Growing Shame

Ian Lara tackles the mild embarrassment of growing up and developing softer habits. Rather than chasing wild nights, he spends his time trying to decipher his partner’s love language and wondering why hip-hop artists do not write verses about Pinot Noir. His delivery is conversational and highly relaxed, treating his personal life and Queens upbringing with a self-deprecation that keeps the set grounded.

Filmed at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, the half-hour Comedy Central set debuted in February 2022. The performance arrived during a breakout window for Lara, who had built a massive online following through viral Comedy Central Stand-Up Featuring sets before making his late-night debut on Jimmy Fallon. Rather than grand theatricality, Lara relies on a highly conversational presence to share pandemic-era lifestyle changes, from buying stocks to debating COVID-19 conspiracy theories with his Dominican family.