He started in Chili’s and now he’s on Netflix.
John Crist, the Christian comedian who first became famous on social media, wasn’t always a well-known name. His first foray into comedy was performing at open mic nights until he got his first break: a gig at a local Chili’s restaurant.
Now, the faith-based entertainer is headlining his third tour since 2017, “Immature Thoughts Tour.” His next stop is Netflix, where his special, “I Ain’t Prayin’ for That,” will debut Thanksgiving Day.
When he first learned his special would be on the streaming service, Crist told Faithwire on Thursday, he broke down in tears.
“When I got the call that Netflix had offered us a special, I cried,” he said of the forthcoming stand-up comedy special. “For a comedian, at least in this era, it’s a badge of honor in lot of ways, a rite of passage.”
Crist went on to say, as someone who has pored over other comedians’ specials on Netflix, seeing his name added to the roster “is surreal.”
“I’ve been watching all my favorite comedians on Netflix for years,” he explained, “and to see my name among them is surreal.”
Crist explained during an earlier interview with The Tennesseean he wanted to give faith-based comedy something of a facelift, arguing it “has gotten a bad rap in the past because it’s very passive, and it’s not honest.”
“It’s like knock-knock jokes type humor,” he told the newspaper. “What we’re bringing to the table is another level of honesty, and maybe transparency, that I think does make some people uncomfortable.”
While he doesn’t make fun of the fundamental values of the Christian faith, Crist does poke fun at the idiosyncrasies of the Christian subculture.
In a video posted to his Twitter account earlier this week, Crist said he is “so excited” for his fans to see the Netflix special, adding he “can’t wait” to hear what they think about it.