Care to Laugh With Jesus Trejo AARP Studios Caregiver Stories

AARP Studios Presents Care to Laugh

Documentary on comedian and caregiver Jesus Trejo is now available to order

AARP Studios presents Care to Laugh, a feature-length documentary on Jesus Trejo, a rising star in the comedy world who is pursuing his dream while caring for his aging parents. Jesus' world is flipped upside down when his mother, Adelaida, undergoes emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor. Later, the family receives more devastating news: Jesus’ father, Antonio, is diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer. Transforming adversity into comedy, he uses his life experience as material for his routine. When his set catches the eye of producers at The Late Late Show with James Corden, Jesus may have scored the big break he’s been banking on.

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A Millennial Caregiver br

Being the primary caregiver for his parents limits how much Jesus Trejo can travel for comedy work. When he books a big gig in San Jose, Calif., he decides to take Antonio and Adelaida along. Here, the family embarks on a 6.5-hour road trip from their home in Los Angeles to the San Jose Improv Comedy Club. Jesus just hopes he packed the right electronics. of

Whatever It Takes

After his father’s cancer diagnosis, Jesus returns to the family’s landscaping business. Jesus must now find additional time between auditions and comedy shows to help his father mow lawns all over Los Angeles. of

The Toll

Every day, Jesus spends hours in his car commuting from his family home in Long Beach to jobs, comedy clubs and auditions in Los Angeles. His days start early in the morning, with doctor appointments for his parents, but they often end late, as some open-mic nights last until 2 a.m. Here, Jesus takes a moment just to catch his breath. of

Dedicated to His Craft

In the mirror and in his car, in hallways and in back stairwells at clubs, Jesus is constantly working on perfecting his comedy routine. He often records his shows, watches them back and, of course, obsesses over the tiniest of mistakes — all in pursuit of that perfect set. Jesus watches a recording of a previous performance minutes before he steps onstage. of

One Joke at a Time

If there’s an open slot at any comedy club, Jesus is always looking to add his name to the list. Going onstage and trying new material is what allows Jesus to see what’s working for audiences and the kind of timing that’s required. Here, Jesus tries out a new joke at a show in Hollywood. of

Life Made Easier With Laughter

As Jesus’ father, Antonio, is about to leave home for a new round of medical tests regarding his colon cancer, there’s more than enough worry and concern to go around. However, Jesus lightens the mood by questioning his father’s choice of undergarments. of

Holding Tight

Fearing that Antonio’s colon cancer might have returned, Jesus’ parents hold tight to one another. The couple have been together for more than three decades. of

Faith and Family

Jesus’ parents are devoted parishioners of their church, which is a short walk from their apartment. Here, Jesus’ mom, Adelaida, gives him a blessing before he leaves for the day. of

Balancing Act

During a photo shoot, Jesus strikes the perfect balancing pose. Here, art is certainly imitating life, as Jesus is constantly trying to find new ways to balance his family’s caregiving needs with his own comedic dreams. of

Always Clowning Around

According to Jesus, his mom always thought he was funny. His dad, however, needed a bit more convincing. Here, Adelaida shows off her easy smile, whereas Antonio has other ideas. of

Center Stage

Despite the many challenges he faces at home, Jesus never fails to bring the funniest parts of his life with his parents to the stage. His honest and unique way of looking at his life and the world around him is what connects audiences to Jesus as a comic and as a person. Under the spotlight, Jesus shares another two or three minutes of his own story with the crowd and, in so doing, he takes time for himself, does what he loves and makes people laugh. of ADVERTISEMENT

Meet Jesus Trejo

Jesus Trejo is one of the fastest rising names in the stand-up comedy scene. Born and raised in Long Beach, Trejo recently debuted his first hour stand-up special Stay at Home Son that premiered on Showtime in May 2020. He can be seen recurring as the role of Mr. Trujillo on the Netflix series Mr. Iglesias, and in roles on Alone Together (Freeform) and Teachers (TV Land). Jesus is also the host of Tacos Con Todo, the newest web series from Complex/First We Feast (Hot Ones) in which he navigates the LA taco scene with celebrity guests. Jesus was named a Variety Top 10 Comic to watch at the prestigious Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal in 2017 and is a paid regular at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

More About Caregiving

Of the estimated 40 million unpaid family caregivers in the United States, about 1 in 4 are millennials.
73 percent of millennial family caregivers also have a job, a proportion higher than any other generation. In addition to working, they spend, on average, 21 hours a week caring for loved ones — the equivalent of a part-time job (53 percent of millennial caregivers work full time; 31 percent work part time). 54 percent say their caregiving role affects their work in a significant way, and most also say that neither their supervisors nor their coworkers know that they have caregiving responsibilities. “No matter who you are, at some point in the future, you’ll either be a caregiver or need one.” —Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO, AARP

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