Janelle James is a comedian, actress, and writer. In 2009, James began her career at an open mic she attended while living in Champaign, Illinois. In 2016, James' work was recognized by Just for Laughs and Brooklyn magazine. She was also the opening act for Chris Rock's 2017 Total Blackout tour. James released her debut comedy album, Black and Mild. She performed on Netflix's 2018 comedy series "The Comedy Lineup." In 2021, James was a featured comic on Netflix's "The Standups." She starred on the ABC comedy "Abbott Elementary (2021-)." In 2022, she hosted the ABC game show "The Final Straw." Janelle James hosted the 2023 Writers Guild of America Awards.