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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

Human Mule

Tom Papa

Epix · 2016 · 59 min

A dry, funny defense of surviving the daily grind.

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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.

The set list

4 bits

  1. Being a human mule for the family

    Describing the literal and emotional burden of packing and carrying everything one's kids own on vacations like a pack animal

  2. Children as greedy capitalist pigs

    Critiquing the modern consumer culture of endless mall shopping and constant asking, emphasizing the need for parents to just say no

  3. Men bringing pillows on vacations

    Observing how adult men insist on packing and traveling with their personal pillows

  4. Visiting Disney and the Peter Pan ride

    Satirical critique of navigating Disney attractions and enduring massive wait times for underwhelming rides

How it plays

Tone
Optimistic and positive on the surface, underscored by a subtle, subversive melancholy and chaotic reality
On stage
Clean-cut 'Disney face' who delivers sharp, subversive observations underneath a friendly, classic suit-and-tie appearance
Pace
Fast-paced, high-momentum delivery with continuous laughter and little pause
About
Fatherhood and family life, The difficulties of everyday human existence, American consumerism and obsession with wealth, Aging and marriage

What the critics said

Praised as an optimistic yet subversive hour where Papa balances accessible everyday observations with thoughtful critique of modern American life

In the room: Receptive and lively Cleveland crowd with a self-aware sense of humor

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: prnewswire.com, tv.apple.com, thefutoncritic.com, clevescene.com, vulture.com, theinterrobang.com, letterboxd.com, parade.com, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, comedydynamics.com.

Backstory

Filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, during 2016 amidst personal fatherhood reflections and a consumerist cultural climate

Details

Released
Taped
Hanna Theatre, Cleveland
Runtime
59 min
Where
Epix
Director
Jay Chapman
Topics
Before
Freaked Out (2015)
After
You're Doing Great (2020)

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