STAND-up comedy in Malaysia has been growing steadily over the past few years, thanks to the emergence of more open mic venues in Kuala Lumpur, coupled with heavy investments into comedic content by streaming giants like Netflix, has turned Asia into fertile ground for this artform to take root.
Malaysian stand-up comedians like Harith Iskandar, Kavin Jay and Jason Leong are no strangers to comedy fans, having made their international presence known through global tours and Netflix specials.
Behind the scenes however, Rizal Kamal has been dedicated towards developing the industry in Malaysia. With a wealth of experience in media, Rizal decided to turn his passion for comedy into a business, and founded LOL Asia in 2009 when stand-up comedy was still in its nascent stages in the country.
Undeterred by the herculean task ahead, he poured his heart into developing a portfolio of comedy shows, which led to an annual comedy festival, the production of several TV shows, the opening of a comedy club, introduction of talent development programs and international tours for regional comedians.
All his efforts have contributed towards a sustainable ecosystem for more young voices to break into the industry.
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In an interview with The Vibes, he described his first experience with stand-up comedy and the early days of LOL Asia: “Like many in my generation, I was blown away by Eddie Murphy's comedy specials 'Raw' and 'Delirious.' I did not know what kind of performance it was at the time, and had no idea what stand-up was but I loved every minute of it. When I had the chance to bring stand-up comedians to Malaysia, I pounced on it and the rest is history.”
Rizal revealed that the early days of the company were particularly challenging because there were no blueprints to follow and he had to learn on the job and be quick on his feet.
“I was this guy figuring out what is what when I first started. I am lucky enough to have the smarts and guts to venture into the unknown and come out relatively unscathed, with the tenacity to learn from failures and keep moving forward.
"The entertainment industry is full of colourful personalities. Comedians are a handful and agents, managers, suppliers, and the government, are not easy to deal with. Plus, from the start, I have been dealing with people from around the world. Working with the intricacies of different ways of doing business is a big learning experience,” he said.
LOL Asia's successes earned them the coveted 'Best Entertainment Company' award at the BOSS Awards in 2016.
Rizal's impressive roster of comedy talents includes big names like Kevin Hart, Russell Peters, Gabriel Iglesias, Jeff Dunham, Eddie Izzard, Kumar, David Blaine, and Margaret Cho. He has also produced hit TV shows like 'Stand Up, Asia!' and 'Gelak: Gempak.'
In early 2022, Rizal made history by producing the Search: Endemik concert, marking the triumphant return of large-scale concerts to Malaysia at the brand new Zepp KL venue.
Asia's comedy potential
He describes Asia as “one of the most exciting places for comedy” for all the potential it holds.
“The comedy landscape has changed so much over these 14 years – I cannot even believe it has been that long. You see open mikers become stars, comedy businesses that started with so much pizazz then disappear into thin air. The scene went from underground to above ground and into the mainstream,” he said.
“Asia is one of the most exciting places for comedy as there is so much potential. Its become a destination for the biggest comedians on the planet and a breeding ground for some of the most unique comedy talents.
"LOL Asia will continue to pave the way for comedians from here to share their talents with the world. And to be honest, we are just getting started,” he added.
LOL Asia’s most recent headline performer is Kumar the Drag Queen, who has been on a Malaysian tour since last year and will be going international over the coming months with performances lined up in Jakarta, Bangkok, Australia, and others.
Their upcoming show, fittingly titled 'Queens of Asia' features an all-female line-up such as local comedian Joanne Kam, Shahrul Channa from Singapore, Simmone Park from Korea, and Yumi Nagashima from Japan.
“We hope shows like Queens of Asia inspire women, to give them confidence, to be bold in sharing their stories, in a funny and entertaining way of course. The industry as well needs to believe and be brave in creating something that is more women-centric.
"There are so many ways to do it – on stage, TV, movies, and social media. The goal is to make people laugh by telling a story, from a woman’s perspective. If people love it, more such things will happen,” Rizal says of the upcoming production. He added that the show is being organised in conjunction with International Women’s Day.
Rizal explained that LOL Asia has always championed female voices, and the upcoming show will be the company’s fourth collaboration with Joanne Kam.
“The previous ones: B*tch Perfect, Ladies of Laughter and Pompuan Show was a resounding success, and demonstrates how much this resonates with the audience, 80% of which were women."
“In Malaysia especially, the challenge is to make us accept inclusiveness and diversity. What we do is take it one step at a time and find ways to focus on the positive side when we embrace inclusiveness.
"For example, Kumar is such a sweetheart, wildly talented and has a gift that inspires people to be better. Joanne Kam has smashed multiple glass ceilings by being the first to pave the way for other women in entertainment. It should not matter what sexual orientation or gender a person is if it brings a ton of positive values,” Rizal said.
Looking ahead, he has optimism for the many opportunities available for the taking. He says of LOL Asia’s future goals, “... next is to record the ultimate comedy special for the world’s biggest network using all the experience we have amassed in comedy production.
"We are also working on a platform that can give artists the opportunity to share their talents and catapult the best ones to the global stage. That is the dream.” – The Vibes, February 23, 2022
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