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Jordan Carlos
Jordan Carlos
from Wikipedia

Jordan Carlos (born February 2, 1978) is an American stand-up comedian who played a recurring character on The Colbert Report and was a co-host on the Nickelodeon kids' show Me TV. He also appeared as a panelist and reporter on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.

Key Information

Career

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Early career

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Jordan Carlos graduated Brown University in 2001 and began work as a copywriter in a New York ad firm.[2] At night and on weekends Carlos performed stand-up comedy. Eventually Carlos abandoned advertising altogether in favor of stand-up although he feels he had trouble finding a niche audience because he "wasn't a stereotypical black man".[citation needed] He learned to use that characteristic as the basis for many of his jokes.[citation needed]

Role on The Colbert Report

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On The Colbert Report Carlos played Alan, host Stephen Colbert's "black friend". Whenever Colbert discussed racial issues, he often asked that a picture of him with his African-American co-worker Alan be shown on screen. Colbert sometimes referred to him as "Alan, my black friend Alan". Alan first appeared on a Martin Luther King Day program when Colbert, complaining about having to work on the holiday, brought Alan into the argument, hoping that Alan was angry because he had to work, too. To Colbert's surprise, Alan was not.

On The Nightly Show

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Carlos was a writer on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore and also appeared in sketches and, often, on the panel. His characters include Carlos Jordanson (a Hillary Clinton campaign aide) and Dennis Rodman.

Other appearances

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In 2008, Carlos did voice work for the animated comedy webseries Amazing the Lion hosted by the Independent Comedy Network.[3] Carlos has appeared as a special guest in "Episode 253: Chuuch" of the Keith and the Girl podcast. He also made an appearance in Nickelback's "Rockstar" music video and has been a commentator on the E! Network's Worst Dating Show Moments. He made a brief appearance in the buddy cop film Cop Out. Also, he played the math teacher in the short film The Old Man and the Seymour and he was cast in a main role on the MTV series I Just Want My Pants Back.

Carlos has also made appearances in CollegeHumor.com's original videos. Most recently, he portrayed President Barack Obama hosting a barbecue in the video entitled, "Barack Obama's BBQ".[4]

Jordan Carlos was a cast member on Guy Code, Guy Court and Girl Code. He also appeared on two episodes in the first season of MTV's "Joking Off".[5] Carlos also provided the voice of Gene on the animated series Super 4, but quit after the second-season premiere to focus more on his comedy-career.

Filmography

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Film

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Hysterical Lenny Short film
2008 Ghost Town Young Husband
Tricks of Love Oliver Fippen
2009 The Old Man and the Seymour Mr. Horsey Short film
The Rebound Twentysomething #4
2010 Cop Out Eric
My Own Love Song Presenter
2011 They're Out of the Business Network Executive
Aids Test Brad Video short
You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You Fritz
2012 The Normals Cafeteria Worker
2013 Obama Sets High Score in 'Drone Strike' Short film
2015 Sleeping with Other People R.A.
3rd Street Blackout Ari
Pop Meets the Void Recording Engineer
3 Generation Jake Also known as About Ray
Adventures in Comedy Himself Documentary
2016 Catfight Howie the Deaf Guy
2017 Landline Ravi
The Meyerowitz Stories Waiter
Super 4: Gunpowder Island Adventures Various Voice
2018 Boy Band Henry
Alpha Squadron Alpha 2 / Burp Short film
We Only Know So Much Reality Producer #1
Tasteless Himself Documentary
2019 Paper Friends Guy at Bar
2020 The Outside Story Delivery Guy
2021 Pooling to Paradise Marc
Home Sweet Home Alone Clem Breckin
2022 I Want You Back Mark
2025 After This Death Carlos

Television

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Television
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Jump Cuts Maxwell Percavel 1 episode
2005 Jonny Zero Sound Engineer Episode 4: "I Did It All for the Nooky"
Stella Hipster Guy Episode 4: "Coffee Shop"
2006 CHTV Himself; co-host Episode 3: Crossing Jordan[6]
Exposing the Order of the Serpentine William TV movie
3 lbs. Intern 2 episodes - 1 uncredited
The Colbert Report Alan 2 episodes - 1 uncredited
Live at Gotham Himself Season 1, episode 5
2008-2009 Mayne Street Jordan Henry 8 episodes
2009 Michael & Michael Have Issues Male Sketch Player
Ugly Betty Speech Writer Season 4, episode 5: "Plus None"
2010 Mercy Alex Episode 18: "Of Course I'm Not"
2010-2013 CollegeHumor Originals Barack Obama / Obama / CMYKilla /
LeBron James / Dennis Haysbert / Additional characters
13 episodes
2011-2012 I Just Want My Pants Back Eric Main role; 12 episodes
Jest Originals Barack Obama Obama TV shorts
2 episodes
2012 I Love the 1880s
2013 The Shorts Show Obama Season 4, episode 3: "NSA Blurred Lines"
The Eric Andre Show Black Scientologist Season 2, episode 9: "Chance the Rapper; Mel B"
2014 Step 9 Josh Episode 4: "We 'Bout to Be Rich"
Broad City Doug Season 1, episode 10: "The Last Supper"
Above Average Presents Lawyer Episode: "Approach the Bench Trailer"
Approach the Bench Lawyer Episode 3: "Spoilers"
Off the Chain N/a Writer
2014-2015 Super 4 Various Voice
19 episodes
2015 Girls Decker Heyman-Schultz Season 4, episode 3: "Female Author"
The Affair Ernest Schiffbaum Episode: "208"
2015-2016 The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore Himself / Carlos Jordanson / Willy Wonka /
Dennis Rodman / Various characters
82 episodes
Writer - 243 episodes
2016 Viralocity
Hollywood Horror Stories Himself
Join or Die with Craig Ferguson Himself Panelist
Episode 2: "History's Worst Medical Advice"
Debate Wars Himself Episode 6: "Cats Vs. Dogs"
2016 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner N/a TV special
Writer
2017 Friends from College Chef Season 1, episode 4: "Mission Impossible"
Reality Disorder Digital Media Exec 1 TV movie
Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne N/a Writer - 10 episodes
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Himself Season 2, episode 7: "Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner"
2019 Black Mirror Simon Season 5, episode 1: "Striking Vipers"
Helpsters Heart's Brother Season 1, episode 3: "Singing Starlett / Heart's Family Photo"
Divorce N/a Story editor - 6 episodes
Gander Jordan
2020 The Drew Barrymore Show N/a Writer - 14 episodes
2021 First Wives Club Curtis 10 episodes
Writer - 9 episodes
Teenage Euthanasia Lester Cuddlefish / Postman / California Raisin /
RoboCop / Luke Perry / Additional voices
Voice
5 episodes
Tha God's Honest Truth with Lenard 'Charlamagne' McKelvey N/a Writer - 7 episodes
2022 Would I Lie to You? Himself Panelist
Episode 4: "Boy in a Barrel"
Everything's Trash N/a Writer - Episode: "Family Is Trash"
2023 Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens Xavier Episode: "Bad Grandma"

Music videos

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Music videos
Year Title Artist
2013 If You're F*cking, You're F*cking Reggie Watts

Podcasts

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Podcasts
Year Title Role Notes
2019 64th Man Spanish Announcer / Bouncer / Jose Villanueva / Cornerback 10 episodes
2022 Adulting with Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos Himself/host

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Jordan Carlos (born February 2, 1978) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer based in . Raised in , , Carlos began his career in comedy through early television appearances and stand-up performances, earning a recurring role as Alan—a character portrayed as Stephen Colbert's "black friend" and guest writer—on . He has since built a portfolio of acting credits in series such as , The Affair, and , alongside writing and producing contributions to projects including the first season of Phoebe Robinson's on Max. Carlos has also co-hosted programs like and , and received recognition in the comedy circuit, including a nomination for Best Male Comic by the Emerging Comedians of New York (ECNY) awards and selection as one of the New Faces at the Comedy Festival. His work spans live stand-up tours, television production, and on-air segments, often blending observational humor with cultural commentary.

Early life and education

Upbringing and family background

Jordan Carlos was born on February 2, 1978, in , . He is the son of Dr. Joseph Carlos, a prominent obstetrician-gynecologist, and Hazel Carlos, a . Carlos grew up in an upper-middle-class family in the area, later characterizing his childhood as privileged, with the "roughest point" involving minor inconveniences like a lack of sprinkles at a local shop. He attended Greenhill School, a private institution in , graduating in 1997. The family included two other children: an older brother, , and a sister, Marjon. Carlos has credited his parents' professional success and supportive environment for shaping his early sense of opportunity, influencing his later comedic persona as a "black preppy."

College years at

Jordan Carlos enrolled at in 1997 and majored in , completing a degree in 2001. During his undergraduate studies, Carlos focused on coursework in the social sciences, though specific extracurricular involvements or campus activities from this period remain undocumented in available biographical accounts. Following graduation, Carlos transitioned into professional work as a copywriter at a New York advertising firm, marking the end of his formal college experience and the beginning of his entry into on nights and weekends. This post-college phase provided financial stability while he developed his stand-up routine, with no public records indicating comedy pursuits during his time at .

Comedy and acting career

Initial forays into stand-up and television

Following his graduation from in 2001, Jordan Carlos took a position as a copywriter at a New York , where he worked full-time while pursuing on nights and weekends at local clubs. This dual-track approach lasted approximately four and a half years, during which he honed his material drawing from personal experiences as a suburban-raised man navigating urban comedy scenes. In a 2007 opinion piece, Carlos reflected on the challenges of breaking in, noting his performances often occurred in "rathole clubs" amid auditions and open mics, as he sought to establish a distinctive voice amid competition from performers with more stereotypical personas. By 2005, Carlos quit his advertising job to focus exclusively on comedy and acting, a decision enabled by emerging opportunities in television. His initial forays into scripted TV included a guest role in the sketch series Stella during its first and only season that year. This appearance marked one of his earliest credited on-screen credits in a major network comedy, preceding further small parts in shows like (ABC, 2006). Additionally, in 2006, he portrayed William in the Spike TV special Exposing the Order of the Serpentine, a satirical "news exposé" on a fictional . These roles provided early exposure, though Carlos later described the period as a grind of inconsistent gigs before wider recognition.

Breakthrough on The Colbert Report

Jordan Carlos landed a recurring role on The Colbert Report in 2005, portraying the character Alan, depicted as Stephen Colbert's token black friend who provided satirical commentary on race and friendship within the show's parody of conservative punditry. This opportunity enabled Carlos to quit his day job and commit fully to comedy, marking a pivotal shift in his career from stand-up circuits to national television exposure. The character of Alan appeared sporadically starting around the show's early seasons, often in segments where Colbert invoked him for humorous or ironic validation, such as flashing a photo of an arm around Alan to underscore tokenistic gestures. In one recurring bit, Alan's status was humorously demoted from "friend" to "acquaintance" after Colbert "discovered" him participating in an anti-war protest, satirizing ideological purity tests in political circles. Carlos also contributed as a guest writer for these appearances, blending his stand-up sensibilities with the program's scripted absurdity. The role garnered significant attention for Carlos, establishing him as a recognizable face in late-night and highlighting the of comedians in such formats at the time; in a 2008 interview, he noted the underrepresentation on shows like and . By 2007, media profiles credited the character with propelling his visibility, transitioning him from local scenes to broader industry opportunities. Appearances continued into at least 2006 episodes, including interviews with guests like and , where Alan interjected with deadpan reactions to Colbert's bombast.

Role on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore

Jordan Carlos served as a writer for The Nightly Show with starting in December 2014, contributing monologue jokes and segments ahead of the program's premiere on on January 19, 2015. His writing tenure extended through the show's run, ending with its final episode on August 18, 2016. Beyond writing, Carlos functioned as a correspondent and on-air panelist for the entirety of the series, which spanned approximately 250 episodes. He participated in panel discussions addressing current events and cultural topics, including appearances alongside guests such as and in one episode, and and in another. Carlos also reported field segments, such as a late-series piece in August 2016 where he examined the concept of food deserts by experiencing limited access to fresh groceries firsthand. His on-air contributions aligned with the show's panel-driven format, which emphasized satirical analysis of news, politics, and social issues under host Larry Wilmore's direction.

Later television, film, and media appearances

Following the conclusion of The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore in 2016, Carlos maintained an active presence in television and film, often in supporting or guest capacities across and drama genres. In 2017, he appeared in the anthology film (New and Selected), directed by , alongside and . He also continued recurring as Doug in the final two seasons of Comedy Central's Broad City, which aired from 2017 to 2019, contributing to the series' satirical portrayal of New York millennial life. In 2019, Carlos guest-starred as Simon, a friend of the protagonists, in the Black Mirror episode "Striking Vipers" (Season 5, Episode 1), Netflix's exploration of virtual reality and personal relationships. That year, he joined the BET series First Wives Club in a recurring acting role, alongside writing contributions, through its three seasons ending in 2021. Additional guest spots included Tha God's Honest Truth with Charlamagne Tha God in 2021. Carlos featured in the 2021 Disney+ reboot , playing a supporting role in the family comedy updating the classic franchise. In 2022, he starred as Jayden in Freeform's , a series created by and starring , while also writing for the first season. He appeared as a guest in Season 3, Episode 5 of Comedy Central's . Further television work included a guest role on in 2021 and an Emmy-nominated episode of Hulu's The Conversation Project. In 2023, Carlos recurred as Rick Michard in the Starz revival of Party Down, notably in the episode "Sepulveda Basin High School Spring Play Opening Night" (Season 3, Episode 6). More recently, he hosted the short-form series Elevated Moments on AMC+, focusing on comedic sketches. His film work extended to starring in the 2023 indie feature Booger, directed by Mary Dauterman.

Ongoing stand-up performances and specials

Carlos regularly performs stand-up comedy at clubs across the United States, with frequent appearances in New York City venues due to his Brooklyn residence. He co-hosts the recurring HUMPD show, a monthly event at The Second City New York that blends stand-up sets from emerging comedians with hosted discussions on sex and relationships. The format has occasionally expanded to bi-weekly presentations at alternative Brooklyn locations, such as Sound Mind Center. As of October 2025, HUMPD maintains an ongoing schedule, including a November 12 installment integrated into the New York Comedy Festival lineup. No full-length stand-up specials by Carlos have been released since his 2015 Comedy Dynamics production The Blackest. He periodically shares shorter performance clips on from live sets at clubs like Flappers Comedy Club.

Writing and podcasting

Contributions to comedy writing

Carlos served as a staff writer for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore on , contributing scripts for sketches and segments during the program's run from January 2015 to August 2016. In this role, he also performed in the material he helped craft, blending writing with on-air delivery to support the show's satirical commentary on and . He co-wrote and co-hosted content for Comedy Central's Indecision 2012 online series, producing election-themed humor pieces amid the U.S. presidential campaign that year. Later, Carlos wrote for the dark comedy series Divorce, which aired from 2016 to 2019, focusing on relational dysfunction and suburban satire. In scripted television, Carlos contributed writing to the reboot of First Wives Club in 2019, where he also appeared as a performer, adapting the original film's comedic premise of empowered women navigating post-divorce life. For Freeform's in 2022, he wrote episodes for the first season while co-starring, drawing on creator Phoebe Robinson's semi-autobiographical stories of millennial absurdities and relationships. Carlos has extended his comedy writing to live events, including scripting material for the 2016 White House Correspondents' Dinner and the 2017 Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner hosted by Samantha Bee on TBS, both emphasizing political roast-style humor. Earlier, he served as a contributing writer for Esquire magazine and the humor anthology Bar Mitzvah Disco published by Crown, producing essays and pieces in a preppy, observational style. Additionally, as head writer for Charlamagne tha God's Uncommon Sense Live and Tha God's Honest Truth in 2021, he shaped comedic talk segments blending celebrity interviews with cultural critique. His debut book, Choreplay, a comedy exploration of household dynamics, is slated for release by Hachette Book Group in winter 2026.

Hosting and co-hosting podcasts

Jordan Carlos serves as co-host of the Adulting, which he has presented alongside comedian since its launch on May 21, 2019, under Studios production. The show delivers practical advice on navigating adulthood—covering topics such as relationships, challenges, , and —delivered through humorous discussions often featuring guests, live audience interactions, and candid anecdotes from the hosts' experiences. Episodes typically run 30 to , blending lighthearted banter with actionable insights, as exemplified in segments addressing party-hosting dilemmas or post-job-quitting strategies. The podcast paused production in late 2019 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with Buteau citing long COVID effects as a factor in the hiatus, before resuming on June 8, 2022, after a two-year break, now distributed by the Exactly Right Network and iHeartPodcasts. Over its run, Adulting produced 87 episodes, including live recordings from venues like Brooklyn's Bell House and The Greene Space, where Carlos and Buteau engaged audiences on themes of resilience and everyday absurdities. The series concluded after five years, with the hosts announcing in May 2024 a shift to new projects while expressing intent for future collaborations, maintaining a back catalog available on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Adulting garnered positive reception, earning a 4.8 out of 5 rating from over 3,300 Apple Podcasts reviews and recognition as a must-listen by Ebony magazine for its relatable take on mature-life hurdles. Carlos's contributions emphasize his quick-witted improv style, often drawing from his acting background to role-play scenarios or probe guests on vulnerability, enhancing the podcast's appeal as a blend of entertainment and self-help. No other podcast hosting or co-hosting roles for Carlos have been documented in primary production announcements or episode credits.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Jordan Carlos is married to a woman, with whom he has discussed the unique challenges of their interracial relationship, including cultural differences in daily habits and . He has described his as a "boss lady," crediting her ambition and independence as qualities that enhance their partnership and motivate his own growth. In May 2025, his wife completed a PhD in four years and received an award for her dissertation, an achievement Carlos publicly celebrated as evidence of her exceptional capabilities. The couple has at least two children, including a son referred to as "little man" in a 2020 post and a as of 2023; Carlos has shared routines such as preparing breakfast and driving the children to . He has occasionally posted about family dynamics, such as interactions, indicating a household where the children occasionally bond. Carlos and his reside in Brooklyn, New York.

Comedy style and reception

Humor techniques and thematic focus

Jordan Carlos employs observational humor as a primary technique, drawing from personal experiences in urban environments and social interactions to highlight everyday absurdities, such as where riders avoid eye contact and conversation, or the disproportionate reactions to public affection compared to more extreme public behaviors. He incorporates to amplify these observations, for instance likening the mating calls of humpback whales to awkward human courtship rituals in long-term relationships. Wordplay appears in his sets, as seen in playful reinterpretations of phrases like a dog's growth as "embracing his journey." His delivery is characterized as laid-back and charismatic, fostering a casual that allows audiences to engage with his material without overt intensity. Thematically, Carlos frequently explores racial dynamics, positioning himself as an upper-middle-class Black man navigating predominantly white professional and social spheres, which forms the core of much of his stand-up material. This includes commentary on cultural contrasts from his upbringing to life in New York, such as encounters with street-level threats juxtaposed against his persona. Recurring topics encompass long-term after nearly a decade, the scarcity of romantic narratives for established couples, and challenges with young children. He also delves into urban quirks, like community life and animal behaviors for absurd parallels to human folly, maintaining an "equal opportunity" approach that avoids narrow targeting of any group.

Critical assessments and public impact

Jordan Carlos's stand-up comedy has received generally positive assessments from reviewers, who highlight its charismatic delivery and focus on racial and class dynamics from the perspective of an affluent Black man navigating predominantly white spaces. A 2017 performance review in the Iowa State Daily described his set as "long, but satisfying," noting his casual, laid-back charisma that elicited consistent laughs from the audience. Similarly, a 2015 profile emphasized his routine's emphasis on race as "bread and butter," portraying him as an "upper-middle class black man living and working in a white man's world," which distinguishes his observational humor from more conventional Black comedy tropes. Critics have also noted Carlos's integration of political topics into his material without overt partisanship, blending them with personal anecdotes on nature and everyday absurdities. In a 2017 WUNC , he discussed incorporating jokes about African American responses to mass shootings and broader societal issues, framing his approach as unapologetically direct yet accessible. This style aligns with descriptions of him as an " entertainer," willing to satirize across demographics, as explored in a 2019 Threadless where he reflected on influences from his upbringing and . In terms of public impact, Carlos has cultivated a niche following through consistent stand-up tours and media appearances, performing in venues nationwide and maintaining an active presence on platforms like , where he shares sketches on and urban Black experiences that resonate with everyday audiences. His co-hosting role on the Adulting with , which garners a 4.8 out of 5 rating from over 3,300 reviews on as of 2023, underscores his appeal in delivering "real life advice with a heaping portion of hilarity," extending his influence into for young adults. While not a household name, his recurring contributions and ongoing specials have contributed to broader discussions on class-informed racial humor, without notable controversies or widespread backlash in available critiques.

References

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