Humor in the ordinary: Sheng Wang explores ‘what it means to be human’ through comedy

Long-haired observational comic Sheng Wang delivers jokes in a distinctive, laid-back Texas drawl.

His 2022 Netflix special, “Sweet and Juicy,” directed and produced by Ali Wong, earned critical acclaim and introduced the comedian to legions of fans. Wang is currently on tour with a new show that will form the basis of his second Netflix special, slated for release later this year. He is performing at The Lensic Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Wang finds humor in the most ordinary of things, even pomegranates, which he calls “juice corn.”

“It’s about taking a step back and looking at (the world) as if you’re an alien, meaning you’re not taking any of it for granted. You’re just in awe of what this thing is,” Wang said, “but I’m also taking a step in and looking closely at what it appears to be.”

Wang has long been fascinated by the minutiae of the natural world. As a child, he had a rock collection and could spend hours “getting lost in the layers” of a single rock.

Between 2015 and 2018, Wang served as a writer on the ABC sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat.”

“The show was based on a Taiwanese family growing up in Florida, and I’m a Taiwanese person who grew up in Texas. So, they brought me in for both the jokes I could offer, but also for my personal background and family experiences. It was fun for me to share that and have (those experiences) be put into the show,” Wang said.

Wang never imagined, growing up, he would become a sitcom writer or a stand-up comic, however.

“I didn’t grow up consuming a lot of TV, especially comedy or sitcoms,” Wang said.

When he did watch TV, it was mostly educational programming on PBS. In college, he gravitated toward photography and poetry.

“I don’t want to sound super lofty or artsy or whatever, but I liked … (the photographers) William Eggleston and Elliott Erwitt,” Wang said.

Both photographers are known for discovering weirdness in the midst of the mundane, much as Wang does in his comedy.

“(Eggleston) would take pictures of a tricycle, but from a very low angle, and Elliott Erwitt was catching interesting and funny little moments when things in life just lined up, like melons on a stand that look like a lady’s boobs,” Wang said.

Wang was also inspired by the poet William Carlos Williams, whose poem “This Is Just to Say” Wang likened to a comedy routine. In it, the narrator apologizes for eating plums in an icebox that another person was saving for breakfast. Wang said he tries to write with similarly compressed language.

“The reason I don’t really use profanity is because I want to find the most unique and specific way to say what I’m trying to say,” Wang said.

On “Sweet and Juicy,” Wang poked fun at his thriftiness with a bit about buying pants from Costco. After his financial situation improved, post-Netflix, he said he allowed himself the luxury of buying a few pairs of pants from Beams, a Tokyo-based street fashion brand.

“They’re still casual wear, but they’re like 120 bucks,” Wang said.

Apart from the new pants, Wang’s lifestyle has remained largely unchanged. He said he still lives in the same modest apartment with the too-small sink he jokes about in “Sweet and Juicy” — the one that floods his kitchen every time he rinses a baking sheet.

“I think the biggest difference for me is that I can help my family and friends,” Wang said. “I can chip in on my niece and nephew’s college fund. … My parents helped me out with college tuition, so I’m just trying to pay it forward.”

Increased name recognition has also meant fewer hecklers. He describes his fans as “good listeners” who appreciate his unique brand of humor.

“If you liked ‘Sweet and Juicy,’ you’ll like this one,” Wang said. “It’s got the same elements — the diction, the poetry and the randomness or mundaneness of topics.”

At the same time, Wang’s performance style has evolved somewhat since he’s been playing larger venues.

“When you first start out, you do smaller rooms, smaller clubs. I always saw myself as a club comedian, and moving into the theater space was quite a change and a bit of a shock,” Wang said.

While he doesn’t consider himself a physical comedian, per se, being on larger stages has prompted him to introduce a few physical elements into his act.

“I tend to have more of a stillness compared to other comedians, so when I do have physicality, it feels bigger,” he said.

The natural world continues to fascinate Wang, who is currently reading a nonfiction book about ravens.

“It’s written by a naturalist who is trying to figure out why ravens share food in the wintertime. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t,” Wang said.

He has been considering incorporating more ecological themes into his act.

“I think part of my comedy is to remind people that we’re human and … we’re not separate from nature. … I think it’s important to pay attention to, and appreciate, the flora and fauna and how ecosystems work,” Wang said. “In the past, I have done a kind of comedy slideshow with pictures of plants that I’ve taken. I might go back to doing some version of that.”

Ultimately, Wang said his comedy is about “what it means to be human.”

“I try to humanize people,” Wang said. “I want to remind people of their humanity, the little joys in life and the joy of being alive.”

Logan Royce Beitmen is an arts writer for the Albuquerque Journal. He covers visual art, music, fashion, theater and more. Reach him at lbeitmen@abqjournal.com or on Instagram at @loganroycebeitmen.