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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

Here and Now

Ellen DeGeneres

HBO · 2003 · 60 min

A calculated return to the comfortable observational humor of the nineties.

Watch it free on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Taking the stage at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, Ellen DeGeneres delivers a set focused on the trivial annoyances of daily life. She begins with a quick joke about her sexuality before pivoting immediately to extended routines on procrastination, vacuum-sealed pickle jars, and the absurdities of public cell phone use. It is a return to a conversational style that prioritizes crowd-pleasing relatability over edge.

Taped in May 2003 and broadcast on HBO, the special caught DeGeneres at a career-defining crossroads. She was just weeks away from voicing Dory in Finding Nemo and only months away from launching The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the daytime syndication juggernaut that would dominate television for the next two decades. Here and Now served as a strategic reintroduction, reminding audiences of her stand-up roots before she transitioned fully into a daytime host. The hour earned two Emmy nominations and solidified her public comeback.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Headset phones

    Observes that if an activity requires both hands, your brain ought to be involved in it too.

  2. Audience moods and relationship titles

    Surveys the audience about everyday arguments and lists partners, roommates, and 'niece-the' to defuse tension.

  3. Emotional investment in TV commercials

    Adopts an overly empathetic stance toward an old man in a commercial who is finally able to eat corn on the cob again.

  4. 'If I Had a Hammer' folk song analysis

    Dissects Peter, Paul, and Mary lyrics, noting that once you actually own a hammer you do far less hammering than promised.

  5. Quoting Salt-N-Pepa's 'Shoop'

    Cites the track toward the end of the show for a 'things that make you go hmmm' reflection.

How it plays

Tone
Pleasant, lighthearted, strictly PG-rated, clean, and optimistic.
On stage
Amiable, relaxed, and playing the naif; exudes friendly charm, an athletic gait, and expressive facial reactions rather than cynical observational detachment.
Pace
Stream-of-consciousness pacing where topics segue rapidly with impeccable timing and relaxed charm.
About
Modern life and inconveniences, Everyday human behavior and awkward social habits, 21st-century technological frustrations and information overload

What the critics said

Praised by critics for its warm, remarkably clean, and relatable humor delivered with flawless timing and charm, though some reviewers felt the conventional observational topics lacked a satirical edge.

In the room: Vibrant and laughing enthusiastically at relatable everyday observations in a packed Broadway theater.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com, watch.plex.tv, slate.com, nypost.com, upcomingdiscs.com, npr.org.

Backstory

Marked DeGeneres's second HBO stand-up special following her landmark sitcom run and high-profile coming out. Slate noted her comedic foundation in cheering up her mother during divorce, shaping her good-will persona.

Details

Released
Taped
Beacon Theatre, New York City
Runtime
60 min
Where
HBO
Director
Joel Gallen
Honors
Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmy Awards
Topics
Before
The Beginning (2000)
After
Relatable (2018)

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