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Workin' Man

Dusty Slay

Netflix · 2024 · 69 min

A slow-drawling hour of working-class observations and pesticide sales stories.

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Dusty Slay does not rely on high energy or frantic pacing to keep an audience engaged. Standing in front of the mic in his signature trucker hat, glasses, and long hair, he delivers a relaxed set of observational comedy that relies on deadpan delivery and small, calculated gestures. He builds his jokes out of the mundane struggles of working-class life, treating his own history with a mild, dry amusement rather than self-pity.\n\nSlay recorded the hour at the historic Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee, marking his first full-length Netflix special. He spent much of his twenties working odd jobs, and that work history forms the backbone of the set. He recounts his time as a pesticide salesman, proudly referring to himself as a \”bug man,\” and details brief stints as a bellhop and a timeshare salesman. Other notable bits examine the absurdities of hipster coffee shops, the mechanics of shirt-tucking, and the narrative holes in classic country music.\n\nAt the time of this release, Slay was transitioning from a well-regarded club comic into a theater headliner, aided by his regular appearances on The Nateland Podcast. His clean style offers an alternative to high-volume comedy, choosing instead to win over the crowd with a slow drawl and his signature catchphrase: \”We’re having a good time.\”

The set list

6 bits

  1. Eating leftover food off customer plates as a busboy at Western Sizzlin.

    Explaining his rule that if you would make out with someone it is okay to eat their food, and exploiting every loophole.

  2. Delivering an intentional TED Talk in Nashville.

    Contrasting stand-up comedy with TED Talks and explaining why audience members should not look up his talk on YouTube.

  3. Refusing to tuck in his shirt.

    Arguing that tucking in his shirt makes him look like an employee at any establishment he walks into.

  4. Faking washing his hands in public restrooms.

    Detailing his aversion to soap and the elaborate performance of pretending to wash his hands to appease onlookers.

  5. Ordering plain black coffee.

    Contrasting the pretentiousness of hipster coffee shops with ordering coffee at Waffle House and strip clubs.

  6. Explosions and junk in his father's Alabama farm ditch.

    Recounting bizarre childhood memories and dangerous rural incidents, referencing home video footage involving a frog and a pool vacuum.

How it plays

Tone
Clean-cut, absurd, goofy, self-deprecating, and nostalgic.
On stage
Affable, self-effacing Southern Everyman sporting a signature trucker hat, straight long hair, and oversized glasses; projects natural, relaxed confidence mixed with fidgety nervous tics like adjusting glasses, touching his nose, and rocking from foot to foot.
Pace
Conversational, laidback cadence combined with subtle nervous momentum, regularly punctuated by waving hello and repeating his signature catchphrase.
About
blue-collar Southern experience, working odd jobs, sobriety from alcohol and cigarettes, modern weed vs. dipping tobacco, coffee shops and customer service, childhood and family eccentricities

What the critics said

Generally favorable, with critics highlighting Slay's distinctive homespun persona, sharp storytelling craftsmanship, and refreshingly clean, relatable comedy, though a few reviewers felt the 69-minute format suffered from occasional lulls and over-reliance on his catchphrase.

In the room: Warm and enthusiastic crowd response, readily engaging with Slay's recurring 'we're having a good time' catchphrase.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: deadline.com, metacritic.com, letterboxd.com, decider.com, pastemagazine.com, gazettely.com, rottentomatoes.com, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, dustyslay.com, loudwire.com.

Backstory

Alabama-raised, Nashville-based former pesticide salesman and sober comedian drawing from a blue-collar Southern background, trailer park childhood, and personal sobriety since 2012.

Details

Released
Taped
2023, Bijou Theatre, Knoxville
Runtime
69 min
Where
Netflix
Honors
Climbed to No. 2 spot for most-watched television shows on NetflixRemained in the top 20 specials on Netflix
Topics
After
Wet Heat (2025)

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