Josh Johnson, comedian, writer, and The Daily Show correspondent has landed his first HBO comedy special, Josh Johnson: Symphony, which is set to premiere this spring. The special will be filmed at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles and will feature new material centered on shared human experiences, with Johnson tackling topics like family, religion, and relationships through his signature storytelling style.
The special marks another major step for Johnson, who has steadily built one of the most impressive runs in comedy over the last few years. It follows his previous specials Up Here Killing Myself and #(Hashtag), and comes after a stretch where he’s become widely known for his sharp stand-up, weekly YouTube releases, and work as a rotating host and correspondent on The Daily Show.
Josh Johnson: Symphony will be directed by Jacob Menache, who also executive produces alongside Johnson, James Dixon, Daniel Bodansky, and John Irwin for Irwin Entertainment. HBO’s Nina Rosenstein said the special is a fitting showcase for Johnson’s rhythm as a storyteller, noting the “musicality” in his work.
Johnson has carved out a lane as one of the most prolific voices in stand-up. Along with his television work, he recently wrapped his global 112-city Flowers Tour, which he sold out without promoter marketing money. He’s also built a massive digital audience by releasing new original material weekly on YouTube, where his content has racked up more than half a billion views worldwide.
With Symphony, Johnson now joins HBO’s long tradition of comedy specials, giving one of stand-up’s most consistent voices an even bigger stage.