Josh Johnson, one of the freshest, funniest young comics around, is familiar to many from his regular contributions to The Daily Show and his frequent on-line posts, including weekly full-length concerts. When I first came across a hilarious clip on YouTube, I subscribed immediately and have been following him (and laughing) ever since. I recently got to see him live at The Green Room 42 in the final performance of a two-month residency before he embarks on a national tour. His show, Josh Johnson’s Garden Variety Show, was a full stand-up set surrounding guest spots by two other performer friends. He proved an adept host as well as a major comedian.
Josh Johnson (John Cafaro)
Johnson has a sharp eye and ear for the foibles of our times with acceptance and wisdom far beyond his years. His subjects are broad and bracing—from politics to media, to social norms to culture, to the wildly off-kilter—all grounded in a laid-back, laconic style that allows for physical comedy, clowning, and rib-tickling observations. He is chronicling our times and giving voice to our own reactions to the often-overwhelming absurdity of it all.
Johnson’s ”uniform” in most videos and on stage that night is a simple gray hoodie and jeans and it added to his everyman guide/guru/compatriot persona. He opened the show with thoughts on the deterioration of intelligent debate and critical thinking in the age of TikTok and Twitter. Whatever heaviness that topic might conjure was quickly dissipated as he chose the viral meme of 100 men versus a gorilla as the proof of his thesis. Not only that, but he expanded his thoughts on the human vs. animal theme to almost 10 minutes which flew by as it grew funnier and funnier.
Eventually, it led to his dissection of the HBO series Chimp Crazy, a series of which I was unaware but which I now have every intention of investigating. Apparently, there is a cultural phenomenon involving single women (“white women” he is reluctant to point out) who “adopt” baby chimps as pets to raise as offspring and who then suffer the inevitable hazards of their beloved little companions growing up and growing large. Johnson’s looks of pained consternation at the situation alone are worth the price of admission. His expert miming of the care and feeding of the furry babies and then the fear and loathing of the grown chimpanzees add even more laughs. The night progresses to ruminations on preparation for the zombie apocalypse (which somehow swings back naturally to the saga of men against ape) and winds its way to an ode to seasonal allergies and perverted sneezes.
Emma Willman (Mindy Tucker)
Then it was guest time, and he brought on Emma Willman, whose tales of queer life amid the chaos of 2025 included quoting from therapy sessions, imagining sperm banks run as regular commercial banks, bonding with her father over attractive women after coming out to him, and her own variations on the zombie apocalypse. She has a distinct, raw and powerfully funny voice that complemented Johnson’s reserved delivery perfectly and they were delightful in a brief interview section/double act as well.
Vinny DePonto
The second guest was Vinny DePonto, a comedian-mentalist whose show, Mindplay, just completed an extended run at the Greenwich House Theater. Johnson’s introductory interview with him was quite charming as he enthusiastically confessed his fascination with magic. Once Johnson left the stage, De Ponto dazzled with mind tricks and one mightily impressive feat with cards and memory that brought the show to a rousing finish. His ragtag, loose-limbed presentation and easy way with audience participation served as the perfect platform for his magic and never distanced the tricks from the laughs.
As a host, as a social critic, as a Chaplinesque lost soul reacting to the modern world, and as a wonderfully entertaining comedian, Josh Johnson is the real deal. He will be back in New York later this year, but until then follow him online. You’ll be thanking me through your laughter.
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Presented at The Green Room 42, 570 Tenth Ave., NYC, on May 7, 2025.
