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Promotional art for Aloha Fluffy
Cover image credit: Promotional image via Apple

Aloha Fluffy

Gabriel Iglesias

Comedy Central · 2013 · 1 h 34 min

Sound effects and character voices drive this storytelling set from Hawaii.

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Gabriel Iglesias uses his vocal flexibility and catalog of sound effects to populate his stories with a massive cast of characters. He spends most of his time on stage acting out conversations, bouncing between rapid-fire impressions of California highway patrolmen and local tour guides. The Hawaii setting gives him a chance to operate at a slightly more relaxed pace, allowing him to open with observations on local island culture and the contrast between tourist expectations and the people who actually live there.

Filmed at the Hawaii Theatre Center in Honolulu, the 2013 set originally aired on Comedy Central as a two-night broadcast event. Iglesias was managing the realities of mainstream film fame at the time, dedicating a significant chunk of the performance to his experience working on the set of the movie Magic Mike. He also trades out standard setup-punchline structures for extended personal anecdotes, detailing the daily frustrations of raising his teenage stepson and a surreal trip to Riyadh to perform for a Saudi prince.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Hawaiian tour guides and cultural identity

    Contrasts authentic Hawaiian culture with faux-Hawaiian tourist impressions using character voices and invites his actual luau tour guide into the front row.

  2. Performing in Saudi Arabia

    Relates the anxiety and culture shock of being flown to perform for a Saudi prince, playing on Middle Eastern stereotypes and incorporating a 'please, please' routine.

  3. Parenting his stepson Frankie

    Mocks himself and tough-love parenting with relatable anecdotes about living with his 15-year-old stepson and partner.

  4. The Racist Gift Basket prank

    Iglesias describes orchestrating an elaborate racially stereotyped prank basket delivered to comic G Reilly's hotel, then brings Reilly out on stage in Hawaii to share his perspective.

  5. Magic Mike audition and shoot

    Shares behind-the-scenes stories about being cast by Channing Tatum, witnessing male dancers' fitness habits, and navigating movie production.

How it plays

Tone
Warm, playful, self-mocking, relatable, and largely clean.
On stage
Friendly, highly likable, self-deprecating, and animated performer known for wearing a trademark Hawaiian shirt and portraying characters vividly.
Pace
High-energy, animated, physical, and sweat-inducing tempo driven by fast vocal shifts.
About
Weight and physical health, Family life and raising a teenage stepson, Hawaiian culture and tourism, International gig in Saudi Arabia, Road pranks and friendship, Filming and auditioning for 'Magic Mike'

What the critics said

Praised for Iglesias's storytelling prowess, precise vocal effects, and broad audience appeal, with reviewers noting his animated delivery translates particularly effectively to video.

In the room: Enthusiastic and responsive Honolulu audience offering thunderous laughter and applause.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: allmusic.com, theaterbyte.com, blogcritics.org, filmstreamcomplet.fr, firstorderhistorians.wordpress.com, blu-ray.com, sfilev1.f-static.com, etonline.com, abcdocz.com, en.wikipedia.org, llero.net.

Backstory

Iglesias underwent a significant health-driven weight loss, dropping around 90 pounds from an initial 437 pounds, and incorporated his personal life, family dynamics, and international touring experiences into his performance.

Details

Released
Taped
Hawaii Theatre, Honolulu
Runtime
1 h 34 min
Where
Comedy Central
Director
Manny Rodriguez
Honors
Most watched standup performance of 2013
Topics
Before
I'm Not Fat... I'm Fluffy (2009)
After
The Fluffy Movie (2014)

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