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Anjelah Johnson

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Anjelah Johnson-Reyes
BornSan Jose, California, U.S.
MediumStand-up, television, film
Years active2006–present
GenresObservational comedy, surreal humor, satire
Subject(s)Latin American culture, everyday life, sports, gender differences
Spouse
Manwell Reyes
​
(m. 2011)​
Children1
Websitewww.anjelah.com

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and former NFL cheerleader. Johnson was a cast member on the series MADtv during its 13th season. Her characters included a Vietnamese nail salon employee named Mỹ Linh/Tammy and a rude fast food employee turned music star named Bon Qui Qui (the latter of which has become popular outside of Johnson's short stint on MADtv).

Career

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She became a cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders after being inducted in 2002.[1] As a member of the Oakland Raiderettes, she was named Rookie of the Year and performed at Super Bowl XXXVII. Johnson subsequently moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue a career in comedy after a friend suggested that she join a joke-writing class.[2] She took improv classes,[2][3] and quickly began to headline her own shows. Her stand-up routine, comprising her impression of a Vietnamese nail salon employee, received a lot of attention on YouTube.[2]

In 2007, Johnson joined the cast of sketch comedy show MADtv as a featured performer. Due to the impending writers strike, Johnson was often given only a few lines in the scripts during her tenure, as the writers had to produce more scripts at a faster pace.[2] However, her self-scripted character Bon Qui Qui, a fast-food employee who treats customers rudely, was received well and gained a similarly large YouTube following.[2] In 2008, Johnson was nominated for an ALMA Award for Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series for her work on MADtv.[4] In 2013, Johnson reprised her role as her MADtv character Bon Qui Qui for a skit released by Alexander Wang.

Johnson was given her own one-hour Comedy Central special, Anjelah Johnson: That's How We Do It, in 2009.[5] She also appeared in the films Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and Our Family Wedding, and provided her voice for the live-action adaptation of Marmaduke.[4] As well, she was featured on the late night talk show Lopez Tonight, hosted by George Lopez. Johnson became the "TC Girl", a spokesperson for Mexican restaurant Taco Cabana, in 2011.[6]

Johnson as Bon Qui Qui at the McAllen Convention Center in 2016

Johnson's second stand-up comedy special titled Homecoming Show followed and premiered on Netflix. It was filmed in San Jose, California.[7] On October 1, 2015, Johnson's third stand-up special, titled Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy, was released on Netflix. It was filmed in southern California.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Johnson was born and raised in San Jose, California, in a devout Christian family and remains a Christian.[3] She is of Mexican and Native American descent.[8] She was a Pop Warner cheerleader from the age of 8 and was active in soccer, softball, and track;[1] she also practiced hip hop and break dancing.[1] She began acting as a senior in high school and was especially interested in imitating different accents.[1] She later studied speech communications at De Anza College.[1][9]

Johnson married musician Manwell Reyes of Group 1 Crew on June 11, 2011, in Half Moon Bay, California.[10] Previously, she stated the couple did not want children of their own, although they enjoy spending time with their nieces and nephews.[11] On December 29, 2022 the couple announced they were expecting a baby in 2023.[12] Johnson gave birth to the couple's daughter Rosalie Harlow Reyes on June 14, 2023.[13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role
2007 The Box
2009 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Julie Ortega
2010 Our Family Wedding Isabel
2010 That's How We Do It! Herself
2010 Marmaduke Afghan #2 (voice)
2013 Enough Said Cathy
2014 Moms' Night Out Restaurant Hostess
2014 The Book of Life Adelita / Nina (voice)
2017 The Resurrection of Gavin Stone Kelly Richardson
2020 The Opening Act
2023 Candy Cane Lane Shelly

Television

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Year Title Role Total episodes
2006 Love, Inc. Female Client 1
2007 On the Up Herself
2007–2008, 2016 MADtv Various characters 4
2008 Untitled Dave Caplan Pilot Maria
2008 The Movie Preview Awards Herself
2009 Comedy Central Herself
2010 Ugly Betty Wendy
2010 Lopez Tonight Herself
2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Mimi
2016 MADtv 20th Anniversary Reunion Bon Qui Qui
2018 Have You Been Paying Attention? Herself 1
2019 Superstore Robin Green 1
2022 The Real Dirty Dancing (American TV series) Herself 4
2023 Hell's Kitchen Herself Episode: "Just Bring the DARN Fish!"

Discography

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Studio albums

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As Bon Qui Qui:

Title Album details
Gold Plated Dreams

Extended plays

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As Bon Qui Qui:

  • The Come Up (2012)[15]

Music videos

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As Bon Qui Qui:

Title Year Director
"I'm a Cut You" 2012 DG[16][17]
"No Boyfren" (featuring Tammy) 2013
"This Is How We Do It" (Benefit remix) 2014 Randal Kirk II [18]
"Shut Us Down" 2016 Diego Contreras[19]

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Award category Result
2002 Oakland Raiderettes Rookie of the Year Won
2008 ALMA Award Outstanding Female Performance Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e RaiderDrive.com Archived 2002-12-22 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c d e Wantuck, Andrew. "Anjelah Johnson". The Comedy & Magic Club. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "The Comic's Comic". thecomicscomic.typepad.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Laughfactory.com". laughfactory.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  5. ^ "Comedy Central". ccinsider.comedycentral.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  6. ^ "The TC Girl". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  7. ^ Harrington, Jim (July 13, 2021) [July 12, 2021]. "San Jose star comedian returns home for 7 big shows at Improv". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "Biography from Anjelah.com". anjelah.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  9. ^ "Metroactive". metroactive.com. May 3, 2013. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  10. ^ "I'm Married!!". Anjelah.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  11. ^ "Not Fancy" stand up routine 2015
  12. ^ "Anjelah Johnson-Reyes on Instagram: "It's been the most incredible year of my life… and I never thought it would end like this. 🥰"". Instagram. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "COMEDIAN ANJELAH JOHNSON WELCOMES DAUGHTER: 'THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS'". movieguide.org. June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  14. ^ "iTunes". itunes.apple.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  15. ^ "Twitter". twitter.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Bon Qui Qui "I'M A CUT YOU" - Anjelah Johnson on YouTube
  17. ^ "No Boyfren" Bon Qui Qui feat. Tammy (Official Music Video) on YouTube
  18. ^ Video on YouTube[dead link]
  19. ^ Bon Qui Qui - Shut Us Down on YouTube
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