Jermaine Fowler, Stand-Up Performance at Comic Strip Live
Daffy Duck?! Seriously?
I ask Jermaine Fowler about his artistic influences and he mentions Daffy Duck. Where do I go from here?
Assess the situation.
People want to understand this guy. They want to like him. Hell—they already do. He’s been cast in a brand-new remake of In Living Color, my favorite show growing up. His web series pushes boundaries around sexuality and race with intelligence and humor.
So how do I reconcile the fact that alongside names like Eddie Murphy and Tim Burton, the comedic mind of Jermaine Fowler is also shaped by a spit-slurring cartoon duck?
I breathe. I stretch. I shake. I sip from my energy drink stash. I stare at my notes for a minute.
Then I do the only thing that makes sense.
I laugh.
I laugh at the Duck thing. I laugh at myself for overthinking it. Because when you step into a comic’s mind, there’s only one rule:
The point is to laugh.
Nothing more.
Jermaine Fowler seems to come from a place with no rules. He flips the classic narrative—a 20-year-old kid from D.C. moves to New York to make it—and actually succeeds.
In just three years, he’s racked up accolades: the Silver Nail Award at Aspen’s Rooftop Comedy Festival, a spot in the New York Post’s “50 Funniest Jokes,” and a “New Faces” appearance at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival.
Now, he’s stepping into one of the most pivotal moments in a comedian’s career—joining a nationally televised sketch comedy show.
A Legacy to Step Into
In Living Color represents a defining era in television.
Damon and Keenan Ivory Wayans built an empire. Jim Carrey launched into superstardom. Chris Rock spoke for a generation. And before every commercial break, audiences were introduced to a Fly Girl named Jennifer Lopez.
The remake is exciting for viewers—but for the cast, it comes with pressure.
Fowler doesn’t seem fazed.
Interview
iLikeZach: What made you want to get involved with In Living Color at this stage?
Jermaine Fowler: Keenan Ivory Wayans told me he’d let my family go if I joined the cast.
iLZ: As an artist, what are you trying to do with comedy today?
JF: I’m not trying to do anything with comedy per se. But I do know what I’m doing is different and fresh.
iLZ: What’s the difference between performing on camera and doing stand-up?
JF: On camera, there are a lot of technical aspects while delivering a joke. But you can do multiple takes and pick the best one. In stand-up, you get one shot.
iLZ: Where do jokes come from?
JF: Personal experiences, random thoughts… but mostly Africa.
Breaking Boundaries
Beyond television, Fowler is also creating his own work.
His web series, Homo Thugs, co-created with Kevin Barnett, follows the chaotic lives of two gang members navigating identity and sexuality.
It challenges entrenched ideas about masculinity, sexuality, and “hood” culture—with humor that’s both uncomfortable and necessary.
iLZ: How do you feel about your work being part of the broader Black gay cultural conversation?
JF: Homo Thugs isn’t just for Black people or just for gay people—it’s for everyone. I just hope it contributes to the progression of entertainment.
iLZ: What do you want to destroy?
JF: Stereotypes and smallpox.
iLZ: What do you want to build?
JF: An academy where mutants can learn how to hone their skills and function in society.
Final Thoughts
Jermaine Fowler is a young voice with a big platform.
He’s unapologetic. He’s willing to take risks. Sometimes misunderstood—but always coming from a place of honesty.
And maybe that’s the point.
iLZ: Who are some of your artistic influences?
JF: Tim Burton, Eddie Murphy, Nickelodeon cartoons… and Daffy Duck.
With Jermaine Fowler in the game, we’ll all be laughing for a while.
