On National Tell a Joke Day, Damon Wayans Jr. manned a Laffy Taffy–sponsored joke hotline, sifting through quick-hit zingers—10 to 15 seconds, sharp punchlines, no fluff.
His standards were simple but strict. “First and foremost, it has to make me laugh,” he told Exclusive. “The best ones will be jokes I’ve never heard before or that hit me with a clever punchline. If I hang up wishing I’d thought of it myself, you know it’s a winner.”
That efficiency mirrored how he’s always approached comedy. Growing up in one of the most iconic funny families, Wayans Jr. learned early that delivery could make or break the exact same line. “Timing and reading the room are key. My dad always said comedy isn’t rocket science—it’s either funny or it’s not,” he explained.
The other half of his style came from keeping things authentic. “I try to be myself and not take myself too seriously, which has always brought the most laughs, whether I’m on a TV set or a stand-up stage.”
Those lessons showed up onscreen long before he started touring. Fans know him as Brad on Happy Endings and Coach on New Girl, two totally different characters that taught him the same thing: “Playing these roles taught me that timing is incredibly important in comedy. Even though Coach and Brad are different, knowing when to pause or push to make the joke land was something I brought to both characters.”
These days, Wayans Jr. has been all about the stand-up grind, city after city, chasing that room-shaking laugh. “I’ve been touring stand-up lately across the country and having a blast. The crowds have been incredible! It’s more important than ever to create those moments of connection over something as simple as laughing together at a good joke,” he said.
As for which styles belong in 2025? He isn’t quick to write anything off. “There are so many great different joke styles, so it doesn’t feel like anything’s really overused. It’s been fun to see the evolution of comedy as a new generation starts taking the stage,” he said.
And if there’s one type of joke he’ll never retire, it’s the simplest kind: “No need for a comeback since they’re still here, but I’m always sharing dad jokes and bringing back jokes from my childhood to crack up with my kids.”
That style—tight setups, sharp twists, and razor-sharp timing—feels right for today. It also fits someone raised in a family where comedy was treated as a craft, not just luck.
Wayans Jr. honors that legacy without getting boxed in by it. He took the fundamentals—pacing, pausing, reading the room—but kept the delivery his own: laid-back, self-aware, and flexible enough to work in a comedy club, on a TV set, or in a 12-second joke that still sticks after the laugh fades.
