# Jo Koy: Blue In The Face review

> The comedian's sixth Netflix special celebrates Filipino culture, family, and finding reasons to smile through life's chaos.
- Title: Jo Koy: Blue In The Face review · Decider | Shortify
- Summary: The comedian's sixth Netflix special celebrates Filipino culture, family, and finding reasons to smile through life's chaos. Koy's warmth and physicality…
- Keywords: jo koy, blue in the face, netflix, stand-up comedy, filipino culture, stockton, gabriel iglesias, vietnam veteran, golden globes, easter sunday, news, entertainment
- Source: Decider — https://decider.com/2026/09/15/jo-koy-blue-in-the-face-netflix-review-stream-it-or-skip-it
- Published: 2026-09-15T20:45:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jo koy, blue in the face, netflix, stand-up comedy, filipino culture, stockton, gabriel iglesias, vietnam veteran, golden globes, easter sunday, news, entertainment
## Filming in America's first Little Manila
Koy chose Stockton, California as his filming location. The inland port city was the first hub for Filipinos coming to America a century ago.
## Hollywood struggles, stand-up success
Koy's big screen debut in Easter Sunday flopped and he hosted the Golden Globes only once. But he's still packing arenas on tour with Gabriel Iglesias.
## Why he laughs at his own jokes
Koy says he often rambles into riffs revealing things he didn't mean to share. He's laughing because it's the first time he's heard himself say it too.

> Can I enjoy the f, ing laugh, too?
## From cracked teeth to Beverly Hills dentist
At 12, Koy cracked his front teeth running through the woods. A military dentist botched the repair, leaving him covering his mouth onstage for years.
## A $100,000 TV deal bought new teeth
After his first Tonight Show appearance led to a cell phone ad deal, Koy's mom convinced him to fix his teeth. He found a Beverly Hills dentist on Oprah.

> Don't worry about flossing. Just get a good job and buy your teeth.
## Stealing McNuggets at his first job
Koy worked at McDonald's at 15 for $3.85 an hour with no free food. He got fired for stealing McNuggets, then lied to his mom about why.
## Dogs are your best friends
Koy acts out every dog's bark as conversational phrases. He imagines them asking questions like "who is this guy?!" and "where have you been?!"
## His Vietnam vet stepfather's legacy
Sgt. Fred Harrison was a 6-foot-4 Vietnam vet with Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars. Koy took him to an 18-inning Dodgers playoff game that left him blue in the face.

> I needed Sgt. Fred Harrison
## Key takeaway

Koy's warmth and physicality shine brightest when he's telling personal stories about his stepfather and his journey to success.