18 reviews
If you like black comedy, you must be familiar with Daniel Tosh and Anthony Jeselnik, and if you are, then you're well aware that they don't hold back. After seeing Thoughts and Prayers, I think I can safely say Anthony is the darkest comic out there as far as subject matter, and I love it. If you don't like dark comedy, then obviously this isn't for you, so if you're uncomfortable with dead baby jokes, sexist jokes, abortion jokes, pedophilia jokes, or world tragedy jokes, then stay the f*ck away from Anthony Jeselnik. But if those jokes don't phase you no matter the content because, you know, they're jokes, then Thoughts and Prayers is a must-see comedy special.
What makes Jeselnik's punchlines work is the fact that you don't see them coming. Even though you know he's going to say the most terrible thing possible, he somehow manages to surprise you. His demeanor also translates well with his jokes because he's one of those people that you can't really tell when they're being sarcastic or not because he says everything with a straight face. And he's fully aware that he makes politically incorrect jokes. He comments about how society is always super sensitive about one thing at a time, and he exploits the hell out of that. Seriously, it's crazy how much he gets away with here and it's kind of refreshing to see that Netflix (and pretty much everyone that allows him to continue doing shows) can actually appreciate and promote dark humor. Yay, society. The audience even gets tested A LOT, but they always find the way back to the funny side.
So basically, you should know whether or not you're the target audience for this, and if you are then I'm here to reaffirm that you should see this. If you are easily offended and give this a shot anyway, then you have no one to blame but yourself.
What makes Jeselnik's punchlines work is the fact that you don't see them coming. Even though you know he's going to say the most terrible thing possible, he somehow manages to surprise you. His demeanor also translates well with his jokes because he's one of those people that you can't really tell when they're being sarcastic or not because he says everything with a straight face. And he's fully aware that he makes politically incorrect jokes. He comments about how society is always super sensitive about one thing at a time, and he exploits the hell out of that. Seriously, it's crazy how much he gets away with here and it's kind of refreshing to see that Netflix (and pretty much everyone that allows him to continue doing shows) can actually appreciate and promote dark humor. Yay, society. The audience even gets tested A LOT, but they always find the way back to the funny side.
So basically, you should know whether or not you're the target audience for this, and if you are then I'm here to reaffirm that you should see this. If you are easily offended and give this a shot anyway, then you have no one to blame but yourself.
This was one of the funniest yet crudest comedy shows I have ever seen. Anthony Jeselnik even warns you about how vulgar he is so don't you complain about all the dead baby jokes and mocking tragedies such as the Boston Bombing, the 911 terrorist attacks and Eric Clapton's son.
You will cringe, awkward laugh and be angry all at the same time. I think the best part of the show was seeing the audience reactions which is why they show the audience so much. Watching the men laugh at a sexist joke and the women just sit there with annoyed looks on their faces is one of the most hilarious things ever.
The one thing I love a lot in the show other than the audience reactions is Anthony's plot twist humor. He always starts telling a joke, then you THINK you know what he is going to say next but then he switches the form on you which completely get you off guard which makes me laugh a ton.
All in all, great performance by Anthony. Look forward to his future endeavors, hopefully he will do more stand-up one day...
You will cringe, awkward laugh and be angry all at the same time. I think the best part of the show was seeing the audience reactions which is why they show the audience so much. Watching the men laugh at a sexist joke and the women just sit there with annoyed looks on their faces is one of the most hilarious things ever.
The one thing I love a lot in the show other than the audience reactions is Anthony's plot twist humor. He always starts telling a joke, then you THINK you know what he is going to say next but then he switches the form on you which completely get you off guard which makes me laugh a ton.
All in all, great performance by Anthony. Look forward to his future endeavors, hopefully he will do more stand-up one day...
Anthony Jeselnik does dark, strange jokes about cancer, dead kids, child molesters, serial killers...and you laugh! Not for everybody, only if you appreciate dark humor and recognize it as just that, and not take it too seriously. Comedy must never be taken too seriously.
I'm possibly going to Hell for liking this, but at least I'll be warm and the heating bill will be non-existant. I should be in amongst weird but funny company, this is receiving good ratings.
I'm possibly going to Hell for liking this, but at least I'll be warm and the heating bill will be non-existant. I should be in amongst weird but funny company, this is receiving good ratings.
- Lebowskidoo
- Jul 1, 2020
- Permalink
This dude is hilarious, this one is better than the 2019 Special, I laughed very hard today, he now became one of my favorite comedians. Give it a try you will laugh very hard.
- AgustinCesaratti
- Nov 9, 2019
- Permalink
Nice comedy from Jeselnik here.Dark and edgy humor not for the easily offended.
Jeselnik is doing what he is doing very good and his shows are not for the easily offended!
If you like this kind of comedy and you want further proof on that, scroll down to the comments (there are only 14 the moment i am posting this) and find the review of a person called "ebonybrooks", notice how much she got offended and then go watch the show ;)
BIG 10/10
BIG 10/10
- lymperopoulos
- Aug 2, 2020
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I'm not sure that all viewers will get that this is an act within an act. Yet hardcore Jeselnik fans will; and that makes his comedy that much more brilliant. My generation has only spawned two truly original and laugh out loud comedians. Jeselnik and Izzard.
- TheLazyTiger
- Jul 17, 2019
- Permalink
Sick(ly) funny. Comedy's dark side. Not for the snowflakes. Mad me laugh from start to finish.
Maybe it's a relatively good material, but the pathetic attitude of bad boy of a box office movie is intolerable. I couldn't get past the 15 minute.
- LeCronopio
- Sep 2, 2019
- Permalink
Funny, but not hilarious.
But those who like, could love it. You gotta have a taste for his style it seems. Everyone will enjoy, but some will find it the best.
But those who like, could love it. You gotta have a taste for his style it seems. Everyone will enjoy, but some will find it the best.
I would say the first 40 minutes is an ordinary stand-up comedy, but the last 20 minutes is pretty deep and strong.
Generally, i myself have always had deep doubts about political correctness, seeing it as an ideological forbidden zone more than a sort of understandable social pressure with good intentions. Because I always believe that even our most cherished and most sensitive values need to be challenged from time to time. If not, even if this kind of political correctness is correct indeed, it is as John Stuart Mill said: "Truth, thus held, is but one superstition the more, accidentally clinging to the words which enunciate a truth."
And if even comedians are not allowed to implement the challenge, then who else can?
Generally, i myself have always had deep doubts about political correctness, seeing it as an ideological forbidden zone more than a sort of understandable social pressure with good intentions. Because I always believe that even our most cherished and most sensitive values need to be challenged from time to time. If not, even if this kind of political correctness is correct indeed, it is as John Stuart Mill said: "Truth, thus held, is but one superstition the more, accidentally clinging to the words which enunciate a truth."
And if even comedians are not allowed to implement the challenge, then who else can?
- kokomini-93737
- Mar 3, 2022
- Permalink
- Jeremy_Urquhart
- Jul 21, 2020
- Permalink
I am not easily offended by off-color humor. I thought Sarah Silverman's irreverent Jesus Is Magic comedy special was hilarious. And the acerbic Bill Hicks was absolute genius. You can make fun of women, find humor in any nationality or ethnicity (to a point), you can poke fun of religions, you can mimic a surly teenager.. But you do NOT make a joke about Eric Clapton's little boy who died in a tragic accident! That is not funny. That is cruel. You can put any kind of spin on it, dress it up and put on the label of your choice.. but the only thing that "joke" was, was cruel! This so-called comic used just about the most heartbreaking thing he could think of as an opportunistic vehicle to establish himself as the crudest comedian on the circuit. Well congratulations Tony, you win the blue ribbon!
I didn't know that cringe humor can have too much cringe, but Anthony made me realize this. I really love humor without limitations, well I though I could handle everything until this one. That was just cringe and cringe and cringe. He is the master of cringe that wanted to always be at the top. So much that he lost the humor part. I really liked his comedy series, from last year or the year before that, but this is just too much. Can he even go back now? I doubt that he can. When you go to 11 its very hard to go back to elegant 8. He still is one of people that I follow through career, so I sincerely hope he will find his way through this.
This style of dark, edgy, quick fire jokes comedy is never funny. It gets boring very quickly.. You stop believing what the performer is saying.
- conormclav
- May 2, 2019
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- randy-39640
- Apr 30, 2019
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I did not like this stand up comedy. I had to cut it off after the child molestation and child harming jokes. I mustered up the nerve to continue watching after he joked about the baby in the hot car in Cali. Then there was the child molestation/child sex offender jokes I disagreed with. I am sure he is not a terrible guy and may have looked at his jokes from a different point of view but from my point of view, and being a Victim's Advocate for Sexual Assaults, I find this very inappropriate even for adults. I would edit this stand up comedy, as I find it offensive and harmful in nature. With all the sexual assault cases being Brought up in Hollywood (and they are just as important now than ever) this is not the show that should be representing anyone right now. This is the type of things that are allowed because it comes from a man, yet had this been a female comedian with these same jokes, this show would have not even made it to the TV or any major network, but because he is a male, he can get. pass. This is unacceptable and VERY disgraceful comedy. There is a difference between dark comedy and just plain ol ignorant.
- ebonybrooks
- May 27, 2018
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I agree that dark comedy must not be taken serious but this show had me feel offensiveness in my bones. I don't think this is something i would ever want to be encountered again.
- aslisali-64788
- Jun 19, 2021
- Permalink