Zainab_Johnson

Zainab Johnson

Zainab Johnson

American comedian

Zainab Johnson is an American comedian and actress. She is best known as a semi-finalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing. Johnson is a series regular on Amazon's Upload.[1]

Quick Facts Born, Nationality ...

Life

Johnson was born and raised in Harlem, New York, one of thirteen children of a devout Muslim family.[2] She received her bachelor's degree in mathematics with the intention of becoming a teacher.[2][3]

Johnson later moved to Los Angeles to become an actress.[4] She took a job as a production assistant for comedy shows and began to cultivate an interest in comedy.[4] She gained wider visibility when she appeared on season 8 of Last Comic Standing.[4] Johnson advanced as a semi-finalist.[5]

Career

Johnson performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2018

In 2016, Johnson appeared on the HBO special All Def Comedy.[6] In 2017, it was announced that a project created and starring Johnson was in development via Wanda Sykes' production company at ABC.[5] That year, she co-starred in the web series Avant-Guardians, opposite series creator Alesia Etinoff.[7]

She was named to Variety's 10 Comics to Watch for 2019.[8]

Johnson co-hosts the Netflix series 100 Humans.[9] She also has a recurring role in the 2020 Amazon series, Upload.[1][10]

Johnson's comedy special entitled Hijabs Off was released as an Amazon Original program on October 20, 2023.

References

  1. [1]
    Sippell, Margeaux (October 11, 2018). "TV Roundup: Sanaa Lathan Joins 'Twilight Zone' Reboot at CBS All Access". Variety. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  2. [2]
    Friedrich, Adam (February 26, 2019). "Getting Honest With Comedian Zainab Johnson". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  3. [3]
    "Zainab Johnson on Women in Comedy and Her Upcoming Sitcom". That's Online. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  4. [4]
    "For Zainab Johnson, convincing people she's Peter Pan, not Rufio, is taking time". Los Angeles Times. July 20, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  5. [5]
    "ABC Puts Into Development a Comedy About a Muslim Model, from Zainab Johnson & Wanda Sykes". shadowandact.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  6. [6]
    Petski, Denise (October 14, 2016). "Russell Simmons' 'All Def Comedy' Stand-Up Special Set On HBO". Deadline. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  7. [7]
    "'Avant-Guardian' Is The Woke Web Series You Need To Watch". bust.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  8. [8]
    "Variety Announces 10 Comics to Watch for 2019". Variety. June 13, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  9. [9]
    "'100 Humans' On Netflix Is A Great Show To Virtually Watch With Your Friends". Bustle. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  10. [10]
    Petski, Denise (February 20, 2020). "'Upload': Kevin Bigley, Allegra Edwards & Zainab Johnson To Star In Amazon Series; Three More Cast". Deadline. Retrieved April 2, 2020.


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