ExtraOrdinary

Ian Harris approaches the stage with the posture of a guy who has spent way too much time arguing with strangers on the internet, which is precisely why his material clicks. He leans heavily into his persona as a rationalist skeptic, aiming his punchlines squarely at scientific illiteracy, alternative medicine, and religious fundamentalism. It is a show built for people who prefer their punchlines to come with a basic grasp of physics.

Filmed in October 2016 at the Rio Theatre in his hometown of Santa Cruz, California, the hour was distributed by Comedy Dynamics in late 2017. The project stands out for incorporating interstitial appearances from other well-known secular figures, including Penn Jillette, Julia Sweeney, and Paul Provenza, who offer their own commentary on the state of critical thinking. On stage, Harris tackles everything from food allergies to accidental pregnancies, relying on a fast, analytical delivery and a steady stream of impressions.