Comedian Jo Koy is slated to perform free shows this month at U.S. military bases in and around Tokyo. (USO)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Some comedy fans at U.S. military bases in and around Tokyo aren’t laughing after surging demand for tickets to see a popular performer left them empty handed.
Jo Koy — real name Joseph Herbert — is scheduled to perform Jan. 29 at Yokota’s Taiyo Community Center and twice the following day at Yokosuka Naval Base’s Fleet Theater. The 2024 Golden Globes host is in the middle of an American tour. He has appeared regularly on late night television and in several Netflix specials.
However, USO website glitches frustrated those who tried to register for the free tickets, with many getting rejected when registration opened Friday.
All the shows were fully booked by Tuesday, according to posts on the USO Yokota and USO Yokosuka Facebook pages that drew complaints from people who had missed out.
“There was an unprecedented surge in demand, which caused technical challenges across our registration system,” USO spokeswoman Jennifer Passey told Stars and Stripes by email Wednesday. “The USO apologizes for the difficulties some experienced.”
Those who successfully registered for tickets will receive a confirmation email by the end of the week, she said.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through this challenge with our registration system,” Passey added.
Selwyn Jones, a manager at the Yokota Enlisted Club, said he spent four hours on the website Friday in a failed attempt to register for tickets.
“This was a MAJOR CLUSTER!!!!,” he wrote Tuesday on USO Yokota’s Facebook page in response to the announcement that all tickets had been allocated.
Two shows should have been scheduled at Yokota, Jones wrote, adding that the USO had advised people to keep trying for tickets, even though the system was having issues.
“Then you tell us that the system was suspended and that you would be resuming on Tuesday, after working on the problem, and give folks a chance to get the last of the tickets. Now you’re saying that all the tickets are gone. “
Yokota-based Air Force spouse Valerie Raybon said she also spent four hours Friday trying unsuccessfully to get tickets. Fortunately, her husband was able to register, she said by phone Tuesday.
Visiting performers bring “a little bit of home” for people serving abroad, Raybon said, adding that she’s disappointed more friends can’t come along.
Comedian AMarie Castillo — also an Air Force spouse at Yokota — told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday that she tried to contact Jo Koy, offering to perform as his opening act at Yokota, but hadn’t heard back.
Castillo, who performs standup at the Tokyo Comedy Bar and New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, said she saw him perform in New York a decade ago. His comedy references his Filipino American heritage and family.
The level of interest in the comedy shows is inspiring, Castillo added.
“People get really excited about entertainment coming out here,” she said.
