'JAMES NAJJAR' - Putting Comedy First

James Najjaar is a stand-up comedian in the Chicago area 😹 You can catch him live ASAP if you head to his socials and check out his dates 💯 I met James after my first Chicago open mic just a few weeks ago. He was hosting the show and asked me to stick around for a skit afterwards. It was only after I got home that night when I saw his content and realized who I was talking to 😂 this guy is a machine with short-form comedy videos. There is no shortage of material on his end. That's Ruse certified facts 🔥 In this episode, we discuss how James found comedy through a punch on the train, our controversial opinions on Kill Tony, Chicago's Roast Battles, Norm Macdonald's genius approach to humor, the golden age of YouTube, comedy clout-chasers, and so much more. 💪 As always, thank you for watching. New episodes of Ruse Radio always coming soon. 💖 _______ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Asking the important questions about dogs 1:05 - Introducing guest James Najjar 1:35 - James' introduction to comedy 2:15 - Story of punching a guy on the train 4:00 - Life after rehab and finding comedy 5:30 - First stand-up experience and pandemic comedy 7:15 - Filming a skit and becoming a content creator 9:30 - Transitioning from Vine to TikTok 11:30 - Comedy styles and influence of TikTok comedy 13:00 - Thoughts on clout chasing in comedy 15:00 - Comedy is an art form, similar to music 17:00 - Reactions to being a TikToker in comedy 19:10 - Controversial comedy and validation 20:20 - Kanye West as an example of controversial genius 22:00 - Writing personal, edgy comedy 23:15 - Norm Macdonald’s comedy style 25:00 - Golden age of YouTube and early internet humor 27:00 - Favorite Epic Rap Battles of History 30:20 - Comedy roast battles 32:00 - Tony Hinchcliffe, roast rules, and controversy 34:00 - Critique of Kill Tony 36:30 - Alternatives to Kill Tony and breaking into comedy 39:00 - Comedy and music as cathartic experiences 41:00 - Accepting personal growth in comedy and life 43:00 - Dealing with doubt before performing 45:00 - Writing new jokes and creative processes 47:00 - Writing as a muscle and journaling ideas 49:30 - Challenges with marijuana and creative output 50:00 - Wrap up and James's social media handles