- Sets
- 49
- First
- #126
- Latest
- #323
- Span
- 197 episodes
Originally from Baltimore (with African heritage), she had been in LA for five months and doing comedy for 18 months. She works as a hairstylist and behavioral specialist.
APPEARANCES
Newest first
Episode #189
RegularVanessa Johnston joked about being an atheist who still attends church for the songs, specifically criticizing the lyrics of Silent Night for not making sense given the noise of childbirth in a barn, this performance marked her final one-minute set as a regular on the show.
Guests: Jayson Thibault, Steve Simeone.
Episode #188
RegularShe performed a minute about the lottery and eye shadow. From Minnesota who announced this was her second-to-last performance before leaving the show to go on the road. Tony noted she had performed nearly 60 new minutes on the show over the course of a year.
Guests: Tait Fletcher, Jay Larson.
Episode #187
RegularPerformed a minute about sexism, Amelia Earhart, and reading YouTube comments. She discussed how reading internet comments gives her insight into the current political climate.
Guests: Maz Jobrani, Joe Derosa.
Episode #185
RegularOn the show, she performs a very dark minute of standup focusing on the military's use of white phosphorus in Iraq.
Guests: Brody Stevens, Moshe Kasher.
Episode #184
RegularPerforms a new minute of material. She discussed her frequency of performing at open mics (3-5 times a night) and her neutral stance on the recent election.
Guests: Greg Fitzsimmons.
Episode #182
RegularHer set focused on classical music and Facebook comments, while performing a new minute, tony noted her growth in making quick adjustments on stage.
Guests: Brent Morin, Kirk Fox.
Episode #181
RegularPerforming her 50th minute on the show. She is 25 years old and has been in LA for seven years, her set covered political themes and dark humor regarding the upcoming election.
Guests: George Perez, Jade Catta-Preta.
Episode #180
RegularShe performed a new minute about her relationship and personal life, recently quit her job in TV development (formerly at HBO) to focus on comedy.
Guests: Jim Norton, Sam Roberts, Earl Skakel.
Episode #179
RegularVanessa Johnston performed a stand-up set about her presence on social media, joking that she is an 8 on Instagram but a 10 on LinkedIn. Johnston discussed searching for hookers on LinkedIn to identify competition and joked about the difficulty of a sex worker transitioning into the normal workforce, while during the interview, Johnston engaged in a hostile back-and-forth with Pat Reagan, eventually asking him why he hates women and if he wanted to wear her skirt.
Guests: Jessica Michelle Singleton, Candice Thompson.
Episode #178
RegularShe discussed how diet affects physical chemistry and mentioned she dates both men and women. Performed a minute focused on her hatred of onions.
Guests: Michael Kosta, Josh Martin.
Episode #177
RegularVanessa Johnston jokes about her fear of growing older and having to explain millennial culture and the rapper Lil Jon to her future children, she also comments on the legality of using handicapped bathroom stalls versus parking spaces, while during the interview, she mentions that her boyfriend is black while responding to a comment about a potential threesome.
Guests: Mike Lawrence, Willie Hunter.
Episode #176
RegularRegular performer. She performed a minute expressing her intense hatred for onions and their effect on physical intimacy.
Guests: Stephen Glickman, Kirk Fox.
Episode #175
RegularThe panel discussed her ability to write a new minute every week, on the show. Her set this week was inspired by a real encounter with a homeless man at a bar show in Van Nuys.
Guests: Joe Rogan, Russell Peters.
Episode #174
RegularPerformed a minute about the DARE program. She mentioned visiting a speech doctor recently because people on the internet find her voice annoying. Tony challenged her to sing in future episodes if she has a tough set.
Guests: Mike Lawrence, Earl Skakel.
Episode #173
RegularPerformed a minute about the DARE program. She discussed receiving feedback about her voice having 'vocal fry' and visiting a speech doctor. She was pressured to sing Evanescence during her interview.
Guests: Dom Irrera.
Episode #172
RegularPerformed a dark minute about the Holocaust. She mentioned spending her weekend binge-watching the first season of the show Dexter.
Guests: Doug Benson, Jerron Horton.
Episode #171
RegularPerformed a new minute about office chairs and getting fired. She discussed her accidental career as a restaurant manager in Beverly Hills.
Guests: Yassir Lester, Maz Jobrani.
Episode #170
RegularTony and Mike Lawrence critiqued the research and delivery of the specific cultural jokes. Performed a minute regarding women's rights and laws in the Middle East, the set involved a metaphor comparing traditional garments to wizard outfits.
Guests: Stephen Glickman, Mike Lawrence.
Episode #169
RegularShe forgot her closing joke but discussed her history with religion. Performed a set about the dark nature of the Bible and Catholic school, tony and Bert critiqued the logic of her premise regarding children's Bibles.
Guests: Brian Moses, Bert Kreischer.
Episode #168
RegularShe discussed the warning signs at the park and her boyfriend being approached by swingers. Performed a set about her recent trip to Disneyland. She has been a regular for approximately eight months.
Guests: Earl Skakel, Kirk Fox.
Episode #167
RegularHer set joked about her appearance and internal identity. Performed a new minute of comedy. She recently returned from New York where she earned her first producer credit on a Bravo docuseries.
Guests: David Arquette, Steve Simeone.
Episode #165
RegularShe discussed Prince William's hair and social media tension; the panel suggested she lean into a 'vapid social media' character for her news recaps, performs a new minute each episode.
Guests: Al Madrigal.
Episode #164
RegularRegular performer. She performed a minute focused on political identities and mentioned spending the holiday weekend at the beach.
Guests: Pat Regan, Jeremiah Watkins.
Episode #163
RegularPerformed a minute about her moral character and views on babies' rights, the hosts commented on her punchlines occasionally sounding like a New York accent. She is a frequent performer on the show.
Guests: Josh Wolf, Brody Stevens.
Episode #162
RegularHer set focused on the government stealing her potential 'dick pics'. Tony and the guests discussed the challenges of being a good-looking woman in stand-up, age 24, regular who had just reached her one-year anniversary in comedy.
Guests: Dom Irrera, Ian Edwards.
Episode #161
RegularPerformed a minute about McDonald's requiring college degrees for cashiers. The panel joked about her age and her fitness habits.
Guests: Joe Derosa, Big Jay Oakerson.
Episode #160
RegularThe panel critiqued the high degree of difficulty and the likability required for such dark material. Performed a controversial minute regarding college degrees for people with Down syndrome.
Guests: Erik Griffin, Michael Kosta.
Episode #158
RegularAge 24, regular who previously worked in legal at HBO. She is currently the founder of a luxury biohazard startup and performs multiple sets a night in LA.
Guests: Moshe Kasher.
Episode #156
RegularPerformed a minute focused on the toxicity of the Los Angeles water supply, jeff Ross complimented her eye for detail and use of specific language. She is noted for having a high level of confidence and 'swagger' on stage.
Guests: Jeff Ross.
Episode #155
RegularHer set focused on passive-aggressive behavior and third-world problems. The panel discussed how her physical appearance can be a distraction from her material, while rising young stand-up in Los Angeles.
Guests: Deon Cole, Benji Aflalo.
Episode #154
RegularThe panel complimented her writing and the specific 'twist' in her jokes, originally from Minnesota, her set featured dark humor about her father's hatred for people and his relationship with her mother.
Guests: Jesse Joyce, Byron Bowers.
Episode #153
RegularPerformed a minute about vampires and Emos. The panel discussed her stage persona and whether her 'angry' vibe was intentional. She mentioned finding a legitimate vampire website while looking for Halloween fangs.
Guests: Jeff Danis, Brian Moses.
Episode #151
RegularShe joked about the dynamic between the audience and the comic and mentioned being bisexual, performs a new minute each episode. She recently started dating a 'YouTube poet'.
Guests: Doug Benson, Eleanor Kerrigan.
Episode #150
RegularA regular known for her dry, dark, and self-deprecating style, her set revolved around a business idea involving selling used underwear. The guests complimented her ability to make the audience comfortably uncomfortable.
Guests: Morgan Murphy, Sam Tripoli.
Episode #149
RegularHas been doing stand-up for 10 months, her set featured a premise about religious extremists and God's 'trusty sidekicks.', the panel critiqued her use of act-outs and suggested she focus more on her own unique perspective.
Guests: Kirk Fox, Bert Kreischer.
Episode #148
RegularPerformed a minute about fetishes, specifically involving peanut butter in joint creases, she admitted to being in a 'weird space' mentally during the week, the interview devolved into a confusing discussion about masturbating in front of her dog.
Guests: Bill Burr, Dom Irrera, Andrew Themeles.
Episode #147
RegularPerformed a minute about 'pretty girl problems', tony and Redban engaged in a dark riff about her future during the interview, the panel praised her for owning her appearance in her writing.
Guests: Doug Benson, Greg Fitzsimmons, Esther Ku.
Episode #146
RegularPerformed a minute about being mistaken for a hooker while wearing a nice dress. She works a corporate job in show development.
Guests: Eddie Brill, Mike Lawrence, Mo Amer.
Episode #145
RegularHer set focused on the concept of 9-to-5 jobs. Originally from Minnesota who had been in LA for six years. She had been doing stand-up for about eight months at the time of this recording.
Guests: Anthony Jeselnik, Chris Porter.
Episode #144
RegularPerformed a minute about the struggles and perceptions of being a 'pretty' comedian. Redban made a controversial joke about her career longevity, the panel praised the originality of the premise and its potential for a showcase set.
Guests: Doug Benson, Esther Ku, Greg Fitzsimmons.
Episode #143
RegularHer set focused on race relations and 'white guilt' during Black History Month. The panel discussed the stigma of being a pretty woman in comedy and advised her on joke structure, the show's newest regular performer.
Guests: Al Madrigal, Jessica Michelle Singleton.
Episode #141
RegularHas been performing on the show for a few months. Her new minute focused on being a 'devout atheist' who wishes God existed just to have someone to blame for her daddy issues. The guests encouraged her to bring more energy and move toward the front of the stage.
Guests: Adam Ray, Matt Braunger.
Episode #140
RegularShe has a professional day job and her set focused on 'vagina confidence' and slut-shaming, the panel compared her material to themes found in Curb Your Enthusiasm. The newest regular on the show, she had been doing comedy for approximately eight months.
Guests: Joey Diaz, Jeff Garlin, Steve Rannazzisi.
Episode #139
RegularPerformed a minute about being socially awkward and a 'lone wolf' as a child. She revealed during the interview that her mother has schizophrenia and her father has Asperger's, the panel praised her confidence and unique stage persona.
Guests: Doug Benson, Sarah Tiana.
Episode #136
RegularIn her second week as a regular, she performed two separate minutes back-to-back, her sets covered Asian NASCAR drivers and her experiences dating women.
Guests: Jeff Garlin, Doug Benson.
Episode #135
RegularHer set focused on her mother's schizophrenia, introduced as the brand new regular for the show. She is from Minnesota and has been doing stand-up for six months.
Guests: Jimmy Shubert, Mat Edgar.
Episode #134
Bucket PullShe joked about dating a 'fixer-upper' and racial stereotypes. A comedian who recently started working at Core Media Group after two years at HBO.
Guests: Stephen Glickman, Jesus Trejo.
Episode #126
Bucket PullOriginally from Edina, Minnesota, she has been in LA for four months and performs up to ten times a week, bobby Lee gave her $20 and a fortune cookie after her set, the panel debated whether her attractive appearance and choice of clothing affected her comedy.
Guests: Bobby Lee, Greg Fitzsimmons.
Career Arc
Vanessa Johnston is originally from Edina. She is 34 now. She first appears in the archive on #126 (Nov 12, 2015), as a bucket pull.
The archive records 49 sets over 3 years and 2 months, from #126 (Nov 12, 2015) to #323 (Feb 8, 2019). A regular spot is first recorded on #135 (Dec 22, 2015), after 2 recorded bucket pulls. There are 25 months between the recorded sets on #189 and #323.
The most frequent shared lineups are with Melissa Eslinger (28 episodes) and Ali Macofsky (11 episodes). The most recent recorded set is on #323 (Feb 8, 2019), listed as a regular.
First pulled from the bucket in episode number 126. Became a regular in episode number 135.
Also on these lineups
Marc Quinn Ryan O'Flanagan Kevin Klatman The Clutch Brothers Don Barris Daniel Magden William Montgomery Ken Pera Brent Morin Mia Srirache John Joriff Taylor Rizzo Luke Allen Tom Whalen Trevor Anderson Ben Palmer Dan Ramos Dietrich Shelton Aphrodite Alex Arreola The Virzi Triplets Josh Sneed Chandler Watson Chris Phillips