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Jo Firestone

Joanna "Jo" Firestone (born c. 1986 or 1987) is an American comedian, actress, and television writer, born in the area of to Jewish parents. She earned a degree in theater from in , where she began performing comedy as part of a student sketch group. After college, Firestone moved to , initially planning a career in but pivoting to comedy through touring shows with collaborator , eventually establishing herself as a prominent figure in the New York comedy scene. Her early work includes writing and performing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, stand-up appearances on Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents, and hosting the improvisational game show podcast Dr. Gameshow on WFMU, later distributed by Maximum Fun. Firestone gained wider recognition for her acting role as the quirky coworker Maureen on the Hulu series Shrill (2019–2021), as well as writing for and starring as Sarah Conner in the Adult Swim series Joe Pera Talks With You (2018–2021). In recent years, she has taken on key behind-the-scenes roles, including co-executive producer and head writer for the Showtime talk show Ziwe (2021–2022) and head writer and co-executive producer for the CBS late-night series After Midnight hosted by Taylor Tomlinson (2024–2025). Additionally, Firestone released her debut comedy special Good Timing with Jo Firestone on Peacock in 2021, published her debut novel Murder on Sex Island in 2025, and provided voice work in Pixar's animated series Win or Lose (2025). Her style often features absurd, wholesome humor, drawing from personal experiences and improvisational elements, and she continues to perform live at venues like Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Early life and education

Family and childhood

Jo Firestone was born in 1986 in , , to Jewish parents Fred Firestone, a corporate speaker known for his punning style, and Marilyn Firestone. She grew up in Clayton, a suburb of , where her family resided and fostered a playful environment centered around and laughter. Firestone has one sibling, a brother named Ben Firestone, who works in commercial real estate. Her family's affinity for puns became a defining aspect of her early home life; Fred Firestone's humorous inclinations were passed down, inspiring collaborative projects like the pun competition Punderdome 3000, which originated from their shared family fun. During her teenage years in Clayton, Firestone engaged in lighthearted activities such as hosting cake-baking competitions with friends, reflecting her emerging creative and whimsical interests. Firestone attended Clayton High School, where she developed an early interest in performance and amid the supportive Midwestern community. Her parents, still living in Clayton as of 2021, remained involved in her career, with frequently collaborating on comedic endeavors that echoed their familial bond.

Education

Firestone attended Clayton High School in , where she developed an early interest in theater and . She later enrolled at in , graduating with a in theater. During her time there, Firestone began her involvement in by co-founding the student sketch group New Teen Force, which performed across the country and marked her entry into improvisational and live performance work. Her university experiences in theater and laid the groundwork for her professional pursuits in writing and performance after graduation.

Career

Live performances

Jo Firestone has built a prominent in live comedy, particularly within City's scene, where she is known for creating and hosting innovative, interactive shows that blend stand-up, , and audience participation. Early in her , Firestone performed regularly at the (UCB) in , honing her skills in and while developing her distinctive whimsical and absurd style. One of her most enduring contributions is Punderdome 3000, a monthly pun competition she co-created and hosted with her father, Fred Firestone, starting in 2011 at various venues. The show features contestants crafting on randomly drawn topics, judged by audience applause, and has run for over 90 iterations by 2019, continuing as a monthly event as of December 2025. Firestone has produced numerous other recurring live events, including Friends of Single People, a showcase for solo performers; The Incredible Game Show Showcase, which parodies formats; Firestone Success Academy, an educational-themed comedy hour; and A Hastily Written Masterpiece Starring The Audience, where audience members improvise a play on the spot. These productions highlight her focus on collaborative, low-stakes humor, often held at intimate spots like the People's Improv Theater or warehouses. In addition to hosting, Firestone maintains an active stand-up presence, touring nationally with sets that incorporate her offbeat, character-driven material, sometimes involving props like clay or for experimental flair. Notable tours include a 2023 run through Midwestern venues such as the Crofoot in , and the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in , often alongside collaborator . In 2025, she performed live shows including Creativity Hour at Union Hall in in August and November. Her live work extends to unique projects like Good Timing (2021), a series teaching stand-up to senior citizens that culminated in their public performance at the People's Improv Theater, documented as a Peacock special. Firestone's performances emphasize accessibility and joy, frequently collaborating with peers in alt-comedy festivals and one-off events across the U.S.

Television

Firestone began her television career with guest appearances on comedy series in the mid-2010s. She appeared as a 42 Squirts Employee in the "Wisdom Teeth" episode of Broad City (season 2, episode 3), which aired on Comedy Central in 2015. In 2016, she guest-starred as Pistachio in "The List" episode of The Jim Gaffigan Show (season 2, episode 4) on TV Land. That same year, she served as a writer for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC, contributing sketches from 2016 to 2018. One of Firestone's most prominent acting roles came in the series , where she portrayed Sarah Conner, a band teacher and Joe Pera's girlfriend, across all three seasons from 2018 to 2021. The character was depicted as a quirky prepper, adding a layer of eccentric humor to the show's slice-of-life style. She also contributed as a to the series during its run. Firestone continued guest starring in live-action shows, including as Carla in the "Denial" episode of Search Party (season 1, episode 5) on TBS in 2017, and recurring role as Maureen, a quirky coworker and friend to the protagonist, across 12 episodes of Shrill on Hulu from 2019 to 2021. In 2021, she wrote for Ziwe on Showtime, a satirical interview series hosted by Ziwe, and appeared as a guest in its second season episode "Celebrity Rights Activist." Her writing extended to the CBS late-night show After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson, where she served as co-executive producer and head writer for the series (2024–2025), which aired 199 episodes over two seasons before ending in June 2025.) In , Firestone has lent her voice to , including recurring roles as Greta Meatweep in The Great North on since 2021, and as Sweaty in the Pixar series Win or Lose on Disney+, which premiered in 2025. She also voiced characters in The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy on HBO Max in 2022. Firestone has created and starred in several television specials showcasing her stand-up and sketch comedy. Her debut half-hour special, Jo Firestone, aired on Comedy Central's Stand-Up Presents in 2017. In 2020, she hosted and produced Rate the Cookie, a game show-style special on . Her Peacock special Good Timing with Jo Firestone premiered in 2021, featuring improvised comedy sketches. In 2023, she made her directorial debut with the short-form special The Singles Retreat on , which she also wrote and starred in.

Radio and podcasts

Firestone hosted the radio program Dr. Gameshow on , a station in , beginning in 2014. The show featured listener-submitted game show concepts played live with in-studio guests and call-in participants, emphasizing absurd and improvised comedy. Episodes aired weekly, often including special guests like comedians and , and ran through at least May 2016. Following Dr. Gameshow, Firestone hosted Dedications on from September to December 2016, with additional episodes in 2017. This program focused on music, allowing listeners to call in and dedicate songs to others. The format highlighted sentimental and humorous dedications, aligning with Firestone's comedic style of everyday quirks. In 2015, Dr. Gameshow expanded into a format, co-hosted with Manolo Moreno and distributed by . The maintained the original premise of playing audience-submitted games via phone or with celebrity guests and callers, described as and interactive. It has produced approximately 180 episodes as of November 2025, featuring games like "What's Your Magic (Pet) Power" and guests including musicians and comedians. Firestone launched Everyday Decisions with Jo Firestone in February 2020 as a interview . Each explores the routines, rituals, and small decisions of daily life through conversations with comedians, authors, musicians, and others, such as discussions on hangovers and picnics with guest Clare O'Kane. The series, produced independently, emphasizes the eccentricities of mundane experiences and ran for 46 s until 2022. Firestone has made numerous guest appearances on other podcasts, including multiple episodes of Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out, where she discussed her experimental in August 2025. She also appeared on in October 2023 to promote her novel, and on StraightioLab for a club episode in August 2025. These appearances often highlight her multifaceted career in writing and performance.

Authorship and other writings

Books

Jo Firestone's entry into book authorship centers on her work in the genre, blending her comedic background with elements of and absurdity. Her , Murder on Sex Island: A Luella van Horn Mystery, published in June 2025 by Bantam, introduces a series featuring the unconventional Luella van Horn. In Murder on Sex Island, recently divorced social worker reinvents herself as the enigmatic Luella van Horn to infiltrate the reality TV show Sex Island as an undercover investigator after a contestant mysteriously disappears. The narrative satirizes the excesses of dating shows, with Luella navigating a cast of eccentric producers, contestants, and suspects amid tropical debauchery and red herrings. Critics have praised the book as a "hilarious cozy" that leverages Firestone's comedic timing for laugh-out-loud moments, earning a 3.6 average rating on from over 700 reviews shortly after release. The novel's structure draws on classic tropes but infuses them with surreal humor, such as Luella's quirky investigative methods and the show's contrived drama, reflecting Firestone's experience in television writing. highlighted its debut status as a standout in comedic mysteries, noting the protagonist's flawed yet endearing perspective. commended the long suspect list and bizarre scenarios, positioning it as a fresh take on the genre. Firestone has announced a sequel, Sex on Murder Island: A Luella van Horn Mystery, slated for publication in June 2026, continuing the series' blend of sleuthing and . No additional novels have been published as of November 2025, though her collaborative card game projects, such as Punderdome, demonstrate her broader creative output in humorous formats.

Online content

Jo Firestone creates and shares original comedy sketches and short films on her YouTube channel, featuring absurd humor often involving everyday scenarios and collaborative performances. Her directorial debut, the 2023 short film The Singles Retreat, depicts two 75-year-old friends navigating a seniors-only singles retreat in the Poconos, blending charm and awkward encounters among the elderly cast. The film premiered at festivals like Nitehawk Shorts Fest and is available for streaming on platforms such as NoBudge. Other notable YouTube content includes sketches developed with participants from the Greenwich House Comedy Workshop, such as Women's Donuts, which humorously explores baking mishaps, and The Staring Contest, a playful examination of interpersonal dynamics through sustained . These videos highlight Firestone's style of gentle, character-driven , frequently incorporating non-professional performers like seniors to emphasize themes of community and whimsy. Firestone also engages in online writing through her Substack newsletter, jo firestone's passionate newsletter, where she publishes personal essays and cultural commentary. Entries often delve into her reading habits, such as reflections on Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series, including E is for Evidence, blending literary analysis with autobiographical insights. This platform allows her to connect directly with readers on topics ranging from to daily inspirations, extending her written voice beyond traditional formats.

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