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Comedy Blueprint

Aries Spears

Seeso · 2016 · 60 min

Aries Spears delivers impressions and direct crowd work in Philadelphia.

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Aries Spears returns with an aggressive, highly interactive hour that plays directly to his strengths as an impressionist and a physical comic. Filmed at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia, the 2016 show highlights his trademark crowd work, where audience members in the front rows are routinely singled out for some pointed teasing. Rather than easing into the set, he leans heavily into topics like racial stereotypes, the specific nuances of interracial relationships, and his experiences dating white women. The special debuted on the short-lived streaming platform Seeso in November 2016. Though Spears has been a regular on the touring circuit since his years as a standout cast member on MADtv, this performance focuses less on sketch-style character setups and more on straightforward club comedy. He spends significant time mocking male insecurity, premature ejaculation, and contemporary R&B artists. Fans of his vocal mimicry will find plenty of celebrity caricatures, as he slips in and out of voices like Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and Shaquille O’Neal to punctuate his broader points about pop culture and swagger.

The set list

2 bits

  1. Racial stereotypes and interracial dating

    Spears blends his vocal impressions into unfiltered commentary on race relations, dating across racial lines, and cultural stereotypes.

  2. Audience interactions

    Spears engages with audience members directly in the room, creating uproar through impromptu banter and confrontational observations.

How it plays

Tone
Raw, aggressive, unapologetic, and explicit.
On stage
Ferociously aggressive, bold, raw, and provocative, relying heavily on vocal impressions and confrontational observations.
Pace
High-energy, direct, and aggressive momentum with frequent crowd interactions.
About
racial stereotypes, interracial dating, sex, political correctness, women's emotions

What the critics said

Praised for Spears' sharp comedic talent and vocal impressions, though noted for featuring shocking, provocative material and sexually explicit content not intended for the easily offended.

In the room: Uproarious and raucous response from the audience.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: comedydynamics.com, themoviedb.org, dishanywhere.com, letterboxd.com, tvguide.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Filmed in Philadelphia and released as an original stand-up special debuting on the streaming service Seeso in November 2016 before wider distribution by Comedy Dynamics.

Details

Released
Runtime
60 min
Where
Seeso
Director
Mark Altman
Topics
Before
Comedy Central Presents (2005)

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