A Simple Man

Jim Florentine is at his best when he is thoroughly annoyed by the minor conveniences and social habits of modern suburban life. He does not offer high-minded philosophy; instead, he spends his time on stage picking apart the exhausting elements of middle-aged male culture. He directs his irritation at the concept of man caves, the obsessive nature of fantasy football leagues, and the frustrating behavior of his overly eager “nerd neighbors.”

The hour was recorded at the George Street Playhouse Theater in New Brunswick, New Jersey. This release capped off a busy 2016 for Florentine, who put out this set alongside his personal one-man show, I’m Your Savior, following the end of his run co-hosting VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show. Here, he sticks to traditional stand-up, targeting the shifting boundaries of social language with a segment on sports team names and mocking the performative aspects of modern adulthood.