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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

Comedy Central Presents

Jimmy Shubert

Comedy Central · 2004 · 22 min

A loud, cynical half-hour of blue-collar rants and office rage.

Jimmy Shubert brings a loud, blue-collar skepticism to the stage, playing the part of an everyday cynic who is thoroughly exhausted by society’s quirks. He builds his set around the exasperation of a guy who has spent too much time dealing with the mundane annoyances of modern life, delivering each punchline with the chest-out confidence of a seasoned road comic.\n\nThe set was recorded at the Hudson Theater in New York City and aired in early 2004 during the eighth season of Comedy Central Presents. By this point in his career, Shubert was transitioning from a reliable club comedian (having toured years earlier with Sam Kinison’s “Outlaws of Comedy”) into a busy character actor, with appearances in the film Go and a recurring role on The King of Queens.\n\nThis half-hour showcase highlights his physical style and signature rants, targeting absurdities ranging from the logistics of frog licking to the stoicism of pet fish. He also zeroes in on office culture, detailing the petty satisfaction of stealing office supplies and the mechanics of workplace rage. The taping at the Hudson Theater earned Shubert a standing ovation, boosting his profile as he transitioned into a national headliner.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Differences between men and women regarding healthcare

    Contrasts how women readily visit the doctor while men wait until they are practically on their deathbed before seeking medical help.

  2. Aging and turning 50

    Expresses gratitude for waking up without aches and pains, reflecting on feeling like a teenager mentally despite previously viewing 50 as old.

  3. Evolution of audio technology and smartphone reliance

    Muses on the transition from cassette tapes and CDs to MP3s and streaming, noting people cannot even use the bathroom without their phones.

  4. Restaurant dating experience and marriage

    Recounts trying to impress a date at an upscale restaurant ruined by noisy nearby diners, followed by jokes on modern dating, marriage, and divorce.

  5. Advocacy for animals, the homeless, and workplace theft

    Tough-guy routine shouting out for animal rights, homeless people, and stealing office supplies.

How it plays

Tone
Loud, irreverent, politically incorrect, and unapologetic.
On stage
Tough guy persona delivering loud, brash, unapologetic, and blunt observational humor.
Pace
Lively and energetic pace punctuated by wild gesticulations and expressive facial expressions.
About
Healthcare differences between men and women, Aging and turning fifty, Evolution of technology and smartphone dependency, Dating, marriage, and divorce, Animal rights, The homeless

What the critics said

Praised as a solid showcase of Shubert's bold, unfiltered comedic chops that kept the audience laughing without crossing into pure offensiveness.

In the room: Engaged and receptive, earning a standing ovation from the New York audience.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: imdb.com, metacritic.com, thetvdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, yidio.com, jimmyshubert.com, tv.apple.com.

Backstory

Season 8 episode of the half-hour showcase series Comedy Central Presents, recorded in New York City.

Details

Released
Taped
Hudson Theater, New York City
Runtime
22 min
Where
Comedy Central
Director
Paul Miller
Topics
After
Zero Tolerance (2019)

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