Is it Me?

Sebastian Maniscalco attempts to bring a bygone era back to the Las Vegas Strip, stepping onto the stage in a tuxedo and expecting his audience to match the formal aesthetic. Filmed during his residency at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas, the hour trades some of his signature hyperactive pacing for a swagger reminiscent of the 1960s Rat Pack. He opens by checking the crowd’s attire, immediately targeting the outliers who ignored the dress code, before sliding into familiar domestic territory. Much of the material focuses on his wife’s quirky daily habits, such as taking her shoes off during a ten-minute car ride or organizing family logistics while walking to a restaurant table. He also contrasts his own 1980s upbringing with modern parenting, venting about preschool political correctness and a classmate of his daughter who claims to identify as a lion. The special, directed by Peter Segal, caught the comic at a transitional moment in his career; shortly after its December 2022 release, he announced a temporary hiatus from touring to focus on film projects, citing a temporary lack of new material. While the hour features his classic exaggerated facial expressions, the stylized presentation divided some long-term fans who noted a slower delivery and a few recycled jokes.