You Can’t Spell Famous Without “Us”: The Rise of Hawk Tuah

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Hi Friends

This week I wanted to share my thoughts on fame specifically how it’s been achieved, sought after, gifted, and taken away over the past century.

Fame is an obsession for some with people from every discipline of entertainment seeking to be the next Taylor Swift, Drake, Bad Bunny or Margot Robbie. It doesn’t actually stop there though because fame is as ubiquitous as any other part of what makes a social hierarchy function. There are people in the fields of medicine, academia, and tech that seek fame just as much as athletes who are clawing to be etched in history. One of the reasons a Simone Biles, Serena Williams, or Michael Jordan are famous is because their exploits are legendary.

What happens when we lose fame? How does the individual move on especially if fame is all they’ve known or wanted. We used to have Hollywood celebrities only, then it morphed to influencers but the cycle is repeating and new and old famous have more in common than either of them would like to admit.

I also talk about tarot cards, psychics, and good deals on bad meat.

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Video Directed by Jacob Menache
Recorded at Comedy Works in Denver, CO

[JoshJohnsonComedy]

Hi Friends thanks for watching. Make sure you subscribe

[ibpants]

His sets are rapidly becoming my chief way of learning about contemporary culture.

[Zilch.]

That fortune teller saw that "This guy will use you for stand up material" card and dipped.

[thokoZ]

300 years from now in a dystopian future a kid will be sitting down on YouTube watching this and get sent into a deep rabbit hole about who the Hauk Tuah girl is

[MarciaMatthews]

“They hated her in a way they only hate women online.” Very perceptive!

[tamaral.]

Josh's comedy will have a turtle lifespan. 😂

[bradkopp]

I loved that the hawk tuah girl said if she only has 15 minutes of fame she was going to do some good with it. Then she went to raise money for an animal shelter!

[michelebechard]

Hey @Joshjohnsoncomedy- I'm a social worker, teaching in a University Social Work program. Shared a clip of one of your sets in my class as part of discussion on current events. It went over very well. Thank you for your work. 🎉

[dragonprincess]

Ok serious advice to EVERYONE: DO NOT i repeat DO NOT watch Josh with broken ribs. Started aching 30 seconds in but i maintained, supported my 3 broken ribs and tried to hold in the laughter. Until that last damn line. When i say laughter burst out of me like a freight train and feels like it took my 3 ribs with it and maybe broke a few more on the way out, I aint jokin. Holy shit he is dangerously funny. That call back hit me outta nowhere. BRAVO Josh!! Everyone else, stay safe. Y'all might want to avoid drinking or eating during his sets, too, lest you choke or damage your device of choice with liquid or food projectiles.

[leonelcadet]

This man can freestyle anything and make it funny without trying. Ladies and gents, this is talent. Respect.

[vanillatwilight]

Ive had SUCH a bad fucking week. My husband lost his job, got our car in a fender bender, and im exhausted from my job working as a therapist for autistic kids at a clinic (i love it but anyone who does this work knows a 50 hour work week of that takes it out of you) and you just. Made me smile. Made my day. Thanks Josh. Ive been a fan for a while since i found your special when it came out on peacock and i hope that your career goes ten times more insane than that of the Hawk Tuah girl. You deserve it. Your comedy is intelligent and heartwarming and so appreciated during this hard fucking time in my life. Thank you.

[jeffredfern]

The goldfish can live up to 40 years. Its just socially acceptable to provide wildly inadequate care to them so they die much, much sooner.

[dbii]

“These days fame is disconnected from excellence” is the quote that comes to mind

[Semiotichazey]

I'm having a hard time comprehending how Josh is creating so much material. I'm starting to think he may be a once-a-generation talent.

[jcm]

My favorite thing about whoever is editing these is the crazy zoom-ins on Josh reacting to the plot lines in his stories.

[adamzan]

Glad you mentioned the judgment some people had about her… she was just joking around and being genuine. People gotta relax

[jahnbon]

Came for the Diddy jokes, stayed for the wisdom.
I only discovered your work a few days ago. Several hours in, my wife and my 80+ mom are floored by your work as well. You possess the most original stand-up voice I've heard in far too many years. Yeah, you're an entertainer, and a world-class comedian, but you're also a philosopher, and an incisive observer of our world, our culture.
I'm in my 60s, and I've been listening to the greats of comedy since I was in single digits, since dinosaurs roamed the earth - since the actual 60s. I'm putting you right up there in the pantheon, no joke. Your command of language, your ability to think on your feet, take risks, and faultlessly land a line are all the marks of a champion, and put you in a class well above the simple term 'comedian'; you're the real thoughtful deal. Thanks for shining a little light. Stay fearless — onstage, at least — and keep on keepin' on.
Signed,
Three new fans!

[Lora-G]

16k views in under 45 min. after posting. Josh is stadium ready❣️💐👏🏼

[RAYDEEY]

I'm not on tiktok or Instagram, but this guy keeps me updated on trends and contemporary culture

[CanyonALynn]

Congrats on making your milestone of 650K subs!