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Strange Times

Joe Rogan

Netflix · 2018 · 63 min

Joe Rogan brings his loud, wide-eyed podcast perspective to Boston.

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Joe Rogan brings the manic, stoner-philosopher energy of his podcast to the stage, pacing with wide-eyed intensity as he screams setups and punchlines with equal force. He is at his most physically expressive when shifting from geopolitics to domestic life, mimicking the psychotic, chattering instinct of a housecat staring at a squirrel or mocking the concept of an American presidency. His bit about bringing Thomas Jefferson to the modern era to see his Constitution, written with a feather, still governing a high-tech society anchors the show’s chaotic perspective on modern leadership.

Filmed at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, this release captured Rogan at a massive pivot point in his career. By late 2018, The Joe Rogan Experience was dominant in the podcasting space, transforming his stand-up audiences from traditional comedy club patrons into a dedicated legion of listeners expecting the same freewheeling rants they heard in their headphones. Directed by Anthony Giordano, the performance mirrors that audio-first format, relying on long-form, loose-associational rants rather than tightly structured setups and punchlines.

Throughout the hour, Rogan zeroes in on cultural absurdities, from the homoerotic mechanics of professional wrestling to the absurdity of forcing cats to eat a vegan diet. He also recounts a bizarre medical anomaly about a woman born without a vagina who became pregnant and gave birth via C-section, highlighting his fascination with internet-rabbit-hole trivia. Critics noted that his delivery is often dialed up to a constant yell, making the set feel like a theatrical extension of his podcast livestream rather than a conventional stand-up performance.

The set list

7 bits

  1. The absurdity of the American political process and presidential popularity contests.

    Rogan argues the Founding Fathers' ideas have outlived their shelf life and riffs on Donald Trump hypothetically challenging Joe Biden to a fight on Twitter.

  2. Rethinking sexism through reversed gender dynamics.

    Reimagines Fox News broadcasts with female anchors in suits and scantily clad men, alongside undercover female officers entrapping teenage boys.

  3. Mocking Men's Rights Activists while expressing appreciation for feminism.

    Circles back to gender issues toward the end of the set, highlighting the foolishness of Men's Rights Activists.

  4. Homo-erotic undertones in professional wrestling.

    Examines the physical intimacy and theatrics of pro wrestling in humorous detail.

  5. The return of Christ through a bizarre medical case.

    Humorously dissects a true news account involving a knife stabbing and a woman with an underdeveloped reproductive system giving birth.

  6. Instinctual differences between cats and dogs.

    An extended riff comparing the innate natural behaviors and domestic dynamics of cats versus dogs.

  7. The behavior of vegans.

    Mocks the statistical probability of finding an idiot among vegan subcultures.

How it plays

Tone
Raunchy, outspoken, provocative, goofy, and unvarnished.
On stage
Outspoken, politically incorrect, high-volume dudebro who repeatedly refers to himself as a moron.
Pace
Loud, high-intensity delivery characterized by yelling, physical animation, and screaming.
About
current culture, American politics and elections, gender roles and sexism, pro wrestling, pot laws, cats versus dogs

What the critics said

Reviews described Rogan as performing at high comic energy, effectively balancing self-deprecating admissions of idiocy with taboo topics, though some audience and critical feedback noted his aggressive yelling can be grating.

In the room: Strongly divided audience reactions ranging from praise for his unapologetic energy to criticism regarding excessive yelling and physical volume.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com, decider.com.

Backstory

Dedicated to the late Mitzi Shore of The Comedy Store; framed around the Trump presidency, political sensitivity, and shifting cultural standards in comedy.

Details

Released
Taped
The Wilbur, Boston
Runtime
63 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Anthony Giordano
Topics
Before
Triggered (2016)
After
Burn the Boats (2024)

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