Clean comedy education

Times Reporter

 

Laughter is really the best medicine, but sometimes comedians can offended people by the way they go about getting that laugh. Strathmore resident Cory Johnson is in the running to be Canada’s Next Top Comic, and his version of clean comedy will have you busting a gut without wondering if you should be laughing.

“The thing about my comedy is it’s a bit more tame than most of the other comedians. Just about every other comedian uses swear words, or talk about sexual innuendo, or racist jokes. I pride myself in having clean comedy that even kids can listen to,” said Johnson. 

“Why I want to be more involved in comedy (is) it’s the opportunity to provide people with something they can laugh at and not be offended, but they also learn at the same time. That’s what makes my routine pretty neat is people actually learn. ”

Johnson is a motivational speaker, a record breaking Olympic athlete, and the Kiwanis club governor-elect for Western Canada to name a few of his roles. He also has cerebral palsy, and his favourite, and famous, line is, ‘I’m not drunk, I’m disabled.’ 

His comedy focuses on some of the encounters he has had, such as people asking his wife if he is allowed to use a fork, or a number of other misconceptions people have when he is out in public. He said a lot of people listening to his comedy may have had the same perception, and by getting a chance to listen to his routine they may learn. 

Johnson’s son Brendon Berry was also an integral part of helping create the perfect routine. 

“So he was doing his routine in the kitchen and he was doing it pretty fast, so it was sort of hard to comprehend,” said Berry.

“After, I thought and I said, hey Cory if you slow down a bit and give the audience a chance to comprehend, then maybe you’ll get somewhere.”

“It really helped because if I would have done it myself, and not practiced in front of him, then I think it wouldn’t have went as well,” said Johnson. 

A few weeks ago Johnson performed in Calgary to try to get a spot in the semi-finals for Canada’s Next Top Comic, and now he needs the support of the community to help get him into the finals. 

By going to the Canada’s Next Top Comic website people can listen to his five minute skit, and vote for Johnson. 

“The person with the most votes wins and I think there’s also a wildcard spot. It’s something where I need as much support as I can get,” said Johnson. 

The comedian with the most votes, and one wildcard, from each city will be picked to take part in the finals in Toronto on November. The prize money is $10,000 and the crown as Canada’s Next Top Comic. 

The winner will also have some of their skits on the radio, and Johnson said he thinks there is the possibility of signing an agent out of it. 

“To be honest if I won it, I would probably use it to maybe get an agent and start looking at the possibilities of doing this more full time,” said Johnson.

“It’s something that I really want to do because it will help me with my comic career, but also it will help me with my business. A lot of people when they book me for speeches, they worry that it’s going to be a really serious speech. They don’t necessarily want to book somebody who is not funny. ”

Voting is open until Oct. 31 and people can go to canadasnexttopcomic.com to cast their vote. Cory Johnson can be found under Calgary’s heading.