Next week, this scientist-turned-comedian-turned-TV presenter is going to host a gig in Shenzhen at Children’s Palace in Futian District on Jan. 18 to share his point of view as an overseas Chinese scientist returning to China to local audiences.

    WHEN Joe Wong first appeared on “Late Show with David Letterman” in the United States in 2009, nobody expected that a Chinese chemical engineer could make the audience crack up with his jokes and funny routine.

    In 2010, Wong performed for American Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, earning a standing ovation at the Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association dinner. That performance introduced Wong to many Chinese audiences back in his home country.

    Next week, this scientist-turned-comedian-turned-TV presenter is going to host a gig in Shenzhen at Children’s Palace in Futian District on Jan. 18 to share his point of view as an overseas Chinese scientist returning to China to local audiences.

    Born in Baishan, Jilin Province, in 1970, Wong went to study in the United States at the age of 24 and earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rice University in Texas.

    Before 2002, Wong’s life was typical of many Chinese scientists in the United States, a life that had nothing to do with comedies or performances. In 2001, he saw his first stand-up show. “I was fascinated, but only got half the jokes,” he said in an interview. Later, he took a class in stand-up comedy and started performing in the evenings while still holding his day job as a researcher for a pharmaceutical company.

    Even though he ended up winning numerous awards for his comedy act, he did not attract nationwide attention until after his appearance on “Late Show with David Letterman.” His multiple TV appearances, courtesy of Ellen DeGeneres, boosted his reputation further. In 2010, he placed first in the Third Annual Great American Comedy Festival.

    Wong moved back to China in 2013 to host television shows, such as “Is That for Real” on China Central Television (CCTV), and stand-up shows across the country.

    “It all happened naturally,” Wong said. “I had worked in cancer research for years, but did not cure cancer. Each person has his own fate. Maybe I was born to be a comedian.”

    Being a comedian is far less stable than being a scientist since every gig has the risk of falling flat. “But I like this kind of challenge, and I find my current job very meaningful,” he said.

    After living in the United States for more than 20 years, Wong admitted that it was not easy to acclimatize himself back to his native environment in China. However, for a comedian, China is a great inspiration for comedians.

    “China has changed considerably since I left, and I think about it a lot since I came back. I hope that I can share my thoughts and feelings with everybody in a way that makes them laugh,” Wong said.

    Wong admitted that there were differences between Chinese and American audiences. “In the United States, many audiences go to see shows after a few drinks, and they laugh, shout and interact with the performers during the show. However, in China, people see shows as an elegant event, and they just applaud when they hear something really funny,” Wong said.

    “American audiences are more involved in the show and performers have to come up with something really unexpected to attract fans while Chinese audiences need at least 30 minutes to warm up. I have to use a very simple approach to make audiences understand my jokes in China,” he said.

    Because of these differences, Wong designs his sets with Chinese audiences in mind by introducing popular Chinese factors such as imitation, dancing and multimedia.

    Many overseas comedians like to make inappropriate jokes and use racy languages during their shows, but Wong said that audiences should not worry about those issues at his Shenzhen show.

    “It will take some time for China to adapt to that type of comedy,” he said. “In the 1950s in the United States, couples were not even allowed to share a bed on TV shows because it might remind audiences of sex. At that time, the word ‘pregnant’ was also not allowed on TV. It took many years for them to become more open, and China also needs more time,” he said.

    (Wang Yuanyuan)