Brooklyn’s 50 Funniest People: Jordan Temple
Jordan Temple
Jordan Temple sounds pretty relaxed, but don’t let it fool you. He’s got something serious to say—albeit with giggly absurdity. Temple says he used to get teased for being an Oreo: black on the outside, white on the inside. “Yeah, I am an Oreo,” he said, “And any other cookie that can read better than you. That joke is about the state of our country’s reading levels, because anthropomorphized Oreo is reading at a graduate level.” Temple is a writer on MTV’s pop culture and politics show Decoded and, like his bio says, he’s someone with “strong opinions people think are jokes.”
When was the first time you remember making someone laugh? What happened?
I made the technician rubbing gel on my mom’s belly guffaw when I gave my Dad a side eye from the ultrasound. She spilled glob of ultrasound goo on the floor from laughing so violently. That’s the first time I ever made someone laugh, as a fetus.
What is the toughest part about being on the comedy scene in Brooklyn today? What is the best?
Toughest: Telling rooms of Beyoncé fans Randy Newman is better than her.
Best: Knowing the truth for yourself.
Who do you find funny?
Bob The Drag Queen is the only person I find funny right now. Drag alone is extremely difficult to be good at, and on top of that he does characters, tell jokes, great impressions and is very quick on his feet. I’ve learned more about showmanship and performance from Bob than I could watching stand up. One day we will all be working for Bob The Drag Queen.
What was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
I remembered watching my Grandfather die when I was ten years old when a casting director asked me to practice method acting.
What are your goals for your comedy career?
My goals for my comedy career are to put the jokes first, God second. To be honest, I am developing a show called the Steve Harvey Symposium I would love to sell and make a digital webseries. I would love to write for a comedy news program and eventually host one, one day.
What is your favorite knock-knock (or otherwise goofy) joke?
What did the five fingers say to the face? SLAP! -Dave Chapelle as Rick James
To see 49 more of Brooklyn’s funniest people, click here.
Photo by Nicolas Maloof.
