Ellis Aych has a passion for making people laugh, and doing stand-up is his way of doing that. Though he's great at what he does, Ellis believes laughter and joy come from something far beyond himself.
"But love, joy hope, strength that all comes from God. In the moments I want to give up, He reminds me who I am and what comedy does for me."
Video Transcript
Ellis Aych: I tell jokes. I feel like God uses me. Maybe not all the way. He uses me, but some stuff is like I can't...God's like, "Okay, I ain't co-signing that. You made that up. I'm glad you love me, but I didn't say it. That's a bad word. Don't do that."
MC: Ladies and gentlemen, it's Ellis Aych!
Ellis: Y'all ever thought about quitting your job during orientation? I'm talking about as soon as you in there, I'm like, "I don't think the Lord wanted me to do this."
We are heading to the show, my good guy. We about to go to Ellis and Friends. I'm headlining it. We done worked the 12-hour shift, man, and we're doing comedy. I started at shows with no material. I would generate about 30 minutes worth of material. A lady came up to me and said, "You're phenomenal. Do you do shows?" I said, "Yup."
[Standing in front of marquee sign] Hallelujah. Ya!
Nothing prepared. Nothing prepared at all. I will rehearse and rehearse and rehearse and rehearse and rehearse to the point it made it seem like I've been doing it for years. I believe in intention. I believe in the power of belief and it's all about the mindset.
[Performing on stage] This lady had anxiety. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I'm here to tell y'all, as a Black man, I'm not equipped for that. I don't know nothing about it. White people, you all go to therapy. Black folks, we go to sleep, okay? We either go to sleep or go to church as a last result.
To me, I feel as though God uses me to showcase the beauty in life.
Ellis Aych: The one, the only.
Speaker 2: What's going on guys?
Ellis Aych: I feel like laughter can be anything. And I do believe laughter is from God. Everything that is not giving, not loving, but just pain — that's man-made. But love, joy, hope, strength, it all comes from God. That comes from God. In the moments I want to give up, he reminds me who I am and what comedy does for me. Once you figure out what speaks to you and what is authentic to you, you will find your people, you will find your audience and you'll find your truth. And that's what comedy's about.
[Performing stand-up on stage] Every single person who died, they're in a better place. And I'm like, "Not all the time." I knew a girl whose uncle was on "To Catch a Predator." I know he ain't in a better place. I don't think you can meet Chris Hansen and Jesus at the same time.
The amount of rejections are immense, but when you finally get one, "yes," when you get one, "yes," it's everything. And I know he's looking out for me and I know he's guiding my steps. I'm just blessed beyond measure, and he's steady blessing me.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much. I've been Ellis Aych. This has been Ellis and Fiends. Thank you for coming out. Y'all are phenomenal. And thank you.
