Joey Bello is a stand-up comedian and potential lite ally in Appalachia in Fallout 76, introduced in the Once in a Blue Moon update. He is unlocked as a reward at rank 35 of Shoot for the Stars, the thirteenth in-game season.
Background[]
Before the Great War, Joey was born in New Jersey. He lived on the outskirts of New Jersey in a small town with his parents and brothers. His father was a firefighter. Soon after the war, he lost his father and brothers in the aftermath and they would only become vague memories that Joey could barely remember. Joey lived with his mother, and she was supportive of his dreams of being a comedian. The two of them wished to make it to Atlantic City and he says he never attended school. However, the post-apocalyptic conditions broke his mother's spirit and when he was around 11, she died. Joey does not specify what exactly killed her, only mentioning, "She tried her best but ma just wasn't cut out for life in the apocalypse. Her spirit died. Then her body joined it."
As a child, Joey was smaller than average, even as a kid which made him an easy target for gangs and raiders; Joey was a late bloomer, hitting puberty at the age of 16. To evade troublesome people and reduce their hostility, he would tell jokes, thinking if he could make them laugh, they would be less likely to attack. Joey feels that his comedy has kept him alive and it has even been a source of income since people would pay caps to make themselves feel better. Ironically, he is not an original comedian because he memorized the jokes from bubblegum wrappers; he would spend his allowance buying these gum packs even though he did not even like gum.
Joey is a bit of a chem addict, which started when he took Day Tripper as a youth. He would scavenge for chems and also trade caps for them. He does not think heavily of his chem usage; he points out that everyone tends to have their own vices and people might as well consume things which gives them a sense of happiness in a depressing and morbid world. He also makes the occasional chem-related and sex-related jokes.
Joey eventually made it to Atlantic City, albeit without his mother. It took a great deal of effort, since his aim with a gun is terrible. At first, he had a hard-knock life and started small, scoring some gigs on the pier, but then he eventually began earning a decent amount of caps. He also claims he had a one night stand with a robot. However, the times came to an end when Joey joked at a made man's expense. Joey learned trouble would be coming his way so he fled someone called Teddy/Theodore the Toe Taker.
On the run from the mafia, Joey came to Appalachia, but is unfamiliar with the area, unsure if it is a state or a county. He is fond of Biv. He is staying in Appalachia until he can save enough caps to move West. He is not entirely sure where his next stop will be, but he is thinking of Vegas or Kentucky.
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
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This character cannot be killed. | |
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This character is a C.A.M.P. ally. Their associated workshop object is Joey's stage. | |
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This character is a vendor. |
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This character offers miscellaneous services. |
Roast Proof: Reduced damage and staggers |
Daily buff[]
Joey's daily buff is known as Roast Proof. It has the following effects:
- Reduces Staggers.
- Fire damage reduced by 10%.
- Melee damage reduced by 10%.
- Explosion damage reduced by 10%.
Inventory[]
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian pants outfit Battered fedora |
Notes[]
- In addition to various aid items and junk items, including board games, Joey will sell at least one Live & Love magazine in his vendor inventory. Live & Love is the only type of magazine he will sell.
- Other special items that Joey sells include the perk card pack bubblegum variants, as well as the note Get RICH quick!
Notable quotes[]
- "Yeah, jokes! You know... Knock-knock. Why did the chicken cross the road? Youse got jokes here in Appalachia, right? People pay caps to hear me crack wise and I help 'em forget about their miserable lives for a few minutes. Not rocket surgery, but it's a livin'!"
- "Exactly! It turns out if you make 'em laugh then maybe they won't make you bleed. Keep 'em laughing and maybe they'll keep you alive. Hell, tell 'em the occasional groaner and they might even toss a few tatos your way. Kid's gotta eat, right?"
- "There once was a man from Nantucket, he... no wait how'd it go again? Nah, fuck it."
- "Woah-whoa hey! Fuck you, huh. I don't go to where you work and tell you how to eat a dick! Aw, fuck! Heh, you got me. Sorry ma, that's 10 caps for the swear jar. Shit. I mean spit! I mean ah-fu... ah sorry ma."
- "C'mon, I'm just breakin' your balls."
Appearances[]
Joey Bello appears only in Fallout 76, introduced in the Once in a Blue Moon update.
Behind the scenes[]
- Joey mentions he has heard rumors Vegas is still standing. This is shown to be the case in Fallout: New Vegas.
- One of Joey's idle lines is "Oh, I'm walkin' here!" It is described in his script notes as "the classic NYC line," and is a reference to the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, in which the character Ratzo Rizzo says the same thing in a quote that has entered popular lexicon.
- Joey's line "What, like a clown? You think I'm here to make you laugh?" appears to be a reference to the 1990 mobster film Goodfellas, in particular a famous scene in which Tommy DeVito asks protagonist Henry Hill "I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown? I amuse you?"
- Joey's line "Damn, I could really use another hit from that pipe. If I could just remember where it was..." appears to be a reference to a Garfield comic strip in which Jon Arbuckle wonders where his pipe is, only to discover that Garfield has been smoking it. The strip, from July 27, 1978, became an Internet meme in 2017 following a Lasagna Cat video.
- The line also doubles as a reference to the memetic Unusual Pipe random encounter, also known as "Pipe is Life."
Gallery[]
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