In anticipation of hisHBO comedy special(Thursday at 10 p.m. Jones was diagnosed with stage-4 mesothelioma cancer last year and was given a year to live.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you get your name?
So, I put down my name as Quincy Jones so she wouldnt figure out it was me.
Credit: Janet Van Ham/HBO
Talk about your diagnosis.
I went in at the end of 2014.
My stomach is filled up with ascites, which is fluid in the body.
A few months later, they gave me the prognosis of a year.
Thats when I was like, Nah, I think Im going ignore that.
I dont think Im going to die in a year.
I cant see myself withering away on August 6, 2016.
Like, there was almost a desperation for me to survive.
And thats what I did.
You created a Kickstarter page to raise money for your own comedy special.
Our goal originally was $5,000 and we blew past that to $50,000.
Before appearing onEllen, where did you think the special would air?
I was hoping Netflix or Comedy Central.
HBO was like the Holy Grail.
What was your initial thought whenEllenbooked you after hearing about your Kickstarter campaign?
My initial thought was shock because at first I didnt believe it was the segment producer saying those things.
I thought it was like a friend or something playing a prank on me.
[On the show], she turned to the camera and said, Hey HBO, Netflix.
You guys are watching this.
just do something for this guy.
That was off the script.
A week later, HBO wants to do it.
I was like, What?
Has your illness provided you with new material?
I dont even really acknowledge my cancer.
I know sometimes my energy drops, sometimes Ill get really tired or sad.
Ill know that its because of the cancer.
But other than that I just dont.
What material do you feel comfortable joking about?
Im an observational throw in guy, poking fun at stuff or making dark stuff funny.
After the cancer diagnosis, how have you changed as a comic?
It just makes me a little more grateful.
It makes me a little less judgmental of comedy.
People are just trying.
Everyones just trying to get by out there.
