Zainab Johnson Dates Netflix Stand-Up Special ‘Toxically Optimistic’ Marking First From Obamas’ Higher Ground

EXCLUSIVE: Zainab Johnson has announced that her second comedy special, Toxically Optimistic — the first produced by the Obamas’ Higher Ground — will premiere on Netflix on October 27.

Johnson’s special, which she wrote, performed, directed and co-produced, is based on a show that she performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, which was nominated for Best Comedy Show at The List Festival Awards. Marking an expansion of her relationship with Netflix after co-hosting their 2020 reality series 100 Humans, it finds her mining life’s setbacks, absurdities and contradictions through the lens of her unapologetically optimistic worldview.

“In Toxically Optimistic,” Johnson said, “I gave myself permission to be silly by inviting the audience to focus on the good during a time when chaos and fear are at an all time high. I encourage everyone to find a little whimsy in the most unexpected situations.”

Jessie Dicovitsky, who serves as Head of TV at Higher Ground and exec produced the special, told us: “We’re honored to partner with Zainab on Toxically Optimistic and to bring her singular voice and perspective to audiences around the world. This special is a wonderful way for Higher Ground to enter the stand-up space, and we couldn’t be more optimistic about producing Zainab’s hilarious and truly original hour.”

Johnson is a comedian, actress, and writer best known for starring in all four seasons of Prime Video’s Upload. She released her debut hour, Hijabs Off, on Prime Video in 2023 and has also been seen on Late Night with Seth Meyers, NBC’s Last Comic Standing and HBO’s All Def Comedy.

As a stand-up, Johnson has performed internationally at festivals and venues including Just for Laughs Montreal, the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh. She is represented by CAA, Avalon USA, and Knol Hanly Garrett.

Higher Ground is best known for projects like Leave the World Behind, Crip Camp, Rustin and American Symphony, in addition to the podcasts IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, The Wonder of Stevie and Fela Kuti: Fear No Man. The company, founded by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, has scored three Oscar nominations and one win, 12 Emmy nominations, and three Grammy nominations since its 2018 founding.