Nothing but death could have kept me from helping my boy Jessie Taylor celebrate his birthday by inviting internet sensation and professional “joner” Jess Hilarious to headline at his Laugh Lounge. It was sold-out for the whole weekend, which presented some logistical issues, but Jessie apologized when he did a set of his own that was the funniest I’ve ever seen him. When he started talking about how faithful dudes are to their barbers, I almost fell out. Hardly any of the material was safe for Partyline, but Jessie was on fire! Folks were hollering from the time he got on the stage up until he introduced the headliner. Sadly, for her, Jessie was too tough of an act to follow for someone so fresh in the comedy game. Thanks to her Toni Braxton “Love Shoulda Brought You Home Last Night” hair game and a full face beat usually reserved for galas and award show red carpets, Jess was serving Vanessa Bell Calloway with a sip of Sheryl Lee Ralph realness. She didn’t look old, just really mature. When she announced that she was 25, y’all should have seen the side-eyes that came her way. The mock turtleneck body dress didn’t help, but the Jordans did – if it weren’t for the ankles down, folks would’ve sworn she was a cougar. When she roasted Jessie for having a corded microphone – saying that there was enough cord to hold somebody hostage – I thought she was going to pick up where Jessie left off as far as the funny. I promise that was the last chuckle of the night for me. As a matter of fact, my Fitbit said my body slept through her whole set. I will say my eyes were open, but I can’t say the same for everybody else. And I still don’t get the point of bringing her boyfriend to the stage just to tell a story about how he cheated on her with a cheap date, but when you are trying to fill time I guess it’s by any means necessary. Jess found out the hard way that poppin’ off on celebrities for 60 seconds and engaging an audience– particularly one like St. Louis, that doesn’t play when it comes to our funny – for a full-length routine, are night and day. She’s still young and quite fresh at standup, and trying to get those coins while her name is buzzing, so I won’t go too hard. I hope she figures out that there’s an art and craft to stage comedy – and that she was taking notes as Jessie was KILLING it.
