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Asian American Comedian


((PKG)) COMEDIAN PAUL KIM (PIA)
((Banner: The Power of Humor))
((Executive Producer: Marsha James))
((Camera/Editor: Kaveh Rezaei))
((Map: Los Angeles, California))
((Main character: 1 male))
((NATS: Paul Kim))
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
Laughter is so important. Laughter is medicine. Laughter is the
shortest distance between two people, one of the best gifts we’ve
ever been given.
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
I’ve been doing stand-up for 15 years. So, I’ve seen all different
kinds of laughers. There’s the inside laugher, they don’t make
any noise, they’re always just like. Insecure touchy laughers, they
always need reassurance. They always, “Did you see that?” Like,
“Yeah, I heard that. We’re at the same show.” Oh, the snorter,
my favorite, you know. It’s like such a compliment when you get a
snort except you feel bad for their spouse. You’re like dang,
you’re like every morning, “Honey.” I’m like, “Oh my God.”
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
I was born and raised in Burbank, California right here over the
mountain and I’m the last of five kids. Two older brothers, two
older sisters. They’re all two years apart and I’m the fifth. I’m 10
years apart. So, I’m an accident, pretty obvious.
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
You know, so when I was a kid, I asked my dad, you know,
“Papa, am I an accident?” And he said, “There are no accidents
in God’s Kingdom, only regret.”
((NATS: Paul Kim))
My dad disciplined us. You guys know, you know, some of you
guys, “It hurts me more than it hurts you.”
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
My dad was the pastor of a huge church. So, being a preacher’s
kid, you’re not allowed to listen to the radio, watch, you know,
certain kinds of TV.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
So, the first time my friend let me listen to Eddie Murphy -
Delirious on tape and he’s cursing and he’s just making
everybody laugh, I was like, “Wait, what is this?”
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
Preachers always said what you’re supposed to say. You have to
stick to the guidelines. But comedians always said what people
are thinking but were afraid to say.
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
A lot of times I was the only Asian amongst a lot of white kids. I
was really skinny. They called me Chopsticks, Indiana Bones,
Chicken Legs.
((NATS: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
You know, like I was the skinniest kid, like, you could just tie a
string around me and I would just fly away like a kite. I was so
skinny, I was bullied.
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
Always made to feel inferior, even though they weren’t even doing
it on purpose. That’s how I started doing comedy because I could
take away the power of that, them making fun of me, by being
funny.
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
I have kids. My last name is Kim. I really wanted my son to be a
leader, so I was going to name him Martin Luther Kim. My
second choice was Abraham Linkim, but we don’t want to put
pressure, so we named him Lion. He’s the Lion Kim.
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
I have the best parents and the best older brothers and sisters
ever. I’ve had so many conversations with friends who’ve had
just so many bad family situations, like most. My dad was worried
but I’m always going to be thankful because he came to one
comedy show and then he died suddenly after. So, I’m always
going to have that memory of him. He came.
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
And you know, when you do talk about your ethnicity a lot, a lot of
comedians, a lot of comments that like, “See, it’s all they do.
They talk about….”, you know. But just because a lot of them,
they don’t understand what it’s like to be the only one of a
different color in the room. They have never felt that.
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
When I walked onto the stage, I used to get butterflies, but I have
performed for so long now, I don’t feel that anymore. But it is, it’s
the best rush and by far, making people laugh
((Courtesy: Paul Kim))
((Paul Kim, Comedian))
and helping them forget about their problems is the best drug.
((NATS: Paul Kim))
Oh yeah, that’s how my people do it. Thank you very much.
((NATS))
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