#881. Before she was selling out theaters, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes was a Bay Area girl chasing signs from the universe — like making the Raiderettes squad or landing a role as an extra on Friends. In this episode, Anjelah takes Kaitlyn through the ride of how her comedy career began!
She shares how a simple stand-up class birthed her legendary “Nail Salon” bit, the behind-the-scenes chaos of writing and filming Bon Qui Qui for MADtv (and why she was fired), and the moment her sister’s unwavering belief kept her from packing up and quitting comedy altogether.
The two also dive into Anjelah’s wildest fan encounters, her pregnancy journey, and what it was like to be a regular at Central Perk before becoming a household name herself. This episode is the perfect combo of comedy, heart, and everything in between!
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
- (3:31) – The stand-up class that changed everything: how one joke turned into her iconic “Nail Salon” bit and launched her comedy career.
- (7:45) – Behind the scenes of Bon Qui Qui: the chaos, the sketches, and the shocking reason she got fired right after it went viral.
- (15:00) – Her pregnancy journey revealed: from natural conception to the unexpected twists along the way.
- (29:43) – From San Jose to Central Perk: how she became a regular on Friends — her dream show — before anyone knew her name.
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