I'm the Man

Jessica Kirson spends much of her performance with her mouth twisted into a bizarre square, her tongue waggling, or her back turned to the audience as she whispers self-conscious anxieties directly into her microphone. This highly physical, unapologetically crass hour highlights the veteran comedian at a stage in her career where her decades-long reputation as a comic’s comic has finally translated into mainstream success, largely fueled by her viral crowd-work videos. Yet, this Hulu special, released in April 2025 as part of the streamer’s “Hularious” lineup, is a scripted set rather than an improvisational crowd session.

Filmed live in New York City and directed by Marcus Russell Price, the 48-minute set is heavily preoccupied with bodily functions, sex toys, and the exhaustions of middle-aged motherhood. Kirson uses her cartoonish vocal range to mimic TikTok influencers, her mean-spirited children, and her own inner critic. While the physical commitment and frantic pacing are impressive, the performance drew some mixed reactions from fans who felt her scripted material fell slightly short of the electric unpredictability of her live crowd work. The release came during a massive touring surge for Kirson, who capitalized on her online fame to sell out theaters across the country.