Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo

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After Koy begged her, his mother ultimately gave in and made room in the budget for an HBO subscription. He writes about how HBO became something like a textbook, binging stand-up specials and studying comedians. Kalua Pork is another very common plate lunch entrée. Traditional Kalua big is slow cooked in a pit (an imu) with ti leaves and/or banana leaves. That method is a little intense for a typical weeknight meal at our house so we usually do the “cheater” method. This version is made in the slow cooker and tastes just like authentic shredded Kalua Pig. We love adding cabbage to the mix, which is also very common for this style of lunch.

I used to worry about what other Americans would say when I told them I was Filipino, how they’d respond, how they might judge me. TV networks turned me down over and over again, say- ing my story was too “ethnic” and white people wouldn’t “get it.” My mom literally had to build up the courage to walk up to people and ask them what they were,” he says. “And that's what that joke is. It's like, yeah, it's funny, but just imagine my mom's struggle at that point.” In the end, this book, much like Tiffany Haddish's (who btw makes some appearances in this book because the two are close friends) is a life story written by a comedian who has seen some real shit, living in a country that doesn't value people like them, somehow now thriving in an industry that has actively marginalized them, and yet they both remain hopeful and confident people. It's a real testament to their character. But these hardships don't always lead to funny *stories* And Haddish and Koy also both flourish as performers through their physicality and voice acting...which doesn't translate as well into a written text. My point being, the book wasn't very funny. This is something I've experienced firsthand and always had to keep to myself because you live in a country where it's almost normalized and accepted, where Asian culture tends to be quiet and not really speak up,” he says. “And now we have a generation of people that are speaking up now and defending and letting our voices be heard.” I get up there onstage in front of a thousand people, I have one goal—to make them laugh. To help them have fun and escape all their problems, even if it’s just for a few hours.This time I was here to shoot my third comedy special for Netflix—my third! I wasn’t some struggling LA comic who worked three jobs on the side and could barely pay his rent. I was living the American dream. Very consistently, paragraphs would include 2-3 sentences essentially repeating the same idea in slightly different words. I understood his point the first time, and then read him make the same point over and over again. This made the prose drag.

I sold out massive arenas everywhere I went. I owned a house in the Hollywood Hills. My son was about to graduate from private school. He didn’t have to scrounge for spare change to get lunch from a vending machine like I did when I was a kid—he had a fancy debit card to buy f***ing filet mignon in his cafeteria! Jo Koy built a successful stand-up career mining his Filipino heritage, with sold-out shows and three Netflix specials.

Ratings

At the beginning of every chapter, there is a Filipino recipe. At the end of the book, there are lots of pictures starting from when he was a baby right up to him and his teenage son, Little Joe. MIXED PLATE: Chronicles of an All-American Combo by Jo Koy is the comedian’s autobiography and is written and narrated by himself. I knew the minute this came out, I had to listen to it on Audible. I normally prefer to read rather than listen to a book, but Jo Koy is such a fantastic storyteller so I really believe this is the best way to get all the nuances of the autobiography. (And besides, I love hearing him imitate his mother!) And that’s why I’m writing this book. Because after all this time, all my struggle and sacrifice, my mom still doesn’t really understand. In an interview with Vanyaland.com, he said he hopes the book inspires “people who are my ethnicity, and hopefully give them a voice and give them something to be inspired by.” A stunning, hilarious memoir from beloved comedian Jo Koy, “far and away one of the funniest people out there” (Chelsea Handler). Mixed Plate illuminates the burning drive and unique humor that make Jo Koy one of today’s most successful comedians. Includes never-before-seen photos.

Koy approaches difficult conversations in a disarming way with humor. But in the book, he writes that it took time for him to feel comfortable incorporating his heritage into his comedy. A hilarious, fearlessly honest, and profoundly relevant memoir by superstar Filipino-American comedian internationally celebrated for his family-inspired humor.

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Along those lines, as he told the story of his life, including his early childhood in the Philippines, later childhood in Tacoma with his whole family, and then teen years with just his mom and sister, he consistently summarized life events he had *just written about in detail* the chapter before. It felt like the editor either 1) didn't trust the reader to remember what they just read or 2) never sat down and read the book chapter to chapter. I don’t want them to leave my show being like, “Oh man, the depths of your pain and heartache, f***!” I want them to cheer, “Bro, you killed it! I never laughed so hard in my f***ing life!”

Don't get me wrong: I really admire Jo Koy as a person and am glad I know more about his story and perspective of the world. I just think this book could have benefited from several more rounds of editing.

I want them to be dazzled by the lights and electrified by the music. I want them to connect with my stories and my voices and my characters. I want them begging for more. Koy's voice is friendly and approachable. Reading this book felt sort of like I was listening to a friend's podcast--in a good way!