This was pretty funny, yes it revolves around race, haters get over yourselves
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carsmart-nj24 August 2019
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krisboogie18 March 2019I follow Amanda Seales pretty closely, I like her a lot. I think she's hilarious and intelligent (though often a bit dramatic- but artist you know) and I'd probably call myself a fan but this just wasn't as great as it was hyped up to be.
I think the main problem was that it was just super predictable, like it was just a compilation of stuff she says all the time compiled in a semi new way. It also seemed like she was trying to incorporate some of the "Smart Funny & Black" show aspects that just didn't fit quite right in the special (like singing the black national anthem, it went just a beat long enough to make it awkward).
And on the one hand, I get that it's her first comedy special, she was using some of the classic Seales humor that people have come to love her for. On the other hand, there was no real surprise elements, no truly memorable jokes. It seemed like she was just trying to create a special of like quotes/phrases everybody would walk away repeating all the time with the "how black am i gone have to get" or "i be knowin" which is kind of already repeated among the IG fan base (similar to Kevin Hart's, "pineapples", "you gone learn today" or Bernie Mac's "milk & cookies")...but for the most part it just kind of fell flat.
I also think she isn't an artist who takes criticism very well, even if it's well meaning. In a sense it's good she doesn't like live to please fans, she's just authentically who she is. However, everyone's not hater and if future specials fall flat like this she's not gonna reach her ultimate potential. I think it's especially hard with a semi-political special like this to separate haters from fans who just weren't feeling it. It might be easy for her to say, oh it just got low ratings cause white people were hating or cause I wasn't politically correct.
And don't get me wrong, there are definitely a lot of people (mostly white) who are just mad the special wasn't about them or made to please them...despite the fact that she told yall what it was before the special started. And the fact is, she was sharing legitimate and real aspects of the experience of being a black woman in America. It doesn't mean she thinks all white people are bad, it means black people and black women encounter a lot of white people and micro aggressions throughout our lives that are annoying/hurtful and funny.
However, there are also a lot if people like me (a fellow black woman btw) who legitimately are just criticizing the writing/pacing/delivery aspects of the special and hoping it gets better...who I also think she'll probably write off as hating or not getting it. -
modinatr14 February 2019I can only like it. I'm a very down to earth liberal person but I cannot get past the "N word" and making others feel uncomfortable. I personally do not like race jokes or the n word being used every other sentence.
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pmcgooch22 January 2021No semblance of originality or remotely funny. The same tired formula that's been recycled by hack comedians over and over again since the 90's.
She prefaces her standup like a 9th grader tying to insulate her digital safe space from people who might have a different perspective or fresh set of ideas, and then fills the content with recycled tropes and anecdotes that she ripped off and repackaged.
It's evident that HBO was trying to ride the "woke" wave when investing in this standup - which I'm sure they've regretted ever since.
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robert-7067410 February 2019Her command on character voices is incredible. She offers incredible insight and is courageous enough to share with her experiences with us. I not only laughed, it was also a very valuable learning experience.
Something, some of the 'Becky's' in the review section seemed to have missed if indeed they actually watched it like they said they did. -
Steve81927 January 2019A black female "comedian" talks about the greatness of black women, growing up with "women who happen to be white" as opposed to white women, and the subject of "White Privilege". About "anyone who identifies as a woman" knowing what it is like to be a woman? And just how would somebody who "identifies" as a woman, but is not biologically a woman know what it's like to actually BE a woman? Just a bunch of leftist, racist B.S. 0 Stars for this one.
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Basically just more of the same Liberal rhetoric, white man bad propaganda that the last 10 black female stand up comics blurted out... and about as funny. If you like your stand up to have any form of intelligent humor behind it give this one a miss.
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jamestaylorjrmusic28 July 2019As a white (gay) man who grew up in communities of color... her making fun of white people is actually spot on! I'd rather be a Hannah but even Hannah's get things wrong. Difference is (I hope), we learn and we can laugh at ourselves when reflected back to us.
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bseybolt-120 June 2019This woman is excruciatingly unfunny. She's all bombast and stupid malapropisms that she repeats ad nauseum, becoming less funny all the while. Oh yeah, and there's probably about a combined 15 minutes of dead time as she pauses to let the crowd bask in her "profundity." I suppose if you have a bone to pick with white men in general (as she clearly does), you might enjoy it. Oh yeah, she peppers her "routine" with the "n" word to a level that is distracting, as well as offensive.
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alwharrington23 May 2019Amanda's style is definitely not for everyone, but it was DEFINITELY funny to me! She had an intellectual style of comedy that may fly over the heads of many people; so I can see how some people didnt like it. It's true that a few of the jokes didnt hit quit as hard as others; but But for me, it was an overall good comedy to watch.
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djwwas19 April 2019She is funny but the Liberal rhetoric and progressive "Keywords" being shoved down your throat just makes it CRINGEY to watch... I wish she would focus on what she finds funny or enjoys writing building bits about instead of trying to align with the lefts vision of what progressive comedy should be... just stinks this came out a cringey Unfunny mess of another "STRAIGHT WHITE MEN R BAD" attempt at comedy. there is good a reason comedy has been raw and offensive all these years atleast the good comedy. BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF COMEDY IS CRINGEY AND HARD TO WATCH.
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sharia-9254317 March 2019It was bad. Couldn't even get through the whole thing. Jokes were predictable, stories were drawn out and punchlines fell flat. No impressed.
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jscoleman-5381729 January 2019I laughed the whole special. I really admired her honesty. On my list of funny specials!
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Absolutely disgusting and fowl mouthed. Turned it off within the first 60 seconds. She is disgusting and nothing about it was funny
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darahwilliams13 July 2020It's clear Amanda's natural habitat is the stage. From acting to gymnastics, she excels with remarkable precision. Her acerbic wit pokes at obvious sore points in American culture; see the ridiculous amount of lies and hatred in the ratings. Amanda precisely agitates the racial injustices any sane human being can see with humor and cultural catchphrases. If your triggered by her comedy, there's a strong likelihood you reside in confederate flag territory.
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cojaross1 July 2019HBO is an experience to watch with genuinely amazing shows and documentaries, but whatever this was... wow. Black people can make fun of white people and it is comedy, the other way around it turns into a war. Awful!
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tedraneedle16 September 2020Ignore the low reviews. It is clear that this went over their heads and/or they are on that list that Amanda provided at the top. You know what they say, a hit dog will holler. She is funny, smart and informstive. Don't miss out.
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kimurico16 February 2019The thing is: if this was some sort of documentary on how a black woman experiences her cultural heritage and yada yada, it would be Ok. She passes her ideas clearly, and in that way it's "interesting", not a waste of time. But it's no good comedy. And as comedy it IS a waste of time. Just a couple of good bits with quite a mediocre delivery.
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danieledwardmoore839 June 2019Since America has jumped the shark and skipped the 500 years to Idiocracy most people can't handle the truth. Intelligent, witty, clever and way too close to home for the Becky and Steve's out there. And people wonder why we have not become less hateful and prejudiced. America is stuck and refuses to evolve. These other reviews prove it. This woman gets it and most people cannot process hard truths.
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jkt200631 July 2020I happened to randomly put this on HBO and was laughing in no time. She has an amazing timing and a great sense of humour. Don't understand the hate here on IMDb. If you enjoy comedy take it in your stride. And there is nothing she says is racist at all, it's about the people who are. If you are not one, why bother? Just enjoy the show. I think she is a new stand up star on the horizon and look forward to more. Cheers!
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Victreebong10 May 2023As a preface, Amanda tells everybody watching with her own preface who her special is for.
Now, going in with that information, you can decide for yourself if you are in those camps or not. But for me, Amanda's special is smart, sassy, exclusive, offensive, cathartic, roaring, informative. It was not a comedy routine for me. Not because it wasn't funny, she is insanely sharp and humorous. Her target audience shares similar experiences that she's been through personally; the tribulations of young African American women living in our American society. Dealing with the struggles from her perspective. I don't fit that mold, so again, her comedy special wasn't really for me.
How it all goes down is completely exclusive. She doesn't sugarcoat anything. If you are not of the intended audience, you get a sense of being left out of the group. Dissonance. Instead of trying to include others into the group, words and phrases that aren't explained are thrown at you. Lyrics that you have never heard are sung between audience and performer in call and response. Her performance style is different from other comics who would normally explain something if it wasn't intuitive or moderately known. This was the first time hearing about the Black National Anthem in 30 years. I would never know the lyrics, and by her own admission in the special she hadn't even known about it until a certain age. I think her point was that it isn't well celebrated or taught about in standard ed to the degree it should be, but the way it comes across is that we're ignorant for NOT knowing about the Black National Anthem. Song lyrics from several different songs, maybe you know them, maybe you don't are sung through the routine. Half the audience is participating, half are as clueless I was. "Vagenda" is a term she throws out toward the end to distance herself from excluded suitors. I'm sure this was intended to be funny with some tongue-in-cheek merits of self-defense, but how it comes across is completely mean spirited. A small list of minor slights that makes you completely ineligible as a person. Lastly, a part I really dislike is when she says that "black women are well aware that people don't like yelling at them movie screen. We don't care!" Not only is this a massive stereotype, it's also unapologetic. If you want somebody to care what you think, you should at least attempt to return favor. If the whole point of your special is awareness, it doesn't make sense to feign unawareness.
On the plus side, her delivery is quick. Her vernacular is strong. Her confidence is beyond peaking, and she can obviously rally a crowd. She's a masters student from Columbia, and you can tell. Where I think she shines is when she bounces back how passive aggressive people can be when she is simply direct. And sympathizing with other members of the audience who had the same experiences was beautiful to see. Like "the only black girl at the slumber party". These parts were more counseling and cathartic than comical though. I'm hoping in her next special she doesn't narrow it so much to one demographic. I'm hoping she goes for traditional setup-punchlines and "bringing it back around". They're tried and true, and would fit in with her sassy wit. Otherwise she may not be the comic for me.