He's known as "El Diablo" or "El Amo del Sarcasmo" — a comedian whose black humor skewers anything in his path. But Franco Escamilla is much more than just another funny, prickly comedian: He's also a gifted storyteller and an acute observer of Mexican life, mining regional differences (or differences between small towns and big cities) to craft comedy out of his fans' daily experiences. A self-deprecating presence on stage, Escamilla can make comedy out of the smallest moment — even something as simple as his wife falling asleep in the car — and frequently uses his own life experiences as raw material. Escamilla also showcases his skills as both singer and guitarist by punctuating his shows with short comic songs. He began touring in 2014 and has undertaken numerous treks that have brought him as far afield as Europe, Australia and Japan. His 2017 tour "Por la anécdota" became a Netflix special, and in 2019 he launched his "Payaso" tour, which would run through 2021.

Franco Escamilla Background

Escamilla was born in 1981 in Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico. He moved to Monterrey, Mexico, with his mother when he was just 16 years old to study at a music school while working in bars and restaurants around the city. He quickly distinguished himself as a multitalented performer, but comedy claimed him — and he proved an industrious denizen of the form, turning out a raft of radio shows, television spots and live performances. Estrella TV featured "El show de Franco Escamilla," and Comedy Central even featured him on a few shows. As his fame grew, so did his venues: He became the first comedian to headline some of the country's most storied performance spaces, including the Mexico City Arena, and he even headlined Carnegie Hall. Netflix specials followed, including Por la anécdota, Comediantes del mundo and Bienvenido al mundo. He keeps busy with a regular YouTube show called "La Mesa Reñoña." But Escamilla never forgot his musical aspirations, and in 2016, he made his musical debut at Mexico's Trovafest, performing with the Argentinean band Los Caligaris. He released his first album, Fe (recorded with Edgar Oceransky), in 2017, which revealed the comic's earnest side with a set of lovely acoustic folk songs.