don't make him look evil, and he's one of the most evil, heartless
people around.
They believe in Creation, but they are so .
In the mid-Eighties I knew a Christian artist that couldn't even draw a decent picture from a photo. A book on his shelf explained why women are not as good as men. He had a flyer for an event called, "What About Us?" It was copying the two US Festivals that took place in the LA area in 1982 & 1983. They couldn't think of an original name for it.
Sounds like Christian Comedy needs some George Carlin.
George Carlin hated the manipulation of language to obfuscate meaning. That is classic Leftism. "People with vaginas" instead of "women", etc.
What a great interview 👍
I guess this might have been the wrong room for it, but that Promise Keepers joke was hilarious
So happy he was hired to SNL , very talented guy
Great use of the word, "Quashed." Most people just say "Squashed."
this guy is hilariuos. he looks nothing like the accent!!!
Thank you James!
AND NOW HE'S ON SNL BABY
Is he related to Lauren Michaels is it just me or does he look kind of like a young Lauren Michaels by the way your spelling Lauren Michael's wrong
He's SCARY good with that Trump
Why isn't your co-host's name in the intro material? Not everyone knows it. You're there, Sam. Your guest is there. But not your co-host.
Because Emma just came in and it's Sam's show.
Im in my late 40s and I grew up in Christianity also and even back in the 80s/90s it was an awful religion.
Now that I’m an adult I just don’t understand the allure of such an awful religion, or how adults fall for such an awful religious narrative. A narrative which essentially flips the good vs evil paradigm by making the most awful bloodthirsty character (god), who straight up kills everybody over and over again, the good guy, all while making the character who’s worse crime was convincing a couple of naked people to eat an apple…
the bad guy
Lol
Not to mention that the main Christian story that one must believe in order to actually be a Christian is essentially a story about an awful violent narcissistic (mass murderer of humans) textbook dictator-like character (aka Old Testament abrahamic god) who impregnates a little girl (creepy) with a HUMAN version of himself for the sole purpose of SACRIFICING that HUMAN life for some nonsensical abstract symbolic (and completely unnecessary) gesture of the ultimate “act of love.”
In other words a god who uses HUMAN SACRIFICE to express “love”
Whaaaat the Eff?!?!
Simply put the Christian religious narrative is an ancient barbaric thinly veiled HUMAN SACRIFICE story which ultimately gives way to an apocalyptic death cult…
I cannot believe people think that it’s some kind of virtue to believe in such awful stories.
IMO it’s actually the Christian narrative itself which renders the entire religion completely useless as a basis for actual morality. It’s just a bunch of awful nonsensical stories which devalue human life, human ingenuity, human autonomy, and the entire human experience on nearly every page of the awful book they use.
Religion is a mind virus and Christianity in particular is one of the worst strains.
Amen, brother!
I find it interesting that two of my favorite comedians right now---JAJ and Taylor
Tomlinson--began their careers in Christian comedy. I guess there is something to be said about honing your comedic craft without the crutch of profanity, sexuality, or scatology. Not that I have a problem with those topics, but when contrasted with comics who come out of the gate "blue"--the terminally unfunny Nikki Glaser comes immediately to mind--Johnson and Tomlinson are much more nuanced, even when their material is racy.
I so agree!!! Nikki’s beauty gets her further than her talent. She’s not funny.
All decent comics, sooner or later, become Carlin.
A misanthrope?
Wild wild world ...I love this thank you guys..
Very well spoken and informative and intelligent
"A lot of oozing." Score one for Emma!
Yes, hard to get a word in.
But she only need smile.💘
@@kevinthomas4074 I am desperately hoping that your comment was sarcastic & ironic.
Gandhi was interviewed by the BBC. Asked why he didn't like Christianity he responded I like your Jesus, your christians not so much, they are so unChrist like
Never stop laughing at fascists.
Love ya, JAJ!
Thumbs up and an additional comment to beat the algorithm. Thanks for the video! 👍🔥
Thank you Sam for your laser focus on the economic devastation facing the middle class 👏
This is so good ❤
This dude is telling my story.
what a solid guy.
This is already on the SNL crew.
Super interesting interview!
So full disclosure...I am an agnostic. I like comedy of many facets and have enjoyed some Christian comics as well. Honestly, I think his explanation for leaving Christian comedy is exactly why he should have stuck it through. More and more every year, Christianity is being conflated with conservatism. Can you honestly think of anyone more liberal than Jesus? He really should have shown the people that there was no way you could believe in Christian values and todays 'conservative values' at the same time.