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Cowabunga

Ralph Barbosa

Netflix · 2023 · 64 min

A low-key, conversational hour from a rising Dallas comic.

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Ralph Barbosa works with a casual, almost sleepy cadence that makes his stage presence feel less like a performance and more like a guy telling stories on a porch. He does not yell, he does not pace, and he does not sweat his setups. Instead, he leans into a self-deprecating, low-energy charm that quietly anchors his first hour-long Netflix special.

Filmed in August 2023 at the Kessler Theater in his hometown of Dallas, Texas, directly across the street from the barbershop where he used to cut hair, the special arrived at the end of a rapid breakout year. Following a viral spot on Jimmy Fallon and some public grumbling from old-guard comics who questioned his sudden fame, Barbosa returned to his old neighborhood to perform six sold-out shows.

His material revolves around the absurdity of a low-stakes childhood. He details his grandmother’s English-free parenting style, his teenage side-hustle running an illicit bedroom haircutting business, and a bizarre childhood lie involving moon rocks. His relaxed delivery turns simple premises, like his desire to be a passenger prince to a street-racing dream girl, into memorable, slow-burning highlights.

The set list

7 bits

  1. Fantasy of dating a street-racing dream woman

    Envisions himself as a 'passenger prince' filming Boomerangs for Instagram while an undocumented woman races cars illegally.

  2. Mother's moon rocks explanation

    Recounts his teen mother sugar-coating drug dealing and prison sentences by telling him his father was an astronaut who needed to return illegal moon rocks.

  3. Handling bar fights like a video game

    Explains his inability to brawl unless his cousin calls out controller inputs like 'L1 square square triangle,' or offering Starburst candies to de-escalate tension.

  4. Church atmosphere and praying before meals

    Expresses discomfort with attending church with his girlfriend's family, observing that people at church give off 'co-worker vibes.'

  5. Bedroom hair cutting at age 13

    Details how he taught himself to cut hair out of his teen bedroom at his grandparents' house before working in a barbershop.

  6. Retail therapy and sales workers

    Notes that retail therapy works even if you buy nothing, because retail employees will hype you up trying to secure a sale.

  7. Guns and gun control laws in Canada

    Jokes about firearm regulations in Canada allowing pistol ownership inside the home, proposing you must invite enemies over to shoot them.

How it plays

Tone
Deadpan, cheeky, witty, and irreverent.
On stage
Chill, disarming, unassuming, deadpan, and nonchalant.
Pace
Low-energy, relaxed, and laid-back cadence with conversational pauses.
About
growing up with grandparents, teen hair cutting business, dating and dream girl fantasy, family lies and drug dealing, street fights and video games, cultural identity and church dynamics

What the critics said

Mixed to positive; praised by Decider for his cool, effortless comedic persona and sharp jokes, though other critics found the laid-back pacing at times sleepy and the transitions abrupt or predictable.

In the room: Enthusiastic hometown audience under pink stage lighting delivering multiple extended applause breaks.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: bbfc.co.uk, deadline.com, keranews.org, decider.com, readysteadycut.com, leisurebyte.com, rottentomatoes.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Filmed in his hometown of Dallas across the street from Oak Cliff Barbers where he previously worked as a barber; draws on his upbringing by his Mexican immigrant grandmother.

Details

Released
Taped
The Kessler Theater, Dallas
Runtime
64 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Eric Abrams
Honors
Decider's 10 Best Stand-Up Comedy Specials of 2023 (Ranked #9)
Topics
After
Planet Bosa (2025)

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