The woman. The myth. The legend. Bay Area local and superstar stand-up comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes brought her show, “The Family Reunion,” to San Jose this past weekend for two performances on Sunday, Jan. 19. The program was filled to the brim with millennial humor, California culture references, and relatable Latina experiences. If you love (or hate) motherhood and want to laugh non-stop, this girl has got you covered.
Performed at the San Jose Civic Theater, Johnson-Reyes’ show was packed with friends, couples, and families. Even before it started, the atmosphere was full of giddy excitement.
The opener, Mal Hall, started off the show on a strong note. His charming, dad-centered comedy was the perfect balance to Johnson-Reyes’ mother-focused humor. Hall, from San Diego, shared jokes about a family size bag of Cheetos eaten by a man on a long flight, the right way to parent, and the experience of the “forgotten” parent. Almost immediately, the crowd broke into laughter and applause. Hall ended by reminding the audience to check out his full show coming to San Jose in April.
All of the hoots and hollers for Hall could not compare to the eruption that broke out through the duration of the hype video for Johnson-Reyes. The video included short clips of her most viral jokes, alongside the voices of news reporters introducing the comedian. It included one of her jokes that blew up on social media: “I love Jesus, but I will punch a h*.”
The video was edited in the same style used to introduce any major sporting event, preparing the audience for a WWE-equivalent spectacle. And just like Dwayne Johnson or John Cena, Johnson-Reyes entered her arena pumping her arms into the air. She, too, was met with the thunderous applause that is typically reserved for a super-star athlete.
Johnson-Reyes is a true Bay Area native. She grew up in San Jose, just miles from the Civic Center. She attended Lincoln High School, and shortly after graduating became a NFL cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders. Her program was hyper-curated to the millennial generation that grew up around the Bay Area. The specific and niche details were especially well received.
She continued with hilarious remarks on the real “hood” malls in the Bay Area and how San Jose has changed since her time in high school. The crowd engaged with empathetic nods and cheers. Others identified with her bit on her husband’s loud chewing habits and how she has exiled him to eat in the backyard. The show felt even more personalized to this specific performance, with Johnson-Reyes laughing off a Furry Convention held across the street.
Johnson-Reyes wrapped up the show with her most iconic skit, asking the audience, “Anyone here like to get their nails done?” In reply, the theater exploded with laughter, applause, and excited cheers. The comedian’s viral impression of a Vietnamese nail technician was first developed over 18 years ago and has become a legendary part of her stage persona.
The San Jose show was just one stop on her global tour, “The Family Reunion,” but struck closer to home in her childhood home city, surrounded by her own family and friends. Johnson-Reyes focused on the importance of family connection, bringing her hometown community together through comedy.
