Ismo Stand-up

James welcomes Finnish stand-up comedian Ismo, who tells the audience about some of the more curious words he's encountered in the English language, and why "no means no" may need a slight revamp.
More Late Late Show:
Subscribe: bit.ly/CordenKZbin
Watch Full Episodes: bit.ly/1ENyPw4
Facebook: on. 19PIHLC
Twitter: bit.ly/1Iv0q6k
Instagram: bit.ly/latelategram
Watch The Late Late Show with James Corden weeknights at 12:35 AM ET/11:35 PM CT. Only on CBS.
Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream live TV, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! bit.ly/1OQA29B
---
Each week night, THE LATE LATE SHOW with JAMES CORDEN throws the ultimate late night after party with a mix of celebrity guests, edgy musical acts, games and sketches. Corden differentiates his show by offering viewers a peek behind-the-scenes into the green room, bringing all of his guests out at once and lending his musical and acting talents to various sketches. Additionally, bandleader Reggie Watts and the house band provide original, improvised music throughout the show. Since Corden took the reigns as host in March 2015, he has quickly become known for generating buzzworthy viral videos, such as Carpool Karaoke."

[@IsmoComedian]

Thanks for having me James!

[@zeer9095]

You were great!!!

[@zeer9095]

You were great!!!

[@KalmaLang]

Great bit. Where can i see more of you? Besides your channel ^_^

[@andrejohansen1073]

Great as usual

[@kepha79]

You are hilarious, keep up the good work and i'm ready for a Netflix special. Greetings from Portugal

[@Stellar73b]

Ismo need his Netflix special!

[@mirvamet]

@Julia K For binging on too much Ismo on Netflix?

[@herttakuusisto8905]

omg so true!!!

[@AdLin2023]

he is not enough black

[@Iceteanpizza]

I’ve only seen 2 videos of him and I can agree lol

[@JKos-cz9lj]

Netflix is a joke, they don't need Ismo anymore.

[@jesse23421]

Rare comedian who doesn’t insult anyone. 👍👍👍

[@mgtowrules1649]

It's called a "Censored" Comedian ?

[@ebra711]

its just different style of comedy

[@timomastosalo]

HatataTata! Let's no be too hasty.

[@henrikorpela2818]

It's called a class act. 😃

[@wtfronsson]

I guess Ismo just makes fun of himself. That'll get old pretty fast. Basic rules of stand up, you need a person or group of people to make fun of. Not for every joke, but you can't go for a whole show telling jokes about yourself.

[@krista3846]

TORILLE

[@EasyFinnish]

Sinne

[@vuokkohaapanen5160]

sielä nähää!

[@EnoVarma]

@deceNt "Kieli!"

[@barkleyu]

berkule

[@v33t16]

Sinne sitte

[@Codefortyseven]

The word I use to tell someone pouring me coffee that it's enough, is "noni".

[@janikarkkainen3904]

Well, "noni" IS the most versatile word in Finnish ;)

[@lemonielala3080]

"nOni" in this case, right?

[@julysunrush4483]

or I say ”kiiiiiiiiitos” untill they stop pouring and make a hand gesture that im about to take the cup

[@timomastosalo]

That means 'you poured too much'

[@timomastosalo]

@@lemonielala3080 Better No-nii...

[@psilosieni]

he has a really unique and amazing view about how words work. And comedic timing 5/5

[@zjusten]

Each language is its own point of view. When you compare languages, you note the differences. If you can hang the conversation about those differences into a simple enough context ("I've lived here for few years now but I still notice these things..") then you have material for a lifetime. In case you're interested in the sense of humour, there are a lot of books written about how different languages express ideas. If you want a bit less serious, translated literature usually retains the POV of the original writer and their language. Classic Russian literature is the go-to example.

[@jukkasaksi]

I think we have same kind of word in Finnish - ap pa pa pa pa pa pa 🤔! It means "it is enough"

[@maz6606]

It's because of his Physics and Science background

[@athanott]

That was perfect! As a foreigner in England I’m in awe that you have the courage to do comedy in a different language! You nailed it!

[@SamiJumppanen]

Yeah, it's pretty amazing how he does it!

[@millyindiana]

He did comedy in Finland for a long time and was and is one of the best comedians we have! Then he went onto some competition "funniest man in the world" and won sooooooooo he lives in america now.

[@brogrammerplus7683]

I’m your 499th like

[@arikakarin2323]

" 'No' means 'No' " "well.. Probably" I'm dead 😂 Plus. Nice to see him here.. First time I saw him he is in Laugh Factory..

[@rocarlosdavis622]

No You are probably way more funnier than that guy..trust me👽🙂

[@gojewla]

RIP.

[@uja2183]

He is the funniest man in finland

[@darrylcarnell9095]

That guy is always a hilarious dude, right on, clever observational humor slays my blues!

[@multima1000]

Is that a thing " slays my blues " I have never ever heard anything like that.

[@darrylcarnell9095]

@@multima1000 it's a thing if you want it to be, the good thing about it is it conveys exactly what I meant, his jokes slayed my blues (and dont think for a second that auto correct accepted it without attempting to change it) use it if it works for you, that guy slays my blues. Gave a great day.

[@MiekkariKonna]

@@darrylcarnell9095 i so understood that tho I'm finn. How would you use or can a native speaker use the word DOWN? Does it sound stupid to say SLAYS MY DOWN ? Which is my guess but maybe it should be said SLAYS MY DOWNER ? Or do they mean different than BLUES ?

[@darrylcarnell9095]

@@MiekkariKonna oh shit, I do not wish to educate anyone incorrectly, I am a bad example of coloring in the lines in my own coloring book, (wink) but the way I see it, it can be anything you want say, and his comedy slays my blues down. And no, it is not stupid, only mean words are contextually stupid. You are awesome, be well, and dont forget to share a smile in this world of frowns, slay the blues down!

[@rasmussyrjala1370]

@@darrylcarnell9095 yes mean wors are stupid, remember language

[@Nick.Knows.Nothing]

Probably the funniest stand-up set I've seen on a late night show in ages.

[@janski1982]

You have got to be kidding me?!?

[@arikakarin2323]

"No" means "ha-ta-ta-ta-ta"

[@0001754]

Sorry but that's not the way it's spelled. I know because I have seen Ismo's wifi password

[@arikakarin2323]

@@0001754 you got me 😂

[@emlokkolme9504]

Aappap-pappap-pap-pap-pap-pap

[@rafpac6]

You are already dead!

[@yrrahyrrah]

*hötötötötöttö

[@theawsmsauce]

Posted on James Corden but all I heard was Jimmy Kimmel laughing in the background lol

[@woochitelj]

Hahahaha yeah, I actually had to recheck which talk show I was watching at the moment xD

[@siniaura]

No that was the bandleader :)

[@theawsmsauce]

@@siniaura yea I realized after that apparently Reggie and Kimmel have the same laugh. Lol

[@SamiJumppanen]

LOL!

[@Vaiskipelaa]

Ismo my man on the move. Finally the world can see a bit of Finnish humor.

[@aaporasanen5754]

974 11q

[@a.w.3772]

Finnish humor is unique yet Ismo has a humor all of his own.

[@rafaniedzielski2250]

​@@a.w.3772 hyvaa paivaa, talvisota & jatkasota

[@danimation88]

I love how has to get his lips ready for the "ha-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta" everytime lol

[@MegaMantero]

It is his trademark

[@mikrokupu]

As a native Finnish speaker myself I have to concentrate to pronounce ha-ta-ta-ta.. doesn't come out easy. Perhaps the same with Ismo :)

[@RistoMononenIte]

I’ll never get the hatatata intonation right

[@flav2689]

Well obviously - it's doesn't come naturally if you are not a native speaker. And Finnish is almost in every possible way the opposite of English so it doesn't really help. 😂

[@Zola777]

and the hand

[@stadironin]

Ismo's jokes are smart it's all about intelligence.

[@carolusmartellus6552]

Exactly. Ismo is the smart alec

[@rocarlosdavis622]

Ai... intelligence..46 times voted or like now👽😍🤫🙂

[@Vilppy]

Relax. You’re making it seem like that you have to have a PhD to understand his humor

[@tige.8382]

@@Vilppy relax they're from Scandinavia humour isnt so common over there

[@TheSakaradast]

intelligents nowadays start if someone can count to three

[@Arnuuld]

Hyvä Ismo! Greetings from Sweden

[@abcdecghijklmn]

Tjänare kompismannen från sämre sidan av viken

[@Jepex_]

@Eemeli Plays mikäköhän sullaki on?

[@FinnPotato]

@@Jepex_ pakkoruotsi vituttaa, niku aina.

[@Jepex_]

@@FinnPotato no joo mut ei ruotsalaisissa oo mitään vikaa

[@Mongoliantiger]

You forgot vegetarian feminists

[@ladypeace8912]

I always love to hear foreigners perspective on our social issues in America. Funny thing is I'm an American living in Finland...

[@bige1106]

I also like to hear foreigners perspective on America, as well I like to hear foreigners perspective on Finland, I just never have met anyone that has one on Finland! I'm a Finn living in America!

[@ladypeace8912]

Big E haha that’s funny. We are opposite. I am living in your land and you in mine. Life is strange like that. As for a foreigners perspective on Finland...I have a lot of that!

[@bige1106]

@@ladypeace8912That's great as we can laugh about both cultures, it adds an interesting perspective indeed!

[@zztopz7090]

This wasn't about social issues, really. Nobody actually cares about American social issues because when you think American, issues don't really come to mind. Middle East and Africa, China, now there's a story.

[@kosovaisalbania3720]

And did you lazy ass learn any Finnish ? 😉

[@Irishduffy76]

Haven't seen anyone dissect the English language in such a humorous way since Carlin.

[@Chrispbacon94]

Irishduffy76 he has another great one on the word “shit”

[@Irishduffy76]

@@Chrispbacon94 Yes, and his "ass" one on Conan is great, too. I've seen him live in LA half a dozen times. He's always fantastic.

[@JesperoTV]

That's really high praise :)

[@epictetus9221]

Except Mitch Hedberg

[@SkeleOfNi]

@@JesperoTV Super high praise. o.o

[@sofiamattila8798]

Suomi mainittu, torille! 🇫🇮

[@edcast6705]

Saw him on conan a while back dude is still killing it.

[@jarnolaasala7509]

Ismo ❤

[@Schusy123]

Jarno

[@bootaomeyn]

The thumbnail looks like he's a fun guy. I was not wrong. Funny guy! ❤️

[@ShaunDell.]

You should check his youtube channel for more funny clips.

[@MrZarewna]

Funniest stand up comedian I know. I've been following his stuff since.... 2007? Long time, wow.

[@mainadonaldson]

Check his bit on "shit". It's the shit!

[@MrAatami]

@@MrZarewna I remember him from early 2000's TV, he did some "reports". Then he did a show in like an army cafeteria in 2009, that's when I started following him more.

[@KingRat355]

He is a genius. Time goes by fast when you watch his videos.

[@batize]

Give this man a special already!

[@kikchik67]

I adore Ismo and I have fallen in love with his comedy and with Finland since visiting three years ago and every summer since then. I love how incredibly intelligent he is, and yet how sweet and charming and he has absolutely no need to “work blue.”

[@kookoo9235]

So you've only seen Finland in the summer? If so, keep it that way, never come here during winter or atleast not early winter or autumn, this perpetual night will drive you crazy. On that note, it's been 3 weeks since the last glimpse of sun and that was 30 minutes... Send help.

[@kikchik67]

@@kookoo9235 Yes, I have visited Finland so far only in the summer. My girlfriend who lives in Helsinki has told me that I am a California weather wimp and that I cannot stand the winters in Finland 🇫🇮!! And she is probably right!! 😅😂🤣😂🥶🥶🥶

[@user-yd4rn4ez6m]

@@kikchik67 I think you should come during Christmas time, the snow is beautiful, especially up north

[@dunnoher]

Ha-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta

[@Songfugel]

In Japanese this is actually o-to-to-to-to-to xD

[@Merrinen]

From Finnish perspective it would be written as hä-tä-tä-tä-tä-tä which can be funny as hätä means emergency/distress/urgency while tä (or täh) is what you say if you didn't hear what was said or understand something.

[@aurora3661]

@@Merrinen isn't it like aappap-pappap-pap-pap, at least that's how I would say it in finnish

[@Merrinen]

Aurora Garcia Yes, that is the Finnish equivalent, what I referred to above is how a Finn would write the one as heard from the video :)

[@S.Clause]

The man we need right now

[@niklasleppanen9899]

As a Finnish guy, it’s so nice to see and hear Ismo being so funny in English 😊 Loistavaa Ismo!!

[@rafaniedzielski2250]

Hyvaa paivaa, talvisota & jatkasota - Greetins from Poland

[@booknerdjebbi5037]

I genuinely laughed out loud, when I normally just smile or huff at stand-up videos. I love his topic because I always find languages interesting.

[@salvon.960]

This comedy style is pure genius.

[@jeffrutledge662]

Saw him at Montreal Just for Laughs Festival this summer and he stole the show at the Gala he performed at. He's hilarious!

[@arianator2723]

and he is from Finland 🇫🇮🤯

[@ahmo2]

@@arianator2723 Onko ismo perkele suomesta?!

[@arianator2723]

@ahmo2 on kai

[@klarastern5597]

wow... he's really observant! And he knows how to make it funny.... Really hope to see/hear more from him!

[@timomastosalo]

Check his channel Just type this in the search: Ismo Leikola

[@allisoncoppola7451]

You know when someone is good when you can hear James' laugh over everyone else. lol This guy is hilarious. Love his delivery!

[@tee1778]

He's adorable

[@Ama-Elaini]

He feels like the next door guy you'd like to know and invite to parties. Other than that, with the right hat he'd make a great leprechaun (which I don't think as a bad thing at all).

[@tee1778]

@@Ama-Elaini yes!

[@ToveriJuri]

Him acting kind of awkward and nervous is part of his shtick. He's been doing that pretty much since he started even when he was just doing gigs here in Finland, but when you see him out of character he acts pretty confidently.

[@tee1778]

@@ToveriJuri that's interesting

[@normanmunns4743]

Brilliant delivery This man knows just when to pause and how to milk every bit of laughter from the audience. Pure genius

[@wendygreen4234]

He’s funny, smart and likable, well done

[@justageneraluser]

Ismo in 2040: "I've been in America now for 25 years and I'm still trying to understand this crazy language." 😂

[@deemiller5024]

That was brilliant how he tied the two together!

[@roponen332]

great to see fellow countryman succeeding in the USA by making hilarious Stand-up =) We all are proud of him here in the cold north!

[@littlexel]

One of the best late night comedy sets ive seen in a long time!

[@user-vh2ml6be9b]

I love him so much. He is the funniest man in the world!

[@grizzofeu653]

Well he had that title once

[@anttikettunen8601]

Great punchline and a way to round it up. 10 points Finland (and Ismo)!

[@yticivam]

😂😂😂 Let's hut-tut-tut-tut-tut-tut-tut the cat-callers and gropers out there.

[@UnclePutte]

Maybe he means that you should pour hot coffee on them.

[@firebreathercat133]

@@UnclePutte Why not both?

[@SkurtavusGrodolfus]

The Swedish version, at least where I'm from, would be: Ap-ap-ap-ap-ap-ap

[@mikrokupu]

hah same in Finnish.. or po-po-po-po

[@Codefortyseven]

You spelled ABBA incorrectly.

[@Gambiinakeisari]

The real Finnish version: nonni riittää vittu

[@jannelakkapaa6057]

Or just inhaling rapidly through your lips

[@jannelakkapaa6057]

@@Gambiinakeisari eikä ole ko sanotaan että voin ottaa puoli kuppia ja ko toinen kaataa enemmän niin aletaan vetään kuppia pois alta sanomatta mitään

[@CLB30ROX]

I love this guy so much! It's really cool to see him go mainstream.

[@Alpenyodler]

You are the best! Just what America needs right know.... Comedy instead of controversy. Love me some Ismo! Hope you get to do a special soon.

[@equalizer1553]

Ismo’s calibration to audiences and venues is incredible.

[@charlesyateschalfant]

How can you not love this guy!? So original, smart and mostly clean. One of my favourites along with John Pinette (R.I.P.)

[@zrfitness9898]

This Man Deserves a Netflix special!!! Hit Like if you agree !!!

[@miguelk.705]

seen bits and pieces of his material years ago, they were always gold. can't wait for him to do a long set in english

[@mikrokupu]

I admire him, doing stand-up in a foreign language and making it work.Finnish and English are so different languages, in many ways.

[@MikkoRantalainen]

I think he has already done longer gigs in English but you have to go to the show to see those. I don't know why, but he doesn't seem to release recordings of his shows in general.

[@tee1778]

I love this so much I genuinely enjoyed it

[@pubgiajaturinoita9128]

Yes Ismo how they can know the second "NO" either😂😂😂😂😂

[@teuvolaamanen3739]

Mä Annan

[@OvayBrandao]

This guy's language observations are so subtle that some natives might not even get them :)

[@laythbarzangi8477]

Is there a 'b' in 'subtle'?

[@kristinashulygina2925]

I’m crying from laughter 😂😂

[@magillanz]

Ismo is my all time Finnish favourite comedian. really nice guy also

[@TidusMino]

Absolutely love Ismo! One of my favourite Stand-ups.

[@jarskil8862]

One of the few comedians who can keep politics away from their shows. 5/5

[@thejjzz]

He sometimes talks about politics, but he has that skill to talk about politics without making political statements.

[@Aeturnalis]

I started studying suomea a week ago, watched a few videos on grammar and so one, and now this dude shows up on KZbin for me? Fuck, wish I would have started learning Finnish back in 2007 when I first heard of Korpiklaani! Kiitos funny man

[@needtoknowbasis5620]

people that make people laugh, such as yourself, are among the most valuable people there are

[@maxxuman9915]

His "new word" cracked me up. Very funny guy.

[@osmanmustafa7237]

This guy is the GOAT

[@gswithen]

That is the most brilliant 5 minutes of comedy that I've ever seen. Ismo needs his own show immediately. Well done, my friend. 👏

[@eero6326]

Thank you Ismo! You make my life happier, super hugs to you. Keep up the great work!

[@kasperjoonatan6014]

I admired James in carpool karaoke, in Pet Shop Boys tribute in the Brits and now I admire him for taking Ismo on 🧡

[@DeserieSiordia]

He’s so adorable!

[@janneplanman6433]

Ismo is evolving! His show in english shows his professional skills and talent🇫🇮

[@garbarcgaming9648]

Way to bring it full circle! I love it when comedians can do that effortlessly.

[@danielmainga5304]

This guy is just a legend

[@gm2256]

I love Ismo. Hope this appearance gets you more well deserved eyes and ears on your comedy. I learned of you from your performance on Conan so it is definitely important. Rock on Ismo!

[@citadelofwinds1564]

Conan has a soft spot for Finland and vice versa. Turns out he's a twin for Finland's ex-president Tarja Halonen. He travelled there about 10 years and did a show around that.

[@gm2256]

@@citadelofwinds1564 haha yeah I rememeber that! I was in high school at the time and listened to some Finnish bands so it was cool for him to do that.

[@hawihawi9260]

I like him. He has a unique way to comedy

[@piipa74]

A Finn taking notes: How do you spell the hat-tat-....? This goes into my vocabulary if I can figure out what Ismo said.

[@kede777]

Hötötötöttöttö

[@jere1342]

piipa74 Subtidles are available as well

[@piipa74]

@@kede777 hut dud dud dud?

[@piipa74]

@@jere1342 just joking around 😜

[@bompp1]

@@piipa74 hätätätätätätättät

[@rafaelalesniak8550]

He remininds me of that alien that eats lots of sandwitches from lilo and stich. 😂😂😂

[@timomastosalo]

And the name you give to that type of bread: sand... - No thanks, not on my bread!

[@coloripple]

Hahaha that cracked me up wayy too much xD

[@AprilKristiin]

Yes, finally! 🙌 I've been waiting for this🎉

[@mirvasaarijarvi]

Just golden!

[@QXZ9027MKII]

So smooth Ismo, so smooth God bless you Sir.

[@robertbeger4275]

Over the last years Ismo has become one of my all time favorite comedians. I just wish there was more of him. He really deserves a special.

[@Chrispbacon94]

he has another one on the meaning of the word "Sh*t" that was great!!

[@mariamor58]

Truelly refreshing smart comedy. Thank you Ismo!

[@ukdavepianoman]

Brilliantly funny...intelligent, hilarious and his "nervous and suprised" delivery and timing are just perfect.

[@himarukulawardene8016]

This is actually an all time epic piece of stad up comedy. The guy is very analytical and skillfully uses same for comedy. Brilliant

[@nursultantulyakbay7070]

Brilliant! One of the funniest comedians today!

[@MinimiMax]

I feel like he's way funnier in English than in Finnish. I mean his Finnish stuff can be good too but I'm practically cry laughing every time I watch his English stuff.

[@bige1106]

I agree, luckily I can listen in both languages, however the "noni" skit is very good, makes me laugh every time.

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

Agreed. Prkl.

[@gJonii]

I'm liking his English stuff but I think the variety in topics is still very much lacking. He mostly does language and superficial observations about American culture. I eagerly await for when he starts to really expand his topic selection.

[@bige1106]

@@gJonii agreed, he will eventually need to, however you know us Finns, we like to use everything to the last drop!

[@wellthen...1539]

I feel there is no difference between the sets in finnish or english. To me he seems like the same guy in both languages, same style. My all time favorite Ismo joke was the "Ismon palli" bit in finnish. Unfortunately I have not been able to find in a long time.

[@YayaIsSilly]

I always enjoy his great play on words

[@isabellepinkerton7542]

I discovered video's of lsmo this past August 2023 Ismo's demeanor and his smart and gentle humor make me laugh out loud😂 and consequently feeling happy 😊

[@mountainlion124]

And on the note of language, when the person who said the curse word realizes they offended someone, they would say "Pardon my French."

[@rasmussyrjala1370]

Thats genius

[@yonakupp4743]

Ok I love this guy!!!

[@dschoene57]

The "yelling transportation" line was so epic. I completely lost it 🤣🤣

[@davidgraham3162]

Such a tight and well-crafted act.

[@thexen]

More Ismo

[@mercatorpsi]

Crushed it! Way to go Ismo!

[@babymaude8469]

This guy is precious.

[@lynneleeluckdowsing6654]

Brilliant as always!

[@3DxPOD]

Very good set! Great work ISMO!

[@reettaoo77]

Yesss, proud of you Ismo!

[@wowbddlz8334]

No means “No” is a real good one 👍🏻👍🏻

[@navilearn5300]

One of the smartest stand up acts I've watched this year!!

[@bionicmarge]

Love this guy

[@georgejacob3162]

He's brilliant!

[@ulrichschwarz110]

My favourite humor: intelligent humor! I can't stop watching his videos.

[@ilmaisetvedotcom4923]

I just loved it! Keep on going!