Anthony Jeselnik: Fire in the Maternity Ward (2019 TV Special) User Reviews (50)

Good, but repetitive and predictable

[djoetma · 6/10 · 2 May 2019]

I like Jeselnik's comedy a lot. This special however, was a disappointment for me. For the major part of the show, he's repeating this trope becoming idea of short jokes that consist of a short setup and then an ending that turns the expected context around. While most of these were smart and funny, you come to expect the turnaround. So he starts with something, and as a viewer you already know, 'ok, he's going to end it with something to change it.....and.....there is is'. Funny at first, but then nothing more than simply 'cute'. The shock effect runs out if you repeat these kinds of jokes and Jeselnik does this over and over in 'Fire in the Maternity Ward'. In three cases I was even able to predict the complete joke.

His baby/abortion jokes are just ok. It didn't make me laugh. I guess the shock-effect has to be a big thing here as well, but it's nothing I haven't seen others do. Also, maybe for Americans, since in the US abortion is still a delicate issue, these jokes might have a bigger effect; to me however, they didn't do much.

All in all, for the most part these jokes seem suitable for these little books that are released as toilet-reads. Smart quick jokes that hold up over time and are funny to most people and don't require a lot of time to set up.

I wonder if 'Fire in the Maternity Ward' is a better watch when you do it in two or three stages or something; so that the 'setup-context changing turnaround'-effect holds up.

Not his best

[Kethina · 6/10 · 2 May 2019]

When I first saw his Thoughts and Prayers special I was floored. I couldn't predict most of the jokes and was actually shocked that he said some of the things he said. It was hilarious and for me dark humor at its best. This however was just him trying to recreate the same effect in the most laziest way possible. All these repetitive setups became tiring and predictable after 20 minutes. I think we got it after the thousandth 10 second punch-line.

He gets a 6 for originality though, I haven't heard his types of jokes anywhere else. When you watch a lot of specials it's refreshing to watch someone who doesn't make the same kind of old jokes about millenials, Starbucks ordering, how times have changed, people getting easily offended and so on. He is in his own lane and therefore competes with himself, this wasn't his best tho.

Hilarious yet repetitive

[danbutcher-83597 · 8/10 · 8 May 2019]

I'd never heard of Anthony Jeselnik before and I decided to watch this special just for the sake of it, and I haven't laughed so hard on ages, that being said, the jokes became quite predictable throughout the show as the same premise was used a lot but, this guy is going up there with my favourite comedians now.

Dark.

[colorthekid · 7/10 · 1 May 2019]

Unapologetic, funny, and dark for the sake of being dark.

Definitely the best comedic delivery

[colbertmark-65901 · 10/10 · 12 May 2019]

Can't get past how perfect his delivery is. I've watched this 7 times already, love it. Up there with Thoughts & Prayers.

His one fail, he lost it and laughed during the murder suicide bit. He would've hated that he stumbled there.

If you like dark comedy, definitely give this a look. If you're sensitive.....do not watch this performance!

Great for Netflix, could've been better for Jeselnik

[backup-50362 · 6/10 · 3 May 2019]

I was looking forward to this. Here's what to expect:

Positives:

• Makes fun of anything, that's refreshing in 2019.

Negatives:

• His delivery somehow got even slower to the point I wasn't sure if the video was playing at regular speed.
• Jokes felt tamer than before, or already said in previous specials.
• I don't like the beard. My favorite thing about him before was after delivering an offensive joke he'd have a grin like he knows just how many people just got offended - now that priceless smile is hidden behind a mustache nobody asked for. Keep the beard, shave the stache.
• Last joke dragged for too long and wasn't funny. I feel like sometimes in trying to be "offensive" he really misses on some good opportunities. And things start to feel repetitive if you've seen his previous two specials.

Overall: This is an exceptional special for Netflix. Usually they'd just hire some random bootleg-Hooters waitress that spews liberal statements, call it a special, put her on the front page. The usual Netflix trash. But occasionally you get an actual comedian like Bill Burr, Rogan, Jeselnik - who actually do funny jokes. Neat.

Shock xomedy3

[inexplicable007 · 9/10 · 10 May 2019]

I loved it. I am all for the type of jokes that leave you stunned at how far and raw a joke goes and he has the perfect delivery for it. Im now a fan.

Better than Amy's stand up

[AmWeeds · 2 May 2019]

It wasn't the best stand up special Netflix has to offer. A few of his jokes fell flat and weren't very funny. Very dead pan humor, if that's your sort of thing. But I must say, it was better than Amy Schumer's latest special, it's not saying much but still, an improvement. Check it out if you have an hour to kill.

Way downhill from "Thoughts and Prayers"

[backup-50362 · 6/10 · 5 May 2019]

Because it takes him about two and a half weeks to deliver each joke, the whole special has like 5 jokes in total. Not many of them hit home. Lots of time wasting and extremely predictable misdirection jokes, very similar to the ones in his previous specials, except bad.

I sure did like those previous specials, and can't articulate how excited I was for this one. But there's only so many dead baby jokes I can handle, and I hate babies. His whole deal got real old real fast.

You need to do some freshening up, Anthony. You can see most of us liked your previous specials but are disappointed that this one is more of exactly the same and somehow you're delivering jokes even slower than before.

Hope you try harder for the next one, write some funnier, less predictable jokes.

Also with that mustache you're really fitting Patrice O'Neals "medieval restaurant waiter" description of you. Shave it, keep the beard if you must. But get rid of that mustache. Really.

I hope this wasn't too mean or discouraging to read, I know you're a good guy, character aside, and you quickly became one of my favorite comedians, but if we don't tell you the truth you'd think this was okay and just keep going downhill. Let's get you back on track.

Shameless

[EricBombardier · 10/10 · 5 July 2020]

It's not as much a special as it is a dance between both sides of the line that defines the limits that we should never cross in comedy: It crosses it brilliantly and shamelessly and in this day and age, it is refreshing eventhough Mr. Jeselnik has been doing this kind of comedy for a long time. It is delivered flawlessly to a point where it feels unrehearsed and maybe even off the cuffs.

It is also refreshing to get such a great jaw-dropping, eye-popping, one punch combo, misdirection-filled comedy-laced hour in this, yet again, day and age where anyone can get their specials on TV and bore us to death. This is not it.

This is comedy.

Was reasonable

[muamba_eats_toast · 6/10 · 31 May 2019]

Not as good as the phenomenal thoughts and prayers like others have said to many short jokes very repetitive and no where near as dark. Still better than many though.

simply amazing

[tylervizek · 10/10 · 12 December 2019]

The best standup of 2019. Quotable jokes forever. He has really perfected his style

clever jokes, weak delivery

[xanosse · 6/10 · 4 May 2019]

I've always thought that anthony jesilnik has had some great dark comedy, but his delivery has always threw me off, the execution of the jokes are always a little unnatural, and gets old fast. regardless, still entertaining. 6/10

Yadda yadda yadda and then the baby died

[Sandcooler · 4/10 · 2 May 2019]

I really liked Anthony Jeselnik when he first came on the scene. As a fan of dark comedy, I loved his delivery and punchlines. That was a while ago though, and there never seems to be any progression with this guy.

In the "Thoughts and Prayers" special, he has a magnificent bit about how people make every tragedy in the world about themselves. It was a great moment, with Jeselnik speaking from the heart and slipping out of his classic on-stage character to tell a coherent story. I was hoping for more of that in his new special, but it's just an hour of his old schtick that doesn't exactly feel fresh at this point.

I don't think it takes a comedy genius to predict many of the punchlines from this special. Hell, you could make a drinking game out of it. When he started you weren't used to it, so he managed to take you by surprise. Now you just wait for the dead grandma to show up. It feels like lazy writing. Granted, there are some jokes in here that still work, but you have to fish them out between a sea of boring filler. The most aggravating thing is how Jeselnik keeps taking out all the pace by reflecting on the previous joke. I didn't even care for that when I actually liked him, let alone now.

"Fire At The Maternity Ward" (the uninspired title is a red flag) is exactly what you expect, which isn't a good thing. It's not offensive, because we're so used to this stuff by now. It's just monotonous and repetitive. Another disappointing comedy special from Netflix.

Solid and different

[lundenwarren-67250 · 10/10 · 30 April 2019]

T was an extremely intelligent special I was very impressed by the way he performed. It definitely lived up to all the hype that it got on JRVP and I really appreciate his work.

Not for everyone

[lovekrand · 8/10 · 1 May 2019]

All jokes are about sensitive social values. So this is unusual and often surprising

Took me 10 minutes of my precious time to tell you this

[lolajewel · 10/10 · 2 May 2019]

He's an absolutely incredible comedian. He's forward thinking, hilarious and nothing you think you know will prepare you for his out of left field punch lines. I just watched you on Netflix and you are worth every second - if you have any sense of wit and love comedy, this guys for you x

A Masterclass in Stand Up Comedy

[Cosmicosa · 8/10 · 13 August 2019]

If this were a movie (and I think the piece about Jessica should definitely be turned into movie), it would be Pulp Fiction, a masterpiece.

Sure many of the jokes were misdirection; yes much of the delivery was the same throughout; and yes it not for everyone. I've watched it 4 times and it doesn't get any less funny. That in itself says something about quality.

This is a guy who really understands comedy and seems intimately acquainted with the absurdity of the human experience.

If you don't find this funny, you are taking life way too seriously.

This was my first foray into the mind of Anthony and where I on the fence about his work, he knocked me clean the hell off.

Entertaining for some.

[marcosvinuesa · 5/10 · 1 May 2019]

It was quite entertaining. But Anthony still needs to improve in the delivery. It seems as if he is reading the text of the jokes, it doesn't feel natural. Other deadpan comedians do a much greater job in the delivery.

Also, he doesn't make any connnection between the jokes, no narrative, so sometimes it feels as if he is just telling a list of jokes and nothing else.

M. Night Shyamalan movie as a comedy... but good

[qtpat151 · 9/10 · 8 May 2019]

Imagine an M Night Shyamalan movie ending as a joke. On repeat. For an hour. Deadpan. When you think of a normal punchline, add a twist and that is this standup special.

Hilarious but predectible

[AgustinCesaratti · 9/10 · 10 November 2019]

I discovered this guy today and I watched his two Netflix's Special and I gotta say, this dude was hilarious, but in this one the jokes became predictable throughout the show as the same premise was used a lot but it's worth it. You will laugh a lot.

Everything you expect from Anthony

[nikree · 9/10 · 26 October 2021]

Exactly the same. You know his style. You know him.

But it's still effective and he successfully decieves you into laughter.

Maybe a little less than 'Thoughts and Prayers'. But still I found it worth watching.

Its all about the delivery

[JohnTequila · 10/10 · 23 August 2022]

Anthony Jeselnik isn't a comedian that goes for the shock value approach. Sure his jokes are very close to the bone, but what works is the build up. You think you know where he's going, but then he takes it a little further left field.

I seriously hope he tours my country again and look forward to his next special.

Meh

[shinc-40414 · 2/10 · 2 May 2019]

Set up, punch line....Set up, punch line. Repeat.

I understand it's deadpan but it's legit like he's reading cue cards. You know every time it's gunna be something weird, gross or disgusting and it takes away from it being funny.

I gave it 2 purely for the fact u could nick some of his jokes to gross out your friends while having a few beers

FINALLY! A comic that is NOT PC

[thejdrage · 8/10 · 25 January 2022]

Anthony Jeselnik is very UN-PC. How refreshing. He slams people and events. However, he does explain his jokes, every once in a while.

He speaks almost with a Christopher Walken lilt. Slow, purposeful. Then Bam! He tries to hide his smiles which can be interesting.

All in all - he's very darkly humorous. And rude as hell. Enjoy!