Host Biography

Janelle James is a New York/Los Angeles-based comedian. She has toured with Chris Rock, Amy Schumer and David Cross, among others. James took over the reins of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, now known as the Janelle James Comedy Festival in Brooklyn. She was included in the Just for Laughs Montreal New Faces category for 2016 and named one of the 50 Funniest People in Brooklyn in 2016. Most recently, Variety listed James as a Top 10 Comedian to Watch in 2020. Her debut album, "Black and Mild," was released September 2017 on all major streaming networks. James has written and appeared on Showtime's "Black Monday," Apple TV+'s "Central Park," and is currently a series regular on the ABC sitcom "Abbott Elementary."