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Promotional art for Hannah Gadsby's Gender Agenda
Cover image credit: via TMDB

Hannah Gadsby's Gender Agenda

Hannah Gadsby, Jes Tom, Alok and 5 more

Netflix · 2024 · 75 min

Hannah Gadsby hosts a showcase of seven standout genderqueer comedians.

Watch on Netflix(opens in a new tab)

Hannah Gadsby took a very public dispute with Netflix and turned it into a variety show. After years of public friction with the streaming platform over its funding of anti-trans stand-up, Gadsby chose to redirect that corporate budget into a showcase for seven genderqueer comedians at London’s Alexandra Palace Theatre. Rather than dragging out a tired public feud, the production lets a diverse roster of performers speak for themselves, offering everything from dry stories about medical transition to sharp observations on how the gender binary falls apart.

Filmed in October 2023 and released in early 2024, the special features a lineup of global talent, including Jes Tom, Alok, Chloe Petts, Asha Ward, Krishna Istha, Mx. Dahlia Belle, and DeAnne Smith. Gadsby plays host and ringleader, opening the evening with a nod to the streaming giant’s past controversies by noting that the last time Netflix brought this many trans people together, it was for a protest. The showcase then moves through distinct sets, like Jes Tom’s reflections on how testosterone altered their attraction to men, and veteran comic DeAnne Smith’s lighthearted irritation at being aggressively ‘they/them’d’ against their will for nearly two decades. Critics welcomed the collection of voices, noting that the performances worked precisely because they prioritized jokes over easy point-scoring.

The set list

7 bits

  1. Hannah Gadsby addressing the controversy and their open letter to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos

    Recounting telling Sarandos to 'fuck off', calling Netflix an 'amoral algorithm cult', and describing the showcase as a 'carbon offset show'.

  2. Transitioning on testosterone and moving from identifying as a lesbian to a gay man

    Jes Tom jokes about developing the mustache of a school bully and learning the new rules and slang of gay male dating.

  3. Experiencing male privilege as a masculine lesbian

    Chloe Petts jokes about being called 'boss man' at chicken shops and the strange effect wearing a suit has on straight wedding guests.

  4. Undergoing top surgery and gender identity

    DeAnne Smith identifies as a 'weird little guy' and jokes about opting not to have nipples reattached following surgery.

  5. The idea that 'cisgender' is treated as a slur

    Mx. Dahlia Belle mocks people for being whiny about a simple adjective and dismisses concerns about future archaeologists examining bones.

  6. Testosterone and the confidence to perform stand-up comedy

    Krishna Istha links the unearned confidence of moving through the world as a man to why mediocre white men try comedy.

  7. The closer (spoiler). Show it

    Challenging heterosexual discomfort and gender expectations closer

    ALOK dissects audience reactions, exploring whether laughing supports the 'gender agenda' or withholding laughter enforces the notion that women aren't funny.

How it plays

Tone
Irreverent, personal, sharp, sensitive, and unapologetic.
On stage
Gadsby acts as ringleader/host with delivery described as flatter, more matter-of-fact, slightly sad yet fiery, wearing a pullover sweater covered in multicolored ghosts.
Pace
A dynamic showcase where seven comics each perform tight sets of approximately seven minutes, ranging from energetic audience-driven momentum to deadpan, monotoned deliveries.
About
gender identity and trans experiences, testosterone and hormone therapy, dating, sex, and sexting, top surgery and bodily autonomy, cisgender terminology and social perceptions, male privilege

What the critics said

Critically praised as a sharp, necessary, and consistently strong showcase that successfully turns a corporate and cultural controversy into an empowering platform for global genderqueer talent.

In the room: A supportive, well-behaved crowd in London engaging with candid, taboo-breaking queer humor.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com, advocate.com, decider.com, latimes.com, autostraddle.com, indiewire.com, imdb.com, theguardian.com.

Backstory

Curated by Hannah Gadsby as a response to Netflix's controversy over Dave Chappelle's 2021 special 'The Closer' and subsequent CEO Ted Sarandos statements, using their platform to feature genderqueer and trans comedians on the streaming service.

Details

Lineup
Hannah Gadsby, Jes Tom, Alok, Asha Ward, Chloe Petts, DeAnne Smith, Krishna Istha, Mx. Dahlia Belle
Released
Taped
Alexandra Palace Theatre, London
Runtime
75 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Julian Smith
Topics

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