"Her memories of growing up in San Jose are sharp and homespun, but within the guarded thorny walls of stand-up comedy, the tales of Johnson-Reyes' focus, drive and meteoric acceleration to the top floor of the comedy tower are legendary. The ex-Raiders cheerleader, creator of the MADtv breakout character Bon Qui Qui, OG YouTube viral sensation, author and recording artist is, in person, as sweet as Pay de Queso-and funny beyond a doubt."
"The 1990s in San Jose were, using a well-worn trope, a different time. It was the rise of the dubious moniker Capital of Silicon Valley. The San Jose Arena became the SAP Center, and the Sharks started shaving the ice and body checking opponents with abandon. As the city grew, it was the beginning of dealing with urban expansion and all that comes with it. But for Johnson-Reyes, it was a dreamy childhood."
"Johnson-Reyes would see her father on the weekends, but was raised in a single-mom household. "I grew up in a great neighborhood. Lots of kids, and lots of neighborhood friends. My mom was the neighborhood mom. All the kids came to my mom. Even if we weren't home, they would come to our house and my mom would let them in and feed them. We lived right next door to our elementary school," Johnson-Reyes begins."
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes prepares to record her seventh comedy special while selling out theaters nationwide, including an upcoming show at the San Jose Civic. She rose from San Jose, shaped by a large Mexican family, an active grandmother, and a single-mother household with strong neighborhood ties. Early-1990s San Jose formed a dreamy childhood backdrop even amid urban expansion and cultural shifts. Johnson-Reyes gained fame as an ex-Raiders cheerleader, creator of the MADtv character Bon Qui Qui, an OG YouTube viral star, author, and recording artist. Her hometown influence remains central to her origin story and comic voice.
Read at Metro Silicon Valley | Silicon Valley's Leading Weekly
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