From Weed to Autism to ADHD and back to Weed: AJ Wilkerson's comedy chops just keep getting better

AJ Wilkerson performing at Desert Ridge Improv in Phoenix, AZ on May 24, 2025. Photographed by Alex Gold.

There's something weirdly comforting about coming back to see the same comedian. Not in a stalker way–more like that friend who insists on ordering the same dish every time you hit your favorite restaurant because hey, “if it ain't broke...” AJ Wilkerson at Desert Ridge Improv has become my comedy equivalent of that perfect dish: familiar, reliable and somehow better each time, even when you think you know exactly what you're getting.

It was my third time seeing Wilkerson over the past few years, and the man's still an absolute delight. It's rare to find a comedian who can make repeat viewings feel like discovering new layers instead of just recycling the same bits with minor tweaks.

Sidney Smith kicked things off with what felt like an appetizer when you're starving for the main course. Short, sweet, and honestly? Left me wanting more in the best possible way. (He was Wilkerson's wingman last year too, but it was just the two of them working the room.) The guy's got that effortless delivery that makes every punchline land exactly where it needs to, building momentum that had the room properly warmed up and hungry for what came next.

Then came Dusty Carter with a longer slot that, honestly, I think should've been flipped with Smith’s. Look, Carter wasn't bad–he just felt like that comedian who mistakes edgelord energy for actual edge. You know the type: throw out some controversial non-sequiturs, watch the drunk crowd laugh, rinse and repeat. It was almost like Family Guy humor in human form, technically amusing but about as deep as a shot glass, especially with what was to come in comparison.

But Wilkerson? Christ, the man's found his groove and refuses to let go. Or make direct eye contact with it. Captain Autism (his breakthrough persona that probably hit your Facebook feed a few years back) has evolved into something sharper, more refined, but no less brutally honest. Weed to Autism to ADHD and back to weed..you'd think the well would run dry, but he's mining that particular vein of lived experiences like he's got a direct line to comedy gold–and he does.

The thing that separates Wilkerson from the neurotypical crowd dominating stand-up is relatability that actually means something. Syd (the magazine editor, not the opener) mentioned afterward how she didn't expect to connect so hard with the autism material. That's the secret sauce right there: in an industry where most comics are playing to the neurotypical majority, Wilkerson's angle is content that makes the rest of us feel seen instead of laughed at.

For people who usually find stand-up about as appealing as a root canal, having someone mine their own neurodivergent experience for laughs creates something rare: comedy that feels like community instead of performance. It's the difference between being in on the joke and being the joke, and Wilkerson has mastered that distinction better than most.

If you missed Wilkerson at Desert Ridge Improv, keep an eye on Netflix for his upcoming special coming soon!