How Josh Johnson Became the Funniest Guy on the Internet

In the fast-moving world of digital comedy, where careers are built overnight, Josh Johnson has emerged as one of the funniest comedians on the internet. 

With razor-sharp wit and relatable humor, over the years, Johnson has dominated social media with his signature comedic style that appeals to the people.

But how did he go from being a behind-the-scenes copywriter to becoming the main man on stage—indeed, one of the most in-demand comedians of our time?

Josh Johnson was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, in 1990. After studying lighting design for theater at Centenary College and graduating in 2012, Johnson moved to Chicago. It was here, amidst the buzzing comedy scene of the city, that he started honing his stand-up skills. 

His unique ability to turn everyday experiences—whether awkward dates or mundane moments—into sharp, observational humor quickly set him apart.

He made his late-night debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he also worked as a writer and performer. In 2017, he joined The Daily Show as a writer, shaping his comedic voice and allowing him to explore political satire and personal humor.

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The year 2018 was, arguably, very important for Johnson. During the New York Comedy Festival, he was named New York’s Funniest Stand-Up, stamping his position as one of the newer stars. That same year, he appeared on Netflix’s stand-up comedy series The Comedy Lineup and brought his unique introspective wit to an even wider audience. 

His comic tale “Catfishing the KKK” went viral, amassing over 13 million views on YouTube, further sealing his place in the digital comedy world.

Josh Johnson’s big career breakthrough was a result of his connection with Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show. In 2019, he hit the road with Noah on the Loud & Clear tour, performing to sold-out crowds around the world.

This prepared him to do bigger sets and provided a loyal audience who could follow him when he was touring. In 2021, he released #(Hashtag), his first hour-long special. In it, Johnson proved once more to be gifted at spinning some seriously hysterical and uncomfortably relatable stories.

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In 2023, he proved his place in comedy with Up Here Killing Myself. That year, he also joined The Daily Show as an on-air correspondent.

But as his career skyrocketed, people fawned over his personal life. Among the most Googled things about him are “Josh Johnson comedian wife” and “Josh Johnson comedian relationship,” but he keeps that pretty private.

He focuses on what he does best: making people laugh. Whether viral TikTok videos, critically acclaimed special comedies and work at The Daily Show, Josh Johnson time and again proves his brand of comedy strikes a wide audience. He is different, mixing humor with poignancy is an ability to intermingle insightful commentary into modern-day life.

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