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Star Spotlight
Lil' JJ was born James Lewis in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ask his close-knit family, and they'll tell you he's been making people laugh since before he could talk! JJ got his big break on the BET comedy competition Coming to the Stage. He was the youngest contestant, and won hands down. Appearances on The Tonight Show and Showtime at the Apollo followed, and JJ was quickly dubbed "the prince of comedy." Soon JJ was flooded with offers to develop a show based on his comedy act. The result? Just Jordan, already one of the top-rated shows on Nickelodeon. We recently sat down with JJ at the Nickelodeon offices in New York City, and got the scoop on his career, his family, and more. Read on!
Q & A
Q:
Tell us about your character on Just Jordan.
JJ: Jordan is a teenager. He grew up in Arkansas—which is where I'm from—and he basically had everything he wanted. Whatever he wanted, he asked for it, and he got it the next day—a bike, money, whatever. But when he moved to L.A. to work at his Grandpa's diner, he didn't get what he wanted. He had to earn it. There's a good message in each episode.
Q:
Do you and the other kids from the show hang out together?
JJ: Yes. We all get along really well. On the set, we have fun, crack jokes, run around... When they need us to be on set, we'll be in the other room, playing games. We have a good time. And once we're done shooting on Friday, we're either headed to the movies or to do something fun.
Q:
What do you like best about being on the set of Just Jordan?
JJ: I'm surrounded by an awesome cast. I'm not competing. That's the main thing. I'm not on the set thinking that I'm better than this person or this person's better than me. We all get along. I look forward to coming to work.
Q:
You are originally from Arkansas. How often do you go home?
JJ: I try to go home as often as possible. Of course, I live in Los Angeles now, but I go home every [chance] I get. I go straight home. That's my hometown and that's how I get away from everything that I'm doing with the show.
Q:
Is your family funny?
JJ: Oh, yes. You always have the funny uncle and the funny auntie that run the family. My family never makes it a big deal that I'm doing what I'm doing. Nothing has changed. Everybody's got a sense of humor. So I get a lot of material just from being around my family
Q:
You have two younger brothers and a younger sister. Do they want to get into showbiz?
JJ: No, they all have their own talents. My sister plays basketball. My brother plays football and is a video-game freak. And then my six-year-old brother is the other comedian.
Q:
You are homeschooled now. But is there anything that you miss about regular school?
JJ: Being in a class with a lot of people. It's not even about making them laugh. It's just about being in a class with other people. Now that I'm being homeschooled, I'm the only one in class. So there's nobody I can talk to. When the teacher asks a question, I don't have a choice. I have to raise my hand. I miss things like proms and homecomings.
Q:
What is your favorite subject?
JJ: I'm a big fan of math. And I'm trying to boost my vocabulary because I write a lot.
Q:
Why do you like math?
JJ: Of course, with the industry that I'm in right now, you've got to know a little something. But math, of course, is a challenge and I like to figure out stuff.
Q:
Do you have a favorite book?
JJ: I'm a Harry Potter fan. I have them all. I like seeing all the magical stuff that happens and watching him get out of different situations. And when you watch the movies, you get into it like you're actually there.
—Interview by Marie Morreale
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Lil' JJ is the star of Just Jordan, one of the top-rated shows on Nickelodeon.
(Photo: Courtesy of Nickelodeon/Just Jordan)
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STAR STATS
Star Calendar
New episodes of Just Jordan air Sundays at 7:30 p.m. (or check local listings)
Star Stats
Name: James Lewis
Stage Name: Lil' JJ
Birth Date: October 31, 1990
Birthplace: Little Rock, Arkansas
Star Faves
Sports: basketball and football
Movie: Rush Hour
Food: fruit
Drink: Sprite
Candy: Skittles
Color: red
Holiday: Thanksgiving
Childhood Book: Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss
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