Jason Andors: How I Became Dominican & El Tiguere Mas Vacano

In this episode of Gracias, Come Again, we sit down with actor, comedian, and stand-up comic Jason Andors, a New York City native whose career has spanned decades in the U.S. comedy and acting world, and who is now going viral across the Dominican Republic under his beloved alter ego, El Tiguere Vacano. Jason takes us back to his upbringing in NYC, born to Jewish parents but raised in a city that shaped his deep connection to Black and Latino culture. He opens up about a journey that surprises many, from being a trained ballet dancer, to performing on the Black comedy circuit, to ultimately finding a second home and a second chapter in the Dominican Republic. We go all the way into la cultura. Jason talks about how he fell in love with the DR, how the island embraced him right back, and how he now lives there part-time creating viral content that Dominicans genuinely love. He shares stories of acting alongside legendary Dominican actor Manny Perez, finding real love on the island, his appreciation for Dominican women and Dominican food, and even how he got his two elderly Jewish parents to jump into skits that ended up going viral. The conversation also highlights his nonprofit work and his deep commitment to giving back to the Dominican Republic through building homes, giving away toys, and supporting communities in need. Jason speaks from the heart about why his desire to give back to the island is bigger than words, and how important it is for him to show respect, not exploitation. We talk about the moment he decided to fully lean into becoming “Dominican,” from doing dembow, to immersing himself in neighborhoods that even some locals avoid, all in the name of understanding the culture from the inside out. Jason also shares what it was like being a judge on Dominicana's Got Talent, and how surreal it feels to be embraced everywhere he goes, with fans stopping him for photos and love. This episode is funny, honest, and deeply cultural. It shows how Dominicans and Latinos embrace anyone who truly loves and respects the culture, and how Jason Andors is not playing Dominican culture, he is living in it, celebrating it, and making people laugh along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.