That number is doubly impressive when you realise that the record was held by a comedian, who is a woman, that tells racy jokes and tells them in Malaysia, the country that has people throwing red paint at comedy establishments.
We got an indirect preview of her one-woman show, La-La-Lian 2.0 when we spoke to her and here’s some things we learned about the venerable OG of the comedy scene in Malaysia (OG being a word Joanne confesses she didn’t know the meaning of at first).
Where it all began
Joanne’s career as an entertainer actually began when she was 20 years old. Even then, she was already telling risque jokes—without actually experiencing the things she was joking about (yet!).Her "inexperience" didn’t matter though, as she followed up her act by being a regular at the Boom Boom Room, a cabaret club in Singapore alongside Singaporean drag legend Kumar.
It’s hard to believe but in 1990, stand up comedy wasn’t a thing and having no mould to follow, Joanne fashioned her comedy after Kumar who had a loud and in your face style of humour.
Moving to Malaysia
After the success of the Boom Boom Room in Singapore, Joanne was tasked to lead the opening of the cabaret club in Malaysia.We found it hard to believe that Malaysia ever had a cabaret club or that it was thriving but Joanne says that “Malaysians have better access to humour (compared to Singaporeans). Malaysians are not afraid to laugh and are more open.”
She also shared that even if your comedy set bombs in Malaysia (even if it sucks), we're still generous enough to give a conciliatory clap at the end of the set.
We asked if she’s faced any challenges while making her risque jokes work here in Malaysia and she said:
“There have been people who say ‘Oh she’s very hamsap (a word we can’t find an English translation but we think you know the word), so we cannot put her on this show or on TV.”
“But I think I’ve found my own crowd, my own fans, people who like to see me or listen to me. I have a strong pool of that.” Meaning, her fans know what they're going to face with Joanne and they come to the shows knowing the kind of comedy she delivers so they aren't as likely to upload it online to "cancel" her.
Being a woman in comedy
Hand in hand with Joanne Kam’s rise is the rise of other female comedians in Malaysia. Joanne recommends people look at Shamaine Othman or Hannan Azlan, the latter of which has gone international with her act.That said, Joanne laments the lack of female representation in the line up of comedy shows. “One of the constant excuses that I hear for why women are not put in the comedy line up is that they are not funny. This ‘women are not funny’ narrative has been going on for the longest time. It’s like a saying like ‘Singaporeans are kiasu.’”
Her advice for young comics?
“There is a glass ceiling in every field for women, not just comedy. We just have to perform five times better than the guys.”
Editor's Note: I have to confess to never having heard either comedian and have since rectified this fact. They are, in fact, funny. And more people should know about them.
La La Lian 2.0
La La Lian 2.0 is a director’s cut version of her sold out 2018 show of the same name. It follows the life of Joanne from her youth, to her roots as a comedian at Boom Boom Room, her rise in Malaysia, how she became a single mom, and more.
This will be the last time she performs this show so if you missed out in 2018, this extended cut is definitely worth checking out.
Enjoy this intimate retelling of her life story:
Price: RM88, Group of 5 people RM400 (save RM40)
Date: Fri, 30th Sept, Sat, 1 Oct, 2022
Venue: KLPAC Pentas 1
Time: 8.30pm
Tickets: https://www.cloudtix.co/shows/la-la-lian
You must be 18 years old and above to watch this show