The “Kims of Comedy,” a four-person standup show, features routines that range from loud, X-rated slapstick (Bobby Lee) and nonsensical musical odes (Dr. Ken Jeong) to dark, catch-it-if-you-can understated humor (Kevin Shea) and simulations of Bruce Lee having sex (Steve Byrne). While these four pranksters performed for a packed house at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on May 12, once upon a time their antics had a much less enthusiastic audience: good ol’ dad.

In honor of Father’s Day, KoreAm caught up with the four comedians just before their performance and asked them to crack wise on Pops.

 

Steve Byrne on his father’s procreation abilities: “If it wasn’t for him and his magic seed, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

 

Dr. Ken Jeong on fulfilling his dad’s wishes: “[My dad said] ‘Get into Duke,’ and so I did. [He said], ‘Be a doctor,’ and so I did. ‘Get on BET,’ so I did. I did the trifecta: college, med school and then BET.”

 

Bobby Lee on Korean history lessons: “[My dad] grew up during the Korean War and I grew up in San Diego. When I was a kid, I told him ‘My friend Billy fell off his skateboard. He broke his ankle, and now he can’t skateboard anymore.’ My dad would be like, ‘Oh yeaaaaaah? OOOOOOOH! Big deal! My friend during the Korean War — his head blew up! Now he can’t comb his hair!’”

 

Kevin Shea on being adopted: “My dad’s a Korean War vet so I didn’t know if he adopted me or took me hostage. That was always weird.”

 

-Nina Ahn