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The stalwart yet often overlooked Tuscany Casino just east of the Strip has fine-tuned its Copa Room into a gem of entertainment in recent months. It hosts traditional performances like legendary comedian Rich Little and the Rat Pack is Back show, and also stacks rock, country and tribute acts into interesting layers.
It also happens to be the home of the first Las Vegas residency for one of the country’s fastest-rising comedians—club owner and former Miss China Jiaoying Summers. She just added January and spring dates to her monthly Vegas gig, which is picking up steam after the November release of her first special, What Specie Are You? on Hulu.
“A comedian can be on the road 24/7 for a year but all you ever want is to come home to your own warm bed,” Summers tells the Weekly. “So it’s nice to come back to the same hotel, the same room. I worked hard to get my own spot in Las Vegas, and now I feel less like someone roaming around with no direction. There’s a sense of belonging.”
Here’s more of our conversation with a rising star known for a blunt, relentless and somehow infinitely charming style of performance.
Your first special came out on Hulu recently. Do you feel like your audience is changing as you’re getting more exposure in different ways?
Sure. The way they look at me is different. I’ve always been asked what it’s like to be a social media comedian, but that’s never been me. I have a following [on social media] but I’ve been on the road since I started in comedy. Being on Hulu exposed me to the mainstream and I wish I could have had that a long time ago, because I feel like people look at me differently, and I’ve got more respect as a working, mainstream stand-up comedian, not just this influencer lady.
You were also on LeBron James’ HBO show The Shop, on an episode with Andre 3000, Sexyy Red and Nigel Sylvester. What was it like to be in that room with those huge names?
It was a thrill and I actually found out Andre was the reason why I got on the show. He is a big fan and watched my videos on YouTube and sent them to his friends, and when he got on The Shop, he requested for me to be on with him. So when I met LeBron, he was already quoting my jokes and that made me feel special. I moved a tour date to be on that show, flew in from the East Coast and went directly to the set, and I did my makeup in the car. But then it was like, yes, I belong here. If I’m in a room like that, I belong with those people and I was able to shine and make everyone laugh, and make everyone fall in love with me. I felt like I belong in this world of entertainment because I make people laugh, that’s what I do, and I’m a professional.
Is it true that the late director John Singleton first encouraged you to try comedy?
Yes. Growing up in China, we do not have stand-up comedy. It was not a career. I was pursuing acting and John Singleton saw my wittiness and how I’m fast on my feet when working on his TV show Rebel, and he said, “You should try stand-up. You’re going to be a star.” I went to my first open mic and knew I loved it but I wasn’t great at it, and that’s what led me to buy a comedy club in Hollywood, because I wanted to be onstage all the time and find my voice. No one else would put me onstage because I sucked. It was a chicken and egg situation and I wanted to solve the problem.
What was the turning point where you felt like stand-up was going to be your thing?
When I started, I didn’t want to hear all the advice people gave me. They said I looked too pretty onstage, that I should try losing my accent. Don’t take advice if they don’t have the career you want. I just kept going but never really thought I had it, and then I had been auditioning for the Laugh Factory [in LA] for a long time and it’s really hard to become a regular there, and they were doing this search for the funniest women. I had auditioned on that stage for probably a year and they didn’t call, so it was like, I don’t give a f**k. I got onstage and I was just myself, really aggressive, doing my material, and I didn’t care what I looked like. And after, the manager said, “Welcome to the Laugh Factory.” I realized I can be a star if I have the courage to stick to my own truth and authenticity and not pander to anyone or any audience. That’s the moment I knew I would make it in this business.
What are your next steps?
I’m aiming to film my second hour [special] in late February or early March. I have a memoir in development for next year and a TV show in development, so there’s a lot happening in the new year and I’m very excited. I’ll be on tour until late April and I’m doing Europe, then I’m taking off May, June and July to write and finish the TV project, and I’ll tour again in August. I have to take the summer off and spend time with my family and give them time to abuse me so I have enough new material.
JIAOYING SUMMERS December 17, 7:30 p.m., $45+. Copa Room at Tuscany, eventbrite.com.
English (US) ·