Skip to main content
Donate

PBS Annual Meeting Event Welcomes Over 150 for Launch of 'Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo,' Telling Diverse Stories Behind the Laughs

May 21, 2024
Support Provided By

On Monday, May 13, PBS SoCal feted "Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo" as part of the PBS Annual Meeting. Part comedy, part social commentary, part travelogue, the series follows the host, Mexican-American comedian Jesus Trejo, as he embarks on an emotional odyssey and telling the "stories behind the laughs."

Host Jesus Trejo and comedian Sierra Katow celebrate at the premiere launch event for ROOTS OF COMEDY WITH JESUS TREJO at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.
Host Jesus Trejo and comedian Sierra Katow celebrate at the premiere launch event for "Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo" at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.

The event was hosted by both PBS SoCal and the National Multicultural Alliance (NMCA) and took place at The Cosmopolitan’s Barbershop speakeasy in Las Vegas where close to 150 guests received a sneak peek of the PBS program paired with live performances from host Jesus Trejo and comedian Sierra Katow. A special early release of all six episodes of "Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo" will stream for free on the PBS app and PBS.org starting Friday, May 24.

PBS SoCal Chief Content Officer Tamara Gould introduced guests to "Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo" after opening remarks from Latino Public Broadcasting's Managing Director Luis Ortiz speaking on behalf of NMCA. A preview of the trailer was followed by comedy sets from host Jesus Trejo and comedian Sierra Katow. A reception preceded the comics' sets where guests celebrated the new series while drinking PBS themed speakeasy cocktails after entering the secret lounge using the password "Knock. Knock" to find passed bites that included mini lobster tacos and sliders. Guests went home with custom swag created for the event, which featured mini microphones designed to start a conversation around themes in the show.

PBS SoCal Chief Content Officer Tamara Gould and Latino Public Broadcasting’s Managing Director Luis Ortiz welcomed guests at the premiere launch event for ROOTS OF COMEDY WITH JESUS TREJO at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.
PBS SoCal Chief Content Officer Tamara Gould and Latino Public Broadcasting’s Managing Director Luis Ortiz welcomed guests at the premiere launch event for "Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo" at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.

Additional attendees included executive producers Danny Lee and Juan Devis as well as members of the National Multicultural Alliance and Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Also in attendance were PBS executives that included Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming Sylvia Bugg, President of Distribution Andrea Downing, VP of Publicity Michae Godwin, Senior Director of Programming Wendy Llinas, VP of Programming Adaora Udoji and many more.

Executive Producer Juan Devis poses with PBS SoCal Chief Content Officer Tamara Gould, host Jesus Trejo, comedian Sierra Katow and Executive Producer Danny Lee at the premiere launch event for ROOTS OF COMEDY WITH JESUS TREJO at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.
Executive Producer Juan Devis poses with PBS SoCal Chief Content Officer Tamara Gould, host Jesus Trejo, comedian Sierra Katow and Executive Producer Danny Lee at the premiere launch event for ROOTS OF COMEDY WITH JESUS TREJO at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.
1/2 Executive Producer Juan Devis poses with PBS SoCal Chief Content Officer Tamara Gould, host Jesus Trejo, comedian Sierra Katow and Executive Producer Danny Lee at the premiere launch event for "Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo" at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.
PBS SoCal President/Chief Executive Officer Andrew Russell laughs with host Jesus Trejo and comedian Sierra Katow at the launch event for ROOTS OF COMEDY WITH JESUS TREJO at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.
PBS SoCal President/Chief Executive Officer Andrew Russell laughs with host Jesus Trejo and comedian Sierra Katow at the launch event for ROOTS OF COMEDY WITH JESUS TREJO at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.
2/2 PBS SoCal President/Chief Executive Officer Andrew Russell laughs with host Jesus Trejo and comedian Sierra Katow at the launch event for "Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo" at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.

"Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo" reveals how the most memorable comedy traces back to the roots of a community with themes that are central to the series. Along his journey, Trejo visits six U.S. regions (Denver, Portland, Minneapolis, Austin, Los Angeles and Chinle, Arizona) where he meets with six rising comedians who explore the mosaic of our nation through the lens of stand-up comedy.

The six episode series with 30-minute episodes is executive produced by Jesus Trejo, Juan Devis and Danny Lee, and co-produced for PBS by PBS SoCal and BIPOC-production studio CALICO in association with the National Multicultural Alliance. The series will also be available to stream on the PBS YouTube channel, following the television broadcast premiere on PBS stations across the country on Friday, June 21 at 10 p.m. ET/ 9 p.m. CT.

Members of PBS, the National Multicultural Alliance and Corporation for Public Broadcasting pose with host Jesus Trejo and comedian Sierra Katow at the premiere launch event for ROOTS OF COMEDY WITH JESUS TREJO at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.
Members of PBS, the National Multicultural Alliance and Corporation for Public Broadcasting pose with host Jesus Trejo and comedian Sierra Katow at the premiere launch event for "Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo" at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Monday, May 13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PBS SoCal.

Support Provided By