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Promotional art for Hell
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Hell

Chris Fleming

YouTube · 2023 · 69 min

Comedian Chris Fleming is coming out with a brand new stand-up special on Peacock. The trailer gives you a pretty good glimpse of what you’re in for. What starts out as your traditional special quickly turns into something much, much different. In th…

The set list

7 bits
  1. Introductory walkout trope subversion

    Plays on the cool comic entrance hero shot by tripping, chasing an autonomously flying mic, and ending up wedged inside the wooden stage stairs where crew consider putting him down like a horse.

  2. Gerbil vs. Raspberries song

    Performs an arhythmic musical number treating the equal $4.99 price of a single pet gerbil and a carton of Driscoll's raspberries as an everyday consumer dilemma.

  3. Airline in-flight welcome videos

    Critiques the disparity in acting abilities between airline CEOs and the flight attendants before descending into a demonic surreal realm.

  4. Mystical allure of the Nissan Cube

    Riffs on the drivers and unusual qualities of the Nissan Cube.

  5. Physical comparison to a horse

    Addresses his own bizarre physical presence by comparing himself to a horse, prancing across the stage, and turning an audience member's purse into a feedbag.

  6. Childhood and family upbringing

    Displays family photos and knit coffee-table gnomes to detail being interrogated by his aunt and getting 'witch-christened by a seaside coven.'

  7. Song about hat-wearing parents

    Sings about parents wearing hats who are unable to control their children or pets.

How it plays

Tone
Surreal, absurdist, sassy, and eccentric with dark, nihilistic undertones.
On stage
Absurdly limber, elastic-faced, and physically contorting persona described like 'Gumby in a British barrister's wig' and dressed like 'the woman who judges the parade'.
Pace
Lightning-fast, stream-of-consciousness momentum driven by flailing acrobatics, prancing, and off-the-cuff energy.
About
Irish Catholic culture, Therapy, Performance anxiety, Suburban New England upbringing, Insecurity and self-doubt, Absurdities of everyday commerce and consumer culture

What the critics said

Critical consensus was broadly positive, praising Fleming's wildly original physical commitment, surreal voice, and off-the-cuff brilliance, though some critics felt pre-taped sketches and an extended crowd-work moment disrupted the stage momentum.

In the room: Small theater dynamic with deliberate grunginess and dark lighting, with the crowd taken along on a disorienting, trusted comedic tour.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: jaxmedia.com, peacocktv.com, rottentomatoes.com, comingsoon.net, vulture.com, nytimes.com, avclub.com, metacritic.com, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.

Backstory

Follow-up to his 2018 stand-up special 'Showpig', drawing heavily from his suburban Massachusetts Irish Catholic upbringing and exploring performance anxiety in the entertainment industry.

Details

Released
Taped
Dynasty Typewriter, Los Angeles
Runtime
69 min
Where
YouTube
Director
Cat Solen
After
Live at the Palace (2026)

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