WORLDglobal
From Fulbright scholar to Xiangsheng comic: how Jesse Appell found his voice in China
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Updated 2 hours ago
First seen March 21, 2026 00:55:04Stay on top of this story
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Quick Summary
In 2012, American Jesse Appell stepped off a plane in China on a Fulbright scholarship to study an unusual subject: the art of Chinese comedy. Over the next few years, Appell, then in his 20s, found himself telling jokes in clubs across China, studying traditional comedy under a master, and even appearing on television. The country’s comedy scene and cultural footprint expanded in ways he could not have predicted – and Appell was along for the ride. “There were so many opportunities to be a part...