Growing up in Nashville Tennessee, Joby worked in the family business assisting his father in the collection of used motor oil. We were part of the earliest Environmentalists although were we’re called other names. Joby read of Harry Houdini, the stage and was performing children’s magic shows most weekends by age 12. Joby say’s “Dad would build the props, and mom would give me props”.
When the tricks didn’t work the laughs started flowing giving Joby the outlet to do what he really wanted, comedy.
Movies/Television
- Thou Shalt Laugh -Warner Brothers- Los Angeles Ca.
- Comedy Central- Los Angeles Ca.
- Bananas with Thor Ramsey -Sony Studios
- Comedy @ Large w Thor Ramsey- Guardian Studios
- CMT -40 sexiest Videos-Guest commentary Nashville TN
- ABC News Now-Alphabet Soup w/ Alyse Mandel -New York NY
- Vidiots- All ages, all nations Creator, Producer. Mackinac Island MI.
- Crook and Chase- Nashville, Jim Owens Productions
- Abraham and Sarah (The Movie) “Egyptian Slave” EFM Productions Miami Fl.
- Stand up for Families Chonda Pierce Presents- Dove Channel
- Stand up Nurotica TV Pilot for Netflix – Comedy Club Headliner Lubner Productions.
Being beat up too often on the basketball court by his High School classmates for going for laughs instead of points for the team drove Joby to compete as a bodybuilder winning the Mr Mid Central USA Title at age 19.
Returning to the stage it was comedy writer Mike Price and Disney Star Jim Varney that encouraged him to leave Nashville to pursue stand up after becoming a regular at Zanies Comedy Club. Zanies and Zanies manager Lenny Sisselman gave Joby the opportunity to perform with the top comedians at the time, Tim Allen, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Rob Schneider, Paula Pondstone. Concert promoter Steve Moore hired Joby to open for his concerts, Steve Moore later becoming head of CMA Association. Soon Joby was headlining all the top Comedy Clubs and was a regular guest on Nashville Networks Ralph Emery, Crook and Chase and many others.
Living in Los Angeles, working as a comedian, Joby Saad started a company called Village Entertainment. He instructed his roommate to answer the phone that way — “Village Entertainment” — whenever anyone called.”Frequently, what would happen is, the phone would ring and Rob would answer and say ‘hello.’ And I, in the background would shout, ‘You idiot!’ And then the caller would say, ‘Let me speak to the Village idiot.’”
“My father used to give me a hard time. He would always call me an idiot. Or, sometimes, he’d say, ‘You’re a fool,’ and I’d get upset. ‘I thought I was an idiot?’… ‘Well, you’re both!’ ‘Great! Now I have to redo my résumé.’”
Thus a concept was born. Saad became the Village Idiot. He was destined for it, he says, thanks to his dad.
George Shapiro of Shapiro/West Management (Jerry Seinfeld’s management) took notice of Joby’s talents at a performance at the Ice House in Pasadena California. “George made calls, and the next thing I know I’m auditioning for network sitcoms, say’s Joby”. Joby’s big break came from his starring role on an episode of the family friendly television series Bananas Comedy in 2005. Then in 2006 came the Warner brothers “Thou Shalt Laugh” starring Patricia Heaton from “Everybody loves Raymond”. Featuring seven of the nations top clean comedians it went on to become the highest selling comedy DVD within its genre.
There were moments in my career that may not seem that significant to others but mean a lot to me. Like being introduced by Jay Davis at Dublins on Sunset blvd and having to follow Dane Cook, or just to hold my own in the same room with the same audiences with so many of the best comedians of the day.
From that Joby launched his own television series “Vidiots” ”It’s silent comedy. I love being able to tell a story and reach an audience of all ages and all languages. The humor is universal and continually reaching an international audience. Having been broadcast on cable, however its popularity on youtube is what has gotten Joby stopped and recognized on the streets of New York city.
Known for his expressive, rubbery face. Makes sense that he’s a big fan of physical comedians such as Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, and Tim Conway.
His stand-up, like his films, involves a lot of physical comedy. He frequently closes his shows with an inspired bit where, in pantomime, he removes one pair of pants after another, becoming a new character each time. But everything he does is clean.
“The smartest dumb guy comedy I’ve seen- comedycritic.com
Joby has had the honor of performing for our troops in Honduras, entertaining the children of 101st airborne, Fort Campbell Ky, The children and families of St. Jude Hospital, and Le Bonheur children’s Hospital in Memphis is what I’m most proud. Five years on the stage at Lifest, the largest Christian music festival in Oshkosh Wisconsin.
Recently Joby has performed on several Moth shows in Santa Monica Ca. which is that gold standard for storytelling and launching storytalks.org with fellow comedian Alyse Kenny in New York City.
Radio/Live performances. Frequent guest on the syndicated “Daren Streblow comedy show” on I-heart Radio.
Most recently Joby was chosen out of hundreds of comedians to be featured on a new television series “Stand Up Neurotica” that follows the behind the scenes exploits of a comedy club staff, Joby being the night club comedian. Shot on location at New York city’s famed “Stand Up New York’ on the upper west side, where Seinfeld and many others built thier reputations. Look for “Stand Up Neurotica” in 2016 on Netflix.
Joby’s is constantly growing and touring and challenging himself with new ideas to bring to his audiences. This is a show from someone who loves his mother and has lived and breathed comedy.