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Tom Segura: Sledgehammer (2023)
mostly an inside-joke for super-fans
If you were to watch this special never having heard of Tom Segura you'd conclude Tom Segura is not a very funny man. You'd prob turn it off after the first 10 minutes. It's borderline hacky, unnecessary edgy, and leaves you with an impression that Tom is not a very good person(and doesn't know it).
But the special does get better after 18 minutes, there are some funny good-old-Tom stories, he's great at using call-backs.
I think the target audience for this was Tom Segura's super-fans, and if you're one, you'll prob enjoy it: "Sledgehammer" feel like an inside joke - there are multiple references to the universe of Tom's life that only followers would know which I think creates this intimacy/cult following.
Overall, I would not recommend "Sledgehammer" I think watching his "best of" on youtube or listening to podcast is better - which is not WEIRD.
By now Tom has honed in his voice and point of view - so he finds the funny effortlessly. Why those funnies are not in this special I do not know.
Bert Kreischer: Hey Big Boy (2020)
An R-rated version of "Everybody loves Raymond"
This is the first time I saw Bert Kreischer's stand-up.
I think Bert is very likable but is not a stand-up. He's a natural fool/idiot(in the best sense of the word). Bert is THE unusual other ppl/the audience are laughing AT rather than laughing WITH. I'd love to see Bert doing a silent movie/physical comedy 'cause Kreischer def has the chops. I think it's a high praise because most comedians need words to make ppl laugh. Bert is so naturally funny - he doesn't.
As for the special... "Hey Big Boy" is not my cup of tea. It describes many funny situations but overall those situations would be much funnier in a shape of a sketch of a sitcom.
Tom Segura: Completely Normal (2014)
Tom Segura's best special
Tom Segura is so level-headed, I feel like with every minute I'm watching him, I'm gain common sense.
In fact, "Completely Normal" should be listed as a mandatory summer read in high school. And if you've already graduated, are over 18, and haven't watched this special, you have to finish it in order to get a driver's licence or a state ID. Getting a passport? You're gonna have to pass or fail Tom Segura's catalog exam - if you're going to be representing USA abroad, you've gotta be completely normal, like Tom.
This is my favorite Segura's special. Having watched all of them I think it *IS* the best one.
Pablo Francisco: Bits and Pieces - Live from Orange County (2004)
One of the best stand-up specials ever
I'm fascinated by the fabric of this special. Structurally, "Bits and Pieces" is a web of callbacks - some are jokes, some are sounds. It's maddening/genius. None of the callbacks seem cheap/forced which I think is rare. It's almost a symphony. I've never seen anything like this.
"Bits and pieces" is uniquely audial but Pablo Francisco also has some crazy/hilarious facial expression. His acting - OMG! I can't believe Pablo is not in the movies! What happened?!
In terms of writing, it's great. Pieces are well-crafted and I was surprised to find some first-class one-liners, too. The one about chicken pot pie absolutely kills me.
Brilliant work! A must watch!
Hannah Gadsby: Nanette (2018)
This is art!
Beautiful special, insightful, funny, very human. If it were a movie it would have won Oscar for sure.
Humor-wise, "Nanette" is reminiscent of David Sedaris(with a sprinkle of DFW). Yes, not stand-up format per se but - funny is funny(and it is funny). You wouldn't complain if you were to find "Back to Future" filed under "comedy" instead of "sci-fi" so I don't get all the hate for "Nanette" being labeled a "stand-up" when it's more of a "one-woman show".
"Nanette" is not a piece of entertainment you put on if you're pooped after a long day and just want something mindless and silly to chill your brain. It will(hopefully)put you in the shoes of a human who is just like you (but is gay, is like Hannah, and has been punished for it), and will take you down the emotional journey - scary, angry, proud, sweet, empowering. The ride will hurt but the humor will make the pain palatable, and in the end - cathartic, even enjoyable.
Masterpiece!
Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up for the First Time (2017)
Masterclass on mesmerizing the audience
"Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up for the First Time" is a masterclass on mesmerizing your audience. Rory is super loose, honest, and has a great command/even power over the crowd.
Joke-writing is not Rory Scovel's strongest suit - he shines as a clown/comedy performer. Rory is funny, authentic, and courageous on stage. He is fairly unique in his presence and his audience work. No wonder Rory Scovel has some serious superfans!
His ideas are often interesting and novel - I appreciate him daring to share something so out-of-the-box. I did not enjoy watching this special; however, I found it educational.
Theo Von: Regular People (2021)
The material is ok - Theo has his craft down
This is the first time I see Theo Von's stand-up which I think is good because I had no expectations.
Right away I could tell he's funny, self-aware, and has great delivery. Unfortunately, it went downhill pretty quick. I was tempted to quit multiple times - but I like to finish what I started so about 20 min in, I put it on 1.5 speed. That was a good call: I don't think Theo Von had an hour - he had maybe 30 min that scratched to last 60.
Ugh. What can I say? The dude is funny. Prob is funnier for Americans/ppl who lived in the US for a while cause they are familiar with the archetype/stereotype Theo is portraying(I'm in on it but my friends are not).
It's not something I would rewatch but I'm glad I got myself familiar with his work.
Tom Segura: Mostly Stories (2016)
Anything Tom Segura is guaranteed to make you laugh
Tom Segura is my comfort stand-up. I often have him play in the background while in my pjs - either when waking up and making coffee or when getting ready to go to bed.
"Mostly Stories" is reliably funny. After listening to it many times it still makes me laugh.
The writing and the performance are solid. Funny mostly stories. Nothing paradigm-shifting - although Segura *does* push the audience into the uncomfortable(but he's so likable and skilled, Tom has no problem getting away with it).
This is not the best Tom Segura special but it's a good option if you want to watch something funny and easily digestible.
Mae Martin: SAP (2023)
Good vibes
"SAP" is one of those shows where you actually had to be there. Mae is super likeable and has great chemistry with the audience. They are way better to watch live with friends than alone on netflix. Yes, it's true with every stand-up but with some ppl it's more so(ex: if Michelle Wolf is 9.5/10 on netflix then she's 10/10 live. If Mae is 6/10 on netflix, they are 8/10 live).
Writing-wise it's good: Mae is self-aware, there are jokes and there are some good metaphors.
Overall, this special is like a reddit thread where Mae is the op, the first level-commenter, and the jokey sub-commenter. It leaves you feeling good about the community but you're ready to move on to another post.
Tim Dillon: A Real Hero (2022)
Funny but not everything it could have been
Couldn't find a lot of Tim Dillon's stand-up on youtube but the one bit about influencers was so funny, yesterday I got netflix specifically to watch his special.
"A real hero" is not everything I hoped it to be but I enjoyed it(watched it twice). Tim Dillon is really good at showing what's wrong with America without being preachy. He is a sharp truth-teller and a committed performer. Creative, funny, often uncomfortable.
On the downside, Tim Dillon mostly throws his material at the audience which is his style I guess... I wish he showed more emotional variety, I wish his jokes have been punched up more.
I hope the popularity of his podcast doesn't make Tim Dillon complacent, and his next special is 10/10.
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King (2017)
Most ppl won't enjoy it
Laughter is involuntary - you body/brain either does it or it does not. This special didn't make me laugh. It's not bad - but not great either.
To me "Homecoming King" is a stand-up version of an Arby's roast-beef sandwich. The writing is okay, the presentation is annoying/eeek. If you've never tried, it's an option to cross off the list, "Yeah, I'm glad I gave it a try, it's not bad but there are better options". Like Arby's roast-beef the special has its die-hard fans who LOVE it and keep coming back for more, but for most ppl this is not a great way to spend the evening.
However, "Homecoming king" IS endearing, I can see how it would make a good, maybe even critically acclaimed TV show.