Janelle James will debut her first hourlong Netflix comedy special, titled “How Romantic,” on Tuesday, recorded live at the Vic Theatre in Chicago. Best known as principal Ava Coleman in ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” James told wbez.org that she intentionally chose Chicago for the taping because of her Midwest roots.
When Netflix approached Janelle James about recording her first hourlong comedy special, she knew the venue had to be the Vic Theatre in Lake View, wbez.org reported. She stated to wbez.org, “I didn’t even contemplate doing any other places.”
James started her stand-up career in the Midwest while living in Champaign, Illinois. She told wbez.org, “Chicago just seems more open and out. It was very important to me to get a good cross-section of people, some of everything in the audience.”
From Champaign Open Mics to Netflix
James moved to New York at age 16 after growing up in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she worked on her father’s food truck starting at age 9, wbez.org reported. She relocated to Champaign after her then-husband secured a teaching job in the Midwest. She told wbez.org, “I probably would have never started comedy if I was never there.”
A grocery store flyer for an open mic night led her to a biker bar called Memphis On Main in Champaign, wbez.org reported. That experience prompted her to write her own material and perform regularly at the Jukebox Comedy Club in Peoria, the hometown of Richard Pryor, according to wbez.org.
James noted to wbez.org that starting outside a major media hub offers distinct advantages. She stated, “Starting outside of a big city is a good thing because you’re allowed to be bad in obscurity.”
Shaping the New Special
The upcoming release marks James’s first full-hour set on Netflix, following shorter appearances in the 2018 series “The Comedy Lineup” and Season 3 of “The Standups,” wbez.org reported. The new routine opens with a humorous nod to current politics, though James told wbez.org her material has lightened since her earlier work.
She told wbez.org during a video interview, “I’ve always been like this, unfortunately… Always reading the news and depressing myself.” Her father nicknamed her “The Daily News” in her youth because she tracked neighborhood gossip, a habit she later turned into stand-up material, according to wbez.org.
James told wbez.org that the hourlong set features discussions about dating and men, her preference for dark humor, and life in Los Angeles. Later segments address her refusal to pay for an ambulance despite achieving financial success and her perspective on romantic dynamics, wbez.org reported.
How James Draws on Her Food Truck Roots to Play Ava Coleman
James portrays principal Ava Coleman on the ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” a role that earned her numerous award nominations and wins, including presenting at the 57th NAACP Image Awards and appearing at the 78th Emmy Awards, wbez.org reported. She told wbez.org that her background helping on her father’s food truck and acting as the eldest of nine siblings helps her connect with Ava’s “hustler mentality.”
Addressing recent media coverage, James told wbez.org, “I recently did an interview where I said I don’t like [Ava] and everybody ran away with that, but that’s because there’s no such thing as nuance anymore in the media.” She added that Ava’s character has evolved significantly since Season 1, telling wbez.org, “As the seasons go on, you can see why she is the way she is.”
While touring the country for years, James disguised herself as a man for safety reasons, wbez.org reported. She told wbez.org that playing Ava proved that women can look a certain way and still command authority. Following her television success, she is also scheduled to host the Critics Choice Awards in January, according to wbez.org.
| Project or Event | Platform or Venue | Timing / Details |
|---|---|---|
| “How Romantic” Special | Netflix | Debuting Tuesday, recorded at the Vic Theatre in Chicago |
| “The Comedy Lineup” | Netflix | Shorter set released in 2018 |
| “The Standups” | Netflix | Season 3 appearance |
| Critics Choice Awards | Live Broadcast | Hosting scheduled for January |
James told wbez.org that despite her recent television success and upcoming hosting duties, she plans to maintain her creative path. She stated to wbez.org, “I said, ‘I’m just gonna keep being funny everywhere I go until someone offers me a gig.’ That’s how everything works out for me.”
