DIVERSITY IS NO JOKE FOR THESE COMICS

Joy Sauce launches series on Amazon Prime as part of effort to amplify Asian American voices across media landscape

- ANTHONY SOLORZANO

JOySAUCE Chief Creative Officer Narumi Inatsugu, left, comedian Cat Ce, JoySauce founder Jonathan Sposato and "Jokes With JoySauce" host Ana Tuazon Parsons.

Before hitting the stage, the comedians of the TV series "Jokes With JoySauce" have an on-camera ritual of exchanging immigrant stories about growing up with their families.

There is no audience during these moments, just comics being vulnerable with one another.

The tales give insight into the lives they live offstage and their perspectives as Asian Americans that inspire so much of their material. It lets fans know more about these up-and-coming comedians without the generic stage introductions.

The series is part of the original program curated for JoySauce, available on Amazon Prime. It premiered in early January as part of the first free, ad-supported streaming channel dedicated to highlighting Asian American voices across comedy, film, reality TV and sitcoms.

Season 1 of "Jokes With JoySauce" is currently airing as part of the launching programming for the channel. Director and creator of the series Ana Tuazon Parsons is excited to watch it grow.

“I'm still definitely going for that underground punk rock, like, let's find some cool people kind of thing for Season 2,” Parsons said. “Bigger and better venue, and more budget, more budget, please.”

While Parsons focuses on cultivating new comedic voices, JoySauce wants to create its own opportunities for people in the community by broadening its mission of ownership and representation.