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Not Special

Dan Soder

Comedy Central · 2016 · 61 min

An unpretentious hour of self-deprecating storytelling and personal vice.

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Dan Soder’s appeal lies in his ability to sound like the most self-aware guy at the bar, delivering stand-up without the manufactured theater of high-concept comedy. His debut hour takes a swing at the absurdities of modern vice, explaining the exact point where quitting smoking cigarettes while continuing to smoke pot turns you into a different kind of hypocrite. He targets the rise of pretentious potheads and the theater of sommeliers, using his deep voice and conversational ease to make simple premises feel lived-in. Filmed at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia, the 2016 special caught Soder at a major transition point in his career, just as he was co-hosting The Bonfire on SiriusXM and appearing as Mafee on Showtime’s Billions. The hour established his style as an unpretentious storyteller who can flip between childhood memories, like being an only child raised by a single mother, and modern annoyances. Rather than trying to shock the audience, he leans into the comedy of low expectations, whether he is mocking his own lack of tank top confidence or explaining why he actually misses real-life jerks in the age of internet trolling.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Having a deep adult voice as a child being raised by a single mother

    Explores the awkwardness of unintentionally cockblocking his mother when she tried to date because of his deep baritone bumbling down the hallway.

  2. Underdick being the worst part of a penis

    Compares male anatomy to architectural bridges, noting they look impressive from the top and sides but resemble messy support beams from underneath.

  3. Believing he was possessed by the devil as a child

    Reflects humorously on childhood weirdness and feeling like an 'Emo Satan'.

  4. The real benefit of quitting smoking

    Delivers an unconventional take focusing on non-health-related reasons why quitting cigarettes is beneficial.

  5. A new, sexually explicit way to release tension and achieve catharsis

    Offers a uniquely vulgar and strange approach to personal emotional relief.

How it plays

Tone
Charming, self-deprecating, smart, and unpretentious.
On stage
Laid-back, unpretentious, and good-tempered storyteller with a rich, sonorous baritone voice who occasionally giggles at his own jokes on stage.
Pace
Conversational, relaxed, and measured club-honed cadence shifting effortlessly between silly and serious reflections.
About
fancy potheads, tech-savvy toddlers, being an only child, single motherhood and childhood, breakups, grandmothers

What the critics said

Praised by critics as smart, charming, and unpretentious observational comedy powered by Soder's distinct voice and relatable persona, though some reviewers noted the album track structure placed its strongest material in the middle.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: tv.apple.com, thetvdb.com, imdb.com, vulture.com, pastemagazine.com, exclaim.ca, letterboxd.com, en.wikipedia.org.

Backstory

Filmed while Soder was performing at a relentless pace in NYC clubs, fueled by a persistent anxiety and fear of having to return to waiting tables or cannery work.

Details

Released
Taped
2015, Trocadero Theater, Philadelphia
Runtime
61 min
Where
Comedy Central
Director
Marcus Raboy
Topics
Before
The Half Hour (2013)
After
Dan Soder (2017)

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