HOUSTON – Humble native Cris Sosa has spent 13 years chasing one clear goal: make people laugh. After a string of jobs — from McDonald’s to lifeguarding to retail at Steve Madden — Sosa leaned into comedy full time. Viral stand-up clips and skits put him on the map, catching the attention of names like Issa Rae, Mike Epps and Steve Harvey. For Sosa, auditioning for Season 21 of America’s Got Talent was the next logical step in a career built on hustle and relatable storytelling — and a chance to bring his unique style of comedy to a national stage.
Auditioning for AGT judges
Sosa says performing in front of judges with long comedy pedigrees is both thrilling and humbling. Facing Sofía Vergara, Mel B, Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel — the latter a comic himself — pushed him to showcase the sharp wit and character-driven pieces that have earned him millions of online views and dates with high-profile comedians. AGT’s stage offered a rare opportunity to test material under pressure and introduce his brand of grounded, real-life storytelling to millions.
A hometown watch party and what’s next
This week also brought a special full-circle moment: Sosa is hosting a watch party at Atascocita High School — his alma mater — where he first performed in talent shows, theater and step shows.
Since graduating in 2011, Sosa has performed nationwide, opened for Mike Epps and Steve Harvey, and worked with Issa Rae on the pilot of HBO’s Insecure. Now based in New York, he’s building momentum across the North American comedy circuit while bringing that hometown pride back to Houston.
Watch 'America’s Got Talent' on KPRC 2 — Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
For more on Cris Sosa, visit www.crissosa.com.