Jordan Jensen’s comedy is tough to categorize, similar to the remainder of her. And whereas that’s usually how we like our humorous folks — layered, nuanced, tortured — it tends to wreak havoc on the precise lives of the comics themselves. Not fairly becoming in a field (although she undoubtedly is aware of methods to construct one) has mainly been Jensen’s schtick since beginning. She grew up in upstate New York, raised in a heavy-construction household that included three lesbian mothers and a dad who died when she was younger. Due to that unconventional background, she says her degree of hormone-fueled boy craziness blended along with her rugged capability to swing a hammer and mainly turned her into “a gay man.” Someplace in her teenagers she hit a “fat mall goth” part that by no means left her, even after changing into a well-liked comic worthy of a Netflix particular. Combining her interior Scorching Matter teen with freak-flag feminism and alpha-male vitality, her model makes not becoming in really feel like one of many coolest issues you are able to do — as a result of it’s.
On a current Saturday night time, earlier than her new Netflix particular “Take Me With You” drops Tuesday, Jensen ready herself for one final run of weekend exhibits earlier than ranging from scratch with materials for a brand new hour. Earlier than going onstage in entrance of a crowd of a suburban crowd on the Brea Improv, the comic’s Zen-like confidence felt like one more factor she’s constructed from the bottom up, alongside along with her comedy profession … and possibly a patio deck or two. However onstage, her love of all issues spastically bizarre and macabre makes her humor a enjoyable and horrifying venture to unpack for followers and unsuspecting “normie” audiences alike.
How does this second earlier than your Netflix particular “Take Me With You” drops really feel for you? Are you previous the anxiousness of it?
I can’t see the numbers, so if it tanks, I gained’t know — so I like that. I’m barely dissociated as a result of it’s already been carried out, so I really feel good; I don’t really feel anxious about it now. I used to be undoubtedly anxious main as much as it. However the second that night time [of filming it] was over it was a aid.
And also you filmed it in New York Metropolis [at the Gramercy Theatre]. However the place did your comedy profession really begin?
My profession actually began in Nashville, after which I moved to New York after a 12 months. I’m initially from upstate New York. I grew up in Ithaca after which I moved to Buffalo and began making an attempt to do comedy. I moved to Buffalo as a result of my buddy grew to become paralyzed, and I moved there to be close to right here, after which I mainly began doing open mic in entrance of her paralyzed physique as a result of she wasn’t allowed to run away. Then my dad died, and I used to be going to maneuver to New York Metropolis and as an alternative [some friends of mine living in Nashville] mentioned I ought to come reside with them, so I did that as an alternative for a 12 months and actually bought into comedy there earlier than finally shifting again to New York.
Did doing comedy in Nashville allow you to develop your profession?
Undoubtedly. I met [comedian] Dusty Slay, who helped me out. Lucy [Sinsheimer] from [the comedy club] Zanies bought me all this characteristic work, and I drove my truck throughout the South.
What’s wish to hit the touring circuit onerous as a younger comic?
You do an open mic and somebody says you may be on a present, and out of the blue you suppose you’re scorching s—, and each step of the way in which you kinda suppose you’re doing rather well, so that you’re driving round being like, “I’m on tour,” and making bizarre tour posters, and also you’re not even people who find themselves at a distinct degree; you’re simply making an attempt to do essentially the most you are able to do at your degree. So, for me, it was the identical as it’s now. I’m on tour each weekend, and I’ll come again residence and hit the [open mics] and get my materials and go off once more. Regardless that I used to be dropping cash on the street, I felt like I used to be a touring comedian.
You could have jokes in “Take Me With You” about going by a ”mall goth” part. Are you continue to a goth child on the within?
I stayed in just a little punk period in Nashville and dabbled in being all the pieces from punk to goth to hippie to no matter was the form of my physique at the moment. However Nashville being much like the place I’m from, which is Ithaca, the place I labored as a carpenter, it reaffirmed that you may be a unclean carpenter, and that’s additionally kinda cool. So I mentioned I’m simply gonna gown like I do at work. So I ended being full goth in ninth grade after I needed to get a boyfriend.
Judging by the blood-red stage design to your particular, I’d say you’re nonetheless just a little goth. What was your thought course of for a way you needed your stage to look?
I’m obsessive about “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and with Dr. Frank-N-Furter as a personality, this weird alien making an attempt to slot in with humanity and he’s this stunning [trans person], you don’t know if he’s a person or lady — and I really feel similar to that. I don’t really feel transgender, however I do really feel like an alien. So I needed it to really feel like I had scrapped collectively a set to mainly placed on a present for my bizarre alien crowd. And I needed the purple within the curtains to be paying homage to interval blood, reproductive organs. I needed it’s actually gnarly, and with the development netting, I’ve a building background, so I needed it to seem like anyone mentioned, “You’re doing a Netflix special” and I’m only a bizarre creature going, “OK, time to do my big day!” and the stage crew did a fantastic job with that route.
Had been you working in building proper up till you began doing comedy full time?
Yeah, I constructed homes with my mother and father and I’ve roofed. I’ve carried out mason work and landscaping and stuff. However in New York I did reworking, so I’d do issues like flip a crepe store right into a hair salon. So it was like flipping locations in New York and making them hip and classy. And no person ought to’ve employed me; there’s nothing higher than an all-male building crew, and I used to be one lady. Individuals have been simply so pleased with patting themselves on the again for hiring a lady that they didn’t discover I took 4 occasions so long as a daily crew — and I employed a number of day laborers.
In your particular, you discuss battling the lesbian vitality that you simply get labeled with in comedy, however I’m guessing that additionally occurred within the building gig?
It’s all the time been that means as a result of I used to be raised by lesbians they usually [didn’t] know methods to elevate a female baby; they only raised me to be of their building crew. And my dad needed a son so I grew to become his son, so I’ve all the time been tremendous boy loopy and likewise so boy loopy in that I look and gown like a boy. So I’m mainly a homosexual man … it’s not solely being a lady that’s within the trades, however in case you have any form of vitality that’s utilitarian, you’re homosexual and that’s all the time been an issue for me. As a result of I’ve appreciated vehicles or effectivity and constructing issues, and I’ve by no means understood dressing up with make-up and jewellery.
“I’m obsessed with ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and with Dr. Frank-N-Furter as a character, this bizarre alien trying to fit in with humanity and he’s this beautiful [trans person], you don’t know if he’s a man or woman,” Jensen mentioned. “And I feel very similar to that.”
(Mindy Tucker)
As a New York comedian, what’s your notion of the L.A. comedy scene proper now?
The L.A. scene has much less of a fireplace underneath its ass, however it has the identical quantity of fine comics — or roughly the identical quantity due to the inhabitants distinction. However the distinction between doing comedy in L.A. and doing comedy in New York is for those who don’t write a brand new joke in New York each week, all people is aware of. Whereas in L.A. they’ll chill extra — they’ve a canine, they’ve a hike, they’ll do ayahuasca, and there’s extra to life than comedy.
However in New York, you’ve 10 folks residing with you and you must take a prepare on daily basis, and also you’re so comedy-focused since you’re making an attempt to climb out of that life and into the cozy place of L.A. So that they’re simply pretty much as good, however New York comedy is far more prolific, however [in] L.A. they’re simply as humorous. Like Josh Johnson, I don’t suppose that man is popping out of L.A. As a result of we’re making an attempt to get to the place the L.A. persons are — they’re snug and have a pleasant home they usually’re gonna be OK. However in New York we’ve dedicated our lives to being depressing in order that we maintain producing.
What’s a word that Netflix producers gave you earlier than the filming strategy of your particular that you simply didn’t comply with?
Netflix was like, “All that stuff that’s f— up about your family, put that way sooner in the special,” and I ended up not doing that as a result of the way in which I do my common set I attempt to ease them into that. As a result of when for those who’re sitting there as a watcher, listening to all of the stuff I say about my dad, you could be unfastened. Netflix was like, “Just put it up top because it’s your story,” and I made a decision I’m simply gonna go it how I usually do it, as a result of I get it that it’s my story, however I can think about turning that s— off so quick as soon as your hear a few of that stuff. Identical to, “No!” So I’m making an attempt to get you to know me after which letting it rip. The primary half-hour is my story, however it isn’t about being raised by lesbian mothers and having the useless dad. I simply needed to gamble and never do the entire nearer very first thing and do a ramp-up as an alternative.
Contemplating you’ve now achieved getting a Netflix particular, do you suppose you’re nonetheless as hungry as you have been earlier than?
I assumed the starvation would flip down a bit, however it doesn’t as a result of as quickly because the hour is completed, you simply have all this strain to give you a brand new hour, and the entire thing comes all the way down to efficiency. Whenever you’re onstage, you need to be giving them a very good present. So although I can relaxation on my laurels, I can’t do something from the particular; I don’t need them to look at the particular on Tuesday and see repeats. So I really feel higher on myself, however there’s no much less drive. The particular didn’t do what I assumed it will do; I assumed it will make me much less of a love addict, I assumed it make me much less determined to have folks’s affection, however it doesn’t do s—. The one factor I care about is that ladies from Center America who usually are not disgusting mongrels see the particular. I would like males and normie ladies to see the particular — that’s why Netflix is essential. As a result of my viewers is all freaks, however I would like nonfreaks to see it to allow them to really feel freaky for an hour. That’s all I would like.
