Plattsburgh State’s Activities Coordination Board hosted stand-up comic Jessimae Peluso from MTV’s “Girl Code” Monday night. Her jokes based on relatable topics such as hookup culture, Nutella and farting had the audience laughing nonstop.
Peluso’s friend Marcella Arguello opened for her. The duo, whose friendship started on Twitter and grew with their love for all things funny, are touring the United States together. Arguello described Peluso as genuine.
“She is exactly who she is on ‘Girl Code,'” Arguello said.
After answering questions from a few audience members, she set aside time to talk with Cardinal Points.
How has your first time ever in Plattsburgh been?
Peluso: Plattsburgh is really charming. It kind of reminds me of Syracuse (her hometown), but it’s a little bit smaller. But, it’s good people. It seems like hard-working people here, and also kind of scary. I feel like there’s a lot of haunted places. It feels really old. It’s like you drive by a house, you’re like, ‘Oh my God, I think Ben Franklin’s ghost is still there.’ Even though he’s not from here, he’s just like, ‘Yo, this place is so old, I’m just going to haunt this place as well.’ It’s filled with beautiful houses and ghosts!
What was the first joke you ever told?
Peluso: This may be the first or second joke I told. I said, ‘My father likes to drink a lot of coffee, but he doesn’t like Chock Full o’Nuts. He wants Chock Full o’Tits.’ (Laughs) So bad! Because it’s like what does it even mean? (Laughs) It’s just a joke about my dad liking boobs, but it has nothing to do with coffee. I was like 18 when I wrote that.
During your performance, you described Syracuse as a depressing place to grow up. How did you get the courage to leave and get into comedy?
Peluso: I didn’t get into comedy until after I left, but I guess I just knew I wanted more than what the city was providing for me at that time in my life, and I just wanted to take the risk and leave. I moved to Boston, just a little-bit-bigger of a city, and, I just, you know, took that risk. My parents were really supportive, and I just wanted to leave. It was hard because I didn’t go to college. I left college. I was there for like less than a year to pursue something that I didn’t know if it was going to work or not. No regrets whatsoever. You got to just make your decision and deal with your consequences. Right now, my consequences are OK (laughs). It’s pretty great.
You spoke a little bit about your dog and animals and even compared yourself to a pooping gazelle at one point. What’s your spirit animal, if you have one?
Peluso: I think my spirit animal is definitely a horse because they’re still wild, and I just think that’s pretty dope to be connected to the Earth and just be able to run free with no pants on (Laughs). And no one’s trying to really kill you, because all the other animals, everyone’s trying to shoot. No one’s trying to shoot a horse — and if you’re trying to shoot a horse, you’re the worst person ever! I’m going to start like a horse union.
Why do you like to perform on college campuses?
Peluso: I like to talk to the students. I like to do questions. Hopefully I can shed some light on some awkward situations — live! I obviously like that from “Girl Code,” so I like to be able to come do that live and share some personal experiences with them in front of their faces so they know it’s not all bull—- on TV. I’m really saying and speaking from my heart and from experience, so I think that’s pretty dope. Not everybody has an older sister that can sort of ‘Hey, don’t do this, don’t do that. Keep a wet nap in your purse because sometimes you get a little funky. Keep a little lip gloss for when you feel like you’re not yourself, some gum — you never know when you’re going to run into a dude. You don’t want to have s—breath when you run into your soul mate in the street.’
What was your favorite question asked of you tonight?
Peluso: (Laughs) I thought it was funny when the guys asked me if i ever had a pregnancy scare. I thought it was hilarious, because I feel like it’s a good opportunity to ask a question that has to do with them, but they can word it so it’s not, so I wonder if those guys (were) like, ‘Yo, what are we going to do with Stacey? I think she’s pregnant.’ I thought that was funny.
What was the best advice you gave today?
Peluso: I always love to give advice that has to do with people just following their dreams and not being motivated by money and treating people right and not trying to look like anybody else as far as beauty is concerned, you know, just trying to stay true to who you are as a person and pursue something that you love, and hopefully it does something good for other people.
Anything else you want to say to the students?
Peluso: I don’t know if I’m going to survive Plattsburgh if I go out drinking with them tonight.
She’s continuing her tour throughout the country.
RELATED: ACB’s journey to bring Jessimae Peluso to Plattsburgh State.
Email Amanda Velez at web@cardinalpointsonline.com
