![Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo](https://image.pbs.org/contentchannels/us9GB5n-white-logo-41-TFN1F84.png?format=webp&resize=200x)
Comedy Kinship: Adam Pasi Embraces His Samoan Roots
Clip: Episode 5 | 3m 2sVideo has Closed Captions
Adam Pasi reflects on his journey toward embracing his Samoan heritage.
Adam Pasi shares laughs and insights as he embraces his Samoan heritage with the guidance of new friend and actual cousin, Leo. Their heartwarming exchange delves into the significance of cultural connection in comedy, showcasing how mutual support and shared experiences shape their journey in the stand-up circuit while shedding light on the importance of cultural identity and representation.
![Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo](https://image.pbs.org/contentchannels/us9GB5n-white-logo-41-TFN1F84.png?format=webp&resize=200x)
Comedy Kinship: Adam Pasi Embraces His Samoan Roots
Clip: Episode 5 | 3m 2sVideo has Closed Captions
Adam Pasi shares laughs and insights as he embraces his Samoan heritage with the guidance of new friend and actual cousin, Leo. Their heartwarming exchange delves into the significance of cultural connection in comedy, showcasing how mutual support and shared experiences shape their journey in the stand-up circuit while shedding light on the importance of cultural identity and representation.
How to Watch Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo
Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipMy mom's white, my dad's Samoan.
That second part's quite obvious.
[Laughter] There's not a lot of ways I can go with this look.
[Laughter] I'm either Samoan or I'm the Little Rascals stacked up trying to sneak into a buffet.
[Laughter] As a younger man, I think to protect myself and my ego, I rejected my culture.
It was like, "I don't know this thing because I don't need to know this thing."
Man: Put your hands together.
Adam, voice-over: It's something I never corrected until now.
Leo coming into my life has been huge for that.
He's given me access to my culture that I probably wouldn't get elsewhere.
Leo: Yeah.
Adam: Leo messaged me a couple months ago basically saying, "Yo, I heard you're "a Samoan comic in Portland.
"I want to get in the game.
Do you have any advice?"
And I kind of messaged him back, and I got to know him.
Me and Leo just met a couple months ago, and I really like hanging out with him because when he stands behind me, it looks like I'm astral projecting.
[Laughter] It's pretty cool.
People think I have powers now around town.
I've met, like, 3 other Samoan comics.
That includes trips to Hawaii, that includes trips to L.A., where we are out there, but I'm just not seeing us onstage.
My friend says, "Adam, I bet if you go to Samoa "and you go to a nightclub in Samoa, at the nightclub, "at the door, you will see a bouncer letting in a long line of even more bouncers."
[Laughter] How long have you been in comedy now?
-Since March.
-That's great.
Yeah.
I'm a big dude.
I'm Samoan and Tongan.
Man: Yay!
Yeah.
It's nice to have the whole population of Polynesia in Portland in this room right now.
Adam: Not to say that, like, I have everything, but anything I can use in my experience that'll benefit him, I want to do that, and at the same time, I didn't grow up around other Samoans.
I don't speak the language barely.
And, Leo, do you speak the language?
-Fluently.
Yeah.
-You speak it fluently?
-Yeah.
I used to live in Samoa.
-OK.
Thank you very much.
Leo, voice-over: When I was there, I took a deep dive into our culture, learned the language, learned our history.
You know, we get called Hawaiian so many times, and it's like there's so many uneducated people out there who don't understand that we're different, and then when I met him, you know, it was one of those "You teach me how to be a comic, "and I'll shoot you this little knowledge about our culture."
-That's great.
-Yeah.
So it's a symbiotic relationship really, you know?
Jesus: Yeah, no, it sounds like, you know, a rising tide mentality of, like, "Hey, let's go up together," especially somebody that you see yourself reflected in, you know, so... And also, the fun part is we've been introducing each other as cousin, but he just found out at the table-- I just found out we're actually cousins.
-You're actually cousins?
-Yes.
-You just found out right now?
-I just found out.
-Get out of here.
-No.
With us, -it's always a possibility.
-Yeah.
-It's a small island, bro.
-Very small.
Yeah.
Jesus: Oh, man, that's amazing.
Can't wait to see you out on the comedy circuit, man.
Thanks, actual cousin.
[Laughter]
Video has Closed Captions
In Portland Oregon, Jesus connects with Samoan comedian, Adam Pasi. (30s)
Samoan Stand-Up: Exploring Identity with Adam Pasi
Video has Closed Captions
Adam Pasi shares his comedic anecdotes about his family and his Samoan heritage. (1m 58s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship