Human Mule

Tom Papa’s appeal rests on his willingness to accept that life is mostly a slog and that is perfectly fine. He begins by warmly congratulating his audience for simply leaving the house and not cancelling their dates, setting the tone for an hour about adjusting expectations. His main target is the exhausting pressure to be incredibly wealthy, remarkably fit, and constantly ecstatic. Instead of chasing that fantasy, Papa suggests embracing the reality of being a reliable beast of burden—a human mule.\n\nFilmed at the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, this 2016 set was Papa’s third televised hour, arriving after he spent a few years taking on dramatic acting roles in projects like The Knick and Behind the Candelabra. Moving away from the stylized direction of his previous specials, which were directed by Rob Zombie, this performance leans heavily into a relaxed, conversational style. The material hits close to home for anyone managing a household, highlighted by an extended sequence about the intense frustration of driving a van full of misbehaving children through a theme park parking lot.