Jo Koy ready to say what’s on his mind during Cedar Rapids show

Jo Koy couldn't help but get emotional onstage during a recent appearance in Nashville.

“I missed performing,” he said by phone from his Los Angeles home. “Being away from the stage for a year-and-a-half was difficult. I'm so happy to be back doing what I love.”

For much of the pandemic, Koy spent considerable time with his 18-year-old son, playing video games and traveling.

“I had such a great time with him,” Koy said. “I always have fun with him and my family. We went on a two-week trip to Hawaii with his mom and other family members, and had the best of times.”

Koy will riff about his son and the pandemic, and deliver observations when he brings his Just Kidding World Tour to the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.

“I have so much to say. There is so much that's pent up in me. I have to talk about COVID and the impact it's had. It's changed our lives,” he said. “But I'm going to be talking about a lot of things when I come to town.”

Koy, 50, wasn't sure what he wanted to do when he was growing up in the Pacific Northwest during the 1980s.

“I was a terrible student,” he said. “My mother wanted me to go to college and I did — and that was a disaster. She was worried about me. When I told her I wanted to be a comedian, she didn't understand. She wanted me to have security and benefits. She would have been happier if I was a bank teller. But I couldn't work a job like that and be happy.”

When Koy experienced an Eddie Murphy performance in Seattle a generation ago, he was inspired.

“I was blown away by Eddie,” Koy said. “His stand-up was amazing and he was incredible on ‘Saturday Night Live’. People forget that he was just 20 years old when he was on SNL. He saved that show. If Eddie Murphy didn't join SNL, I think the show would have been canceled. I loved his stand-up, but what he did on television was so powerful.”

Koy understands the power of TV. He scored considerable exposure on the chat show “Chelsea Lately” hosted by comic Chelsea Handler.

“I can't say enough about Chelsea and what she did for so many comedians,” Koy said.

“I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for Chelsea. Those appearances on her show opened doors for me and for many other comedians. What people may not know is that Chelsea is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.”

Koy is at his best when he's spinning humorous yarns about his family.

“I like talking about what I know because it's authentic,” he said. “I really love it when people come up to me after a show and tell me how much they relate to what I go through. They tell me they have the same experience with their kids.”

Now that Koy's son is 18, their relationship is changing, and it's difficult for the veteran humorist.

“This is very hard on me,” Koy said. “I'm getting emotional again since he's going to go out and get a job. I'm going to miss spending so much time with him.”

Some standups don't have children or don't spend much time with their children, but Koy is an outlier.

“I'm aware of that,” he said. “Most comics are self-involved, but I can focus on comedy and still have time for family. My son is where I was years ago when I was trying to find myself. I hope he finds what he loves, like I did. Comedy is my passion and we should work at what we're passionate about.“