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Dark Victory
The namesake of his special might blush, but Anthony Jeselnik has no
fear in latest showcase.
By
Michael Shashoua / Jester editor-in-chief
In “Caligula,” the epically titled new special from comedian Anthony
Jeselnik, released January 15 on CD and DVD by Comedy Central, he
presents a complete persona through short constructed jokes. That
persona, as other critics have called it, and Jeselnik himself has
said in interviews, is that of an “arrogant dick.”
That’s sort of it, but not exactly. Jeselnik’s material is as dark
and “mean” as that of Daniel Tosh (see
review, 3/6/11), but he doesn’t deliver it with the glee and
sense of mischief that Tosh does. Jeselnik puts himself into the
jokes rather than commenting on things observed about the world or
other people. Jeselnik also goes for any subject matter that is a
known hot button – like rape, disabilities, dead babies or suicide.
On first viewing the DVD version, I could imagine my wife reacting
and saying “that’s mean” and “that’s not funny.” At first, I might
have agreed. But going to dark topics, if done right, is always
funny. Listening to the CD version of the special, you hear a bit of
Jeselnik’s about a kid dying while playing hide and seek because he
suffocated in an abandoned refrigerator. The punchline – delivered
dry and straight as most of Jeselnik’s lines are: “at least he died
a winner.” That example alone gives a good idea of Jeselnik’s
sardonic delivery.
The DVD also includes Jeselnik’s career-making spots in three Comedy
Central roasts – those of Donald Trump, Charlie Sheen and Roseanne
Barr. In the Sheen roast, one highlight is a clever exchange
Jeselnik has with Patrice O’Neal (shortly before O’Neal’s fatal
stroke) in which you can see Jeselnik be equally sharp as O’Neal and
a comic’s comic.
So, if you can get beyond first impressions with Jeselnik, you can
appreciate the craft he puts into his material and his unique
comedic vision. It’s the kind of performance that will make you
curious how his writing will unfold and evolve over time.
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Feedback? Email shashouamedia@gmail.com or michael.shashoua@jesterjournal.com
© 2005-2018 Michael Shashoua